JJJUVERSiTY  OF  Cl 
BAV1S 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


FIFTH  MASSACHUSETTS  BATTERY. 


ORGANIZED    OCTOBER    3,    1861, 
MUSTERED  OUT  JUNE  12,  1865, 


BOSTON : 
LUTHER   E.   COWLES,    PUBLISHER, 

60  FEDERAL  STREET. 
1902. 


VKRAttY 


COPYRIGHT,  1902,  BY  LUTHER  E.  COWLES 

All  Rights  Reserved 


;$  UOLLECTIOI 


PREFACE. 


In  submitting  these  pages  to  the  general  public,  made 
doubly  and  more  profoundly  critical  by  new  opportuni 
ties  for  observation,  furnished  by  the  recent  war  with 
Spain,  we  are  aware  that  our  most  appreciative  readers 
will  be  found  among  the  daily  diminishing  ranks  of  our 
comrades  and  their  circle  of  friends  whose  memories  reach 
back  to  the  period  of  which  it  treats,  —  forty  years  ago. 

It  is  not  without  some  feeling  of  complacence  that  we 
have  reviewed  these  records  of  the  endurance  of  hard 
ships,  which,  in  the  inexperience  of  early  youth,  we 
accepted  as  the  inevitable,  and  carelessly  turned  into  jest 
as  the  easiest  and  quickest  way  of  getting  over  the  mis 
fortunes  of  war,  and  we  have  closely  followed  the  trials  to 
which  were  submitted  those  innate  impulses  of  courage 
inspired  by  patriotism,  that  found  us  all  ready  to  mount 
at  the  call  of  "  Boots  and  Saddles,"  and,  harnessing  our 
impatience  to  the  wheels  of  the  grumbling  cannon  and 
caissons,  to  seek  the  field  wherever,  whenever  and  how 
soever  we  were  directed. 

To  our  aid  in  this  work  we  have  called  the  sister  of  a 
soldier  of  the  i8th  Massachusetts  Regiment  Infantry, 
who  has  brought  to  her  task  that  which  is  considered 
indispensable  in  the  historian  of  a  distant  period,  "  the 
familiarized  knowledge  of  many  years."  Her  impres 
sions  do  not  all  come  at  second  hand.  They  are  the 
product  of  memories  transplanted  from  a  living  past,  to 
assist  in  the  selection  of  scenes  in  camp,  on  the  march, 

iii 


iv  PREFACE. 

and  in  the  field,  and  to  present  them  in  a  form  of  ready 
reference  for  the  use  of  its  members  and  their  descendants 
for  all  time,  to  bear  witness  to  the  labors,  sacrifices  and 
achievements  of  the  5th  Massachusetts  Battery,  Light 

Artillery. 

NATHAN  APPLETON, 

HENRY  D.  SCOTT, 
JOHN  F.   MURRAY, 
THOMAS  E.  CHASE, 
GEORGE  L.  NEWTON, 

Committee. 

The  committee  desire  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
historical  data,  loan  of  books,  letters,  diaries  and  other 
means  of  information  necessary  to  the  compilation,  from 
the  following  persons  :  — 

Massachusetts :  Miss  Katharine  Phillips,  Miss  Jane 
Phillips,  Mrs.  Stephen  H.  Phillips,  Brevet  Brigadier- 
General  Augustus  P.  Martin,  Stephen  F.  Keyes,  Judge 
Advocate,  Department  of  Massachusetts,  G.  A.  R., 
George  H.  Freeman,  Quartermaster  R.  A.  Peirce,  Post 
G.  A.  R.,  Charles  F.  Shaw,  R.  C.  Ingraham,  Charles  W. 
Coggeshall  (Coggeshall,  Maxfield  &  Co.),  B.  F.  Bright- 
man  (Alaska  Oil  Co.),  Isaac  S.  Mullen,  Ward  Room 
Steward  U.  S.  ships  Portsmouth  and  Chocura,  Milo  J. 
Proctor,  6th  Massachusetts  Infantry,  Charles  O.  Eaton, 
Custodian  of  State  Flags,  Rev.  George  Batchelor,  Wm. 
G.  Kirschbaum,  New  Bedford  Standard. 

Maine:  Brevet  Major-General  Joshua  L.  Chamber 
lain,  Brevet  Major  Henry  S.  Burrage,  Major  Holman  S. 
Melcher,  2Oth  Maine  Regiment  Association,  Captain 
Harvey  H.  Webber. 

New  York :  Brevet  Colonel  Horatio  C.  King,  Hugh 
Hastings,  State  Historian,  Frank  H.  Norton,  Edmund 


PREFACE.  v 

B.  Taber,  New  York  Herald,  R.  G.  Butler,  New  York 
Sun. 

North  Dakota  :  Colonel  C.  A.  Lounsberry,  2Oth  Michi 
gan  Infantry. 

Pennsylvania :  Colonel  John  P.  Nicholson,  Gettys 
burg  National  Park  Commission. 

Rhode  Island:  Major  Geo.  E.  Randolph  (Denver, 
Col.),  William  Ames  Card  (New  York,  New  Haven  & 
Hartford  Railroad),  Captain  Wm.  B.  Weeden,  4th 
(Weeden's)  Rhode  Island  Battery,  First  Lieutenant  Gideon 
Spencer,  ist  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery,  Captain  Wm. 
B.  Rhodes,  Battery  E,  ist  Rhode  Island,  John  Galvin 
and  J.  B.  Peck,  Battery  C,  ist  Rhode  Island,  Frederic 
M.  Sackett,  Adjutant  General  State  of  Rhode  Island. 

Virginia:  Colonel  Wm.  Thompson,  Governor  Na 
tional  Soldiers'  Home,  W.  W.  Scott,  Librarian  State 
Library,  Richmond. 

Washington,  D.  C. :  Captain  Charles  E.  Troutman, 
Colonel  Lee  Crandall,  William  Crozier,  Brigadier-Gen 
eral,  Chief  of  Ordnance,  U.  S.  A. 

NOTE.  —  Parentheses  are  used  to  explain  the  text  and  for  cross-references.  Paren 
thetical  remarks  by  the  writers  quoted  are  between  dashes. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    FIRST. 

December  29,  1861— December  22,  1865. 

The  Battery  Flags,  3  ;  The  Color  Bearers,  4 ;  The  Flags  Unfurled,  5  ;  The 
Flags  Replaced,  6 ;  The  Worn  Colors,  11 ;  Corps  and  Brigade  Flags 
and  Badges,  18. 

CHAPTER    SECOND. 

December  3,  1860— August  23,  1861. 

In  'Sixty-One,  23;  The  Safety  of  Washington,  24;  The  Massachusetts 
Legislature,  24 ;  Massachusetts  in  the  National  Congress,  24;  The  Re 
port  of  a  Committee,  25  ;  General  Order  No.  4,  26 ;  Interview  with 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  Stanton,  30;  The  Roads  to  Washington,  36. 

CHAPTER   THIRD. 

April  2,  1863— June  1,  1865. 

The  Composition  of  the  Battery,  49  ;  Light  Artillery  in  the  Field,  52  ;  Artil 
lery  Tactics,  63. 

CHAPTER   FOURTH. 

August  20,  1861— December  26,  1861. 

Recruiting  the  Battery,  66  ;  The  Defences  of  Washington,  67 ;  McClellan  and 
the  Artillery,  68 ;  City  of  New  Bedford,  69 ;  Boston  and  Vicinity,  70 ; 
Recruiting  Office  in  New  Bedford,  71  ;  Recruiting  Office  in  Boston,  72 ; 
Enlistment  Rolls  of  Lieut.  John  B.  Hyde,  78 ;  Original  Commissioned 
and  Non-Commissioned  Officers,  82  ;  Enlistment  Rolls  of  Lieut.  George 
D.  Allen,  87  ;  Camp  Schouler,  Lynnfield,  83  ;  Camp  Massasoit,  Readville, 
90 ;  Departure  for  the  Seat  of  War,  93. 

CHAPTER   FIFTH. 

December  25,  1861— March  9,  1862. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Hall's  Hill,  Va.,  95  ;  Camp  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  98 
Camp  at  Hall's  Hill,  131  ;  The  Target  Shooting,  139. 

vii 


viii  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   SIXTH. 

March  10,  1862— April  4,  1862. 

The  Advance  upon  Richmond,  156  ;  The  President's  War  Order,  158 ;  McClel- 
lan's  Address  to  the  Army,  162 ;  The  Peninsula,  163  ;  Centreville  and 
Manassas,  165;  The  Embarkation,  169;  The  Situation,  192;  Banks' 
Fifth  Corps,  195  ;  Howard's  Mills,  195  ;  The  First  Gun  Fired,  195. 

CHAPTER  SEVENTH. 

April  6,  1862— May  8,  1862. 

Yorktown,  205 ;  "  In  Battery,"  205 ;  In  the  Earthworks,  210 ;  The  Masked 
Battery,  213  ;  Guarding  the  Bridge  over  Wormley's  Creek  by  Sections, 
217  ;  The  Trenches,  231 ;  The  Camp,  233  ;  Batteries  of  Siege  Guns,  240  ; 
The  Charge  on  the  Right  Fort,  244. 

CHAPTER    EIGHTH. 

May  9,  1862— May  31,  1862. 

The  Battle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  252;  Up  York  River,  253;  West  Point 
to  Cumberland  Creek,  257;  White  House  Landing,  263;  Fifth  Pro 
visional  Army  Corps,  264 ;  In  Hanover  County,  271. 

CHAPTER    NINTH. 

May  31,  1862— June  27,  1862. 

The  Valley  of  the  Chickahominy,  287 ;  Battle  of  Mechanicsville,  288 ;  The 
Battery  at  the  Bridge,  289 ;  Leaves  of  Absence,  295  ;  Review  of  the 
Fifth  Corps,  296 ;  On  Picket  at  New  Bridge,  299 ;  In  the  Earthworks, 
299 ;  The  First  Death  in  Camp,  300 ;  On  Gaines  Hill,  302 ;  The  Bridges 
across  the  Chickahominy  River,  304 ;  Battery  No.  4,  310. 

CHAPTER   TENTH. 

June  26,  1862— June  28,  1862. 

The  Battle  of  Gaines  Mills,  314 ;  The  Situation,  315 ;  In  Battery,  319 ;  The 
March,  319  ;  Casualties,  320 ;  The  Retreat  of  the  Forces,  336. 

CHAPTER    ELEVENTH. 

June  29,  1862— July  1,  1862. 

The  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  361  ;  The  March,  361  ;  The  Navy  Assists,  362  5 
The  Gunboats,  363  ;  McClellan  and  the  Artillery,  367  ;  Casualties,  370. 

CHAPTER    TWELFTH. 

July  2,  1862— August  14,  1862, 

The  Battery  divided,  381  ;  Harrison's  Landing,  382 ;  The  Inspection,  383 ; 
Review  by  Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck,  383  ;  Special  Order  No.  200  Divid 
ing  the  Battery,  387;  Officers  Resigned,  388;  Officers  Promoted,  3905 
The  Sick  and  Wounded,  392  ;  An  Artillery  Demonstration,  398. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER   THIRTEENTH. 

• 

August  14,  1862— September  3,  1862. 

From  Harrison's  Landing  to  Acquia  Creek,  413 ;  The  Battle  of  Second 
Manassas,  413 ;  The  Relief  of  Major  General  John  Pope,  414 ;  The 
March  to  Williamsburg,  414;  The  Sick  and  Wounded,  415;  Acquia 
Creek,  415;  The  Fourth  R.  I.  Contingent,  423;  Casualties,  423;  The 
Peril  of  the  National  Capital,  428. 

CHAPTER   FOURTEENTH. 

September  3,  1862— October  9,  1862. 

The  Battery  Reunited  and  Reinstated,  432  ;  The  Battery  Concentrated,  439 ; 
Battle  of  Antietam,  445  ;  Reported  to  Gen.  Whipple,  445 ;  Re-recruit 
ing  the  Battery,  447  ;  Emancipation,  448 ;  Full  Equipment,  452  ;  Re 
ported  to  General  Morell,  458. 

CHAPTER   FIFTEENTH. 

October  11,  1862— January  25,  1863. 

The  Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  459;  Men  of  Massachusetts  and  Michigan, 
464  ;  Crossing  the  River,  465 ;  Joined  the  Division  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
477;  Snicker's  Gap,  479  ;  Camp  near  Warrenton,  Va.,  483;  Near  Fal- 
mouth,  Va.,  489  ;  Hooker  in  Command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  495  ;  In 
Battery,  496  ;  Casualties,  497. 

CHAPTER    SIXTEENTH. 

January  26,  1863  —  June  13,  1863. 

The  Battle  of  Chancellorsville,  544 ;  A  Cavalry  Review,  568 ;  Grand  Re 
view,  569 ;  Invalid  Corps,  576 ;  In  Line  of  Battle,  582 ;  Recrossed  the 
River,  583 ;  Report  of  Captain  Phillips,  586 ;  Reduced  to  Four  Guns, 
595  ;  Drew  another  Section,  598. 

CHAPTER    SEVENTEENTH. 

June  13,  1863— August  8,  1863. 

The  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  602  ;  Rebels  said  to  be  in  Maryland,  603 ;  Veteran 
Volunteers,  617  ;  Duty  and  the  Death  Penalty,  621 ;  Positions  of  the  Bat 
tery,  626,  651 ;  "  Fix  Prolonge  to  Fire  Retiring,"  630 ;  Tenth  New  York 
Battery,  664  ;  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery  Monument,  676  ;  High  Water 
Mark,  678;  Progress  South  of  the  Armies,  682. 

CHAPTER   EIGHTEENTH. 

August  9,  1863— November  23,  1863. 

The  Battle  of  Rappahannock  Station,  695 ;  Massachusetts  State  Agency, 
697;  White  Sulphur  Springs,  703;  Target  Practice,  706;  The  Invalid 


x  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Corps,  709;  The  Fight  at  Bristoe,  716;  Manoeuvring  for  Position,  721  ; 
Music  in  the  Army,  728;  Attack  on  the  Earthwork*,  732  ;  Under  Fire, 
733. 

CHAPTER    NINETEENTH. 

November  23,  1863— February  29,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  Mine  Run,  740  ;  Brigade  Drill,  744 ;  The  Crossing  of  the  Rap- 
idan,  745 ;  In  Line  of  Battle,  746  ;  Longfellow's  Son  Shot,  747  ;  A  Fatal 
Mistake,  749 ;  Reenlistments,  761  ;  Music  for  the  Army,  762  ;  Money 
Paid  by  Drafted  Persons,  767. 

CHAPTER  TWENTIETH. 

March  1, 1864— May  7,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  776;  Grant  takes  Command,  777  ;  The  Invalid 
Corps,  784;  Lieut.  Scott  Resigns,  785;  "Wanted, —  Recruits."  Poster, 
787 ;  Ball  at  General  J.  J.  Bartlett's  Headquarters,  789  ;  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  790  ;  Reduction  of  Army  Corps,  792  ;  The  Countersign,  797  ;  The 
Demi-Brigade,  798 ;  The  Demi-Brigade  Dissolved,  803  ;  The  Fight  of 
May  5,  805  ;  The  Fight  of  May  6,  807 ;  The  Fight  of  May  7,  808. 

CHAPTER   TWENTY-FIRST. 

May  8,  1864— May  18,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House  and  Laurel  Hill,  811  ;  Captain  A. 
P.  Martin  Wounded,  816;  The  Fight  of  May  8,  816;  The  Fight  of 
May  9,  818 ;  Casualties,  818  ;  The  Fight  of  May  10,  819 ;  The  Fight 
of  May  11,  820  ;  The  Fight  of  May  12,  822  ;  Casualties,  823  ;  Turned  in  a 
Section,' 825  ;  The  Fight  of  May  18,  826. 

CHAPTER   TWENTY-SECOND. 

May  19,  1864— May  25,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  the  North  Anna  River  and  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  827 ; 
The  Fight  of  May  19,  831 ;  Rounds  Fired  by  the  Battery  in  Eighteen 
Days,  833 ;  The  Fight  of  May  23,  834 ;  The  Crossing  at  Jericho  Ford, 
834 ;  The  Fifth  Battery  Men  as  Barn  Movers,  835 ;  The  Fight  of  May 
25,  839;  Casualties,  839;  Lieutenant  Appleton's  Promotion  and  Resigna 
tion,  847. 

CHAPTER   TWENTY-THIRD. 

May  26,  1864— June  14,  1864. 

The   Battle  of   Bethesda  Church,  851;  Officers  Promoted,  857;  Casualties, 
June  2,  858;  Bethesda  Church,  858;  The  Charge  of  the  Battery,  863 
The  Company  Fund,  864. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  xi 

CHAPTER    TWENTY-FOURTH. 

June  15,  1864— August  18,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  Petersburg,  869;  The  Assault  of  June  18,  877;  Casualties, 
877  ;  The  Fortifications,  879  ;  The  Norfolk  Railroad  Cut,  881 ;  The  Sani 
tary  Commission,  886;  The  Army  Ration,  887 ;  A  Work  Built  for  the 
Battery,  889;  The  Rebel  Raid  into  Maryland,  890;  Bombardment  of 
July  30,  893  ;  Casualties,  894. 

CHAPTER    TWENTY-FIFTH. 

August  18,  1864 — September  1,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  899;  Expiration  of  Term  of  Service, 
901;  The  Possession  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  904;  Casualties,  905; 
The  Third  Massachusetts  Battery,  906 ;  Officers  Promoted,  907 ;  Mem 
bers  of  the  Third  Massachusetts  Battery  Transferred,  908. 

CHAPTER    TWENTY-SIXTH. 

September  2,  1864— November  19,  1864. 

The  Battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  910;  Disposal  of  Transferred  Non-Commis- 
sioned  Officers,  915  ;  Commission  Officers  Promoted,  917  ;  Non-Commis- 
sioned  Officers  Promoted,  918 ;  The  Battery  in  Fort  Davison,  919 ;  Mus 
tered  Out  at  Expiration  of  Term  of  Service,  923 ;  New  Section  (Centre) 
Added,  924 ;  The  Fight  at  Hatcher's  Run,  924  ;  The  Defences  of  Wash 
ington,  927. 

CHAPTER    TWENTY-SEVENTH. 

November  4,  1864— April  6,  1865. 

The  Assault  on  Petersburg,  930 ;  Examination  of  Recruits  at  the  Hospital, 
935;  The  Weldon  Railroad,  936;  In  the  Advance  Going  Out:  In  the 
Rear  Coming  Back,  938 ;  Four  Guns  in  Fort  Hays,  938 ;  Two  Guns  in 
Battery  22,  938 ;  Retired  from  the  Forts,  939  ;  Returned  to  the  Forts,  940  ; 
Hatcher's  Run,  941  ;  Back  to  the  Old  Camp,  941 ;  Turned  in  a  Section^ 
942 ;  The  Final  Attack,  943  ;  The  Last  Shot,  943 ;  Casualties,  947. 

CHAPTER    TWENTY-EIGHTH. 

April  3,1865— June  24,  1865. 

Guns  removed  from  Fort  Hays,  953 ;  The  Artillery  Reserve,  954  ;  The  Artil 
lery  Brigade,  955 ;  The  Last  Camp  in  Virginia,  956 ;  The  Last  March, 
957 ;  Mustered  Out  of  the  United  States  Service,  958. 


Proceedings  of  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery  Association, 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

THE  BATTERY  FLAGS  ....  Frontispiece 
THE  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  ....  66 

EQUIPMENTS 75 

LIEUT.   HYDE  AND   "BLACK   CHARLEY  "  92 

PLAN  OF  OPERATIONS  :  YORKTOWN  .  .  .  204 
BUGLE  CALL — "  IN  BATTERY  "  ....  205 
BUGLE  CALL — "  To  THE  COLOR  "  .  .  .  .  209 

SIGNAL  FLAG 219 

REDOUBT 225 

LUNETTE 226 

CAMP  CHAIR 228 

HOUSE  NEAR  WORMLEY'S  CREEK     ....     234 

REBEL  REDOUBT 247 

VALLEY  OF  THE  CHICKAHOMINY:  PLAN   .        .        .286 
BATTLE  OF  GAINES   MILLS:  PLAN   . 
BATTLE  OF  MALVERN   HILL:  PLAN 
SECOND   POSITION  AT  MALVERN  HILL    . 

CANNONEER'S   SWORD 

ARMY  DESK 

BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG:  PLAN 
BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE  :  PLAN    . 
BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG,  JULY  2,1863:    PLAN 

xiii 


360 
3/2 
386 
441 
459 
544 
602 


xiv  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

PORTRAIT  OF  CAPTAIN  AUGUSTUS  P.  MARTIN        .  613 

BRINGING  OFF  THE  GUN 636 

BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG,  JULY  3,  1863  ;  PLAN  .  648 
CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS  AND  HIS  HORSE  .  .  .  662 
FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY  MONUMENT  .  .  .  676 
HIGH  WATER  MARK:  TABLET  ....  678 
LIEUT.  APPLETON  AND  HIS  HORSE  "FOLKO"  .  707 
RAILROAD  BRIDGE  OVER  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK  RIVER  733 
CAMP  OF  THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  RAPPAHAN 
NOCK  STATION,  VA.,  DEC.  1863, -APRIL,  1864  .  740 
"ACTION  FRONT."  DRILL  AT  WINTER  QUARTERS 

CAMP,  RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION,  VA.,  MAR.  1864  793 
ONE  PIECE  OF  THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  RAPPA 
HANNOCK  STATION,  VA.,  APRIL,  1864.     LIEUT. 

SlMONDS  STANDING  IN  THE  REAR     .        .        .  797 

BATTLE  OF  PETERSBURG  :    PLAN        .        .        .         .  869 

REUNION  AT  NEW  BEDFORD,  MASS.,  AUG.   9,    1892  967 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE  BATTERY  FLAGS. 

"An'  didn't  we  flock  to  the  colors  when  the  drums  began  to  beat, 
An'  didn't  we  march  with  proud  step  along  this  village  street? 
An'  didn't  the  people  cheer  us  when  we  got  aboard  the  cars, 
With  the  flag  a-wavin'  o'er  us,  and  went  away  to  the  wars?" 

— CAPTAIN  JACK   CRAWFORD. 

There  never  was  a  time  when  the  American  Flag  stood 
for  so  much  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  of  the  Common 
wealth  of  Massachusetts,  as  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1 86 1 :  there  was  never  a  time  when  the  emblem  of  the  in 
divisibility  of  the  Union  stood  so  much  in  need  of  appre 
ciation  and  respect. 

Emotions  of  alarm  and  anxiety  for  the  security  of  the 
individual  and  all  he  held  most  dear,  mingled  with  and 
intensified  the  enthusiasm  which  called  together  great  con 
vocations  of  all  classes  and  both  sexes,  to  witness  the  simple 
raising  of  the  flag  which  represented  all  that  the  constitu 
tion  of  the  United  States  was  intended  to  guarantee.  In 
the  capital  of  the  state  vast  assemblages  breathlessly 
watched  the  unfolding  of  flags  of  immense  size,  made  of  the 
costliest  material,  across  the  principal  streets,  in  the  most 
conspicuous  places,  to  the  music  of  the  national  airs. 

Flags  were  flung  out  from  the  steeples  of  churches.  The 
clergy  were  among  the  most  patriotic  of  those  who  ad 
dressed  the  multitude,  the  exercises  opening  with  prayer. 
Far  as  the  eye  could  see,  above  the  crowd  in  the  street,  in 
the  windows  and  on  the  roofs  of  houses,  the  people  waited 
for  the  orator's  closing  words:  "Our  Country,  the  United 
States  of  America,"  which  were  the  signal  for  the  running 


2  HISTORY    OF    THE 

out  of  the  flag,  and  for  long  continued  and  hearty  cheering, 
while  the  bands  played  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner"  and 
"Hail  Columbia." 

Members  of  Congress  anxious  to  show  their  colors,  and 
returned  travellers  from  the  turbulent  South,  made  soul 
stirring  speeches  and  roused  their  youthful  hearers  to  a 
wild  fervor  which  from  the  first  was  unrestrainable,  and 
sooner  or  later  carried  them  "away  to  the  wars."  Ardent, 
unfaltering,  undying  devotion  to  the  beautiful  ensign  was 
inculcated  by  the  speakers  and  punctuated  by  the  fife,  drum 
and  bugle. 

In  the  hush  of  the  church  vestries  mission  circles  were 
formed  by  women,  ten  thousand  of  them  in  this  state,  who, 
fearing  they  knew  not  what,  saw  their  stitches  set  through 
tears,  by  hurrying,  tremulous  hands,  while  the  men  cheered 
at  the  "flag  raisings."  They  organized  little  bands  called 
"Soldiers'  Aid  Societies." 

Sweethearts  and  wives,  and  sisters,  made  red,  white  and 
blue  neckties,  which  the  young  soldiers  wore  in  the  state 
camps  or  on  brief  furloughs  home. 

Young  ladies  in  private  schools  took  up  subscriptions 
and  purchased  handsome  standards  which  they  presented 
to  the  volunteer  companies.  Young  gentlemen  in  theirs 
presented  flags  and  equipments  to  graduates.  Note  paper 
and  envelopes  ornamented  with  flags  were  the  correct  thing 
in  correspondence. 

A  large  and  elegantly  wrought  shawl  was  presented  to 
the  wife  of  Governor  Andrew  by  R.  H.  Stearns  &  Co.,  popu 
lar  dry  goods  merchants,  designed  and  executed,  by  a  lady 
in  Newton.  It  was  of  the  finest  worsted  in  red,  white  and 
blue  colors,  with  thirty-four  stars  and  the  Union  shield  of 
the  same  material  so  arranged  as  to  give  to  the  whole  a 
symmetrical  appearance  and  an  exceedingly  fine  effect. 

And  underlying  all  this  ebullition  of  feeling  absorbed  by 
one  object,  in  the  participation  of  which  political  lines  were 
effaced  and  a  "war  democrat"  was  as  good  a  fighting  man 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  3 

as  a  republican,  there  was  absolute,  uncompromising  fealty 
to  the  government,  and  a  grim  determination  to  stand  by 
the  flag  at  whatever  cost  to  themselves  or  to  others. 

Major  C.  A.  Woodruff,  U.  S.  A.,  in  a  speech  at  one  of 
the  reunions  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
has  given  the  best  expression  to  this  sentiment : 

"No  patriotic  citizen  of  this  Government  can  admit  that 
there  was  any  equality  of  flags :  for  true  Americans  there 
was  but  one  national  flag,  and  that  the  one  the  Union  sol 
diers  bore  to  complete  victory :  nor  that  there  was  any  co- 
honor  of  causes :  for  true  Americans  there  was  but  one  just 
cause,  and  that  the  preservation  of  the  Federal  Union." 

To  prove  this  fealty  by  action  there  was  an  ever  increas 
ing  necessity  in  the  danger  which  threatened  Washington, 
and  called  forth  from  Wendell  Phillips  the  following  enun 
ciation  : 

"The  war,  then,  is  not  aggressive,  but  in  self-defence,  and 
Washington  has  become  the  Thermopylae  of  liberty  and 
justice.  Rather  than  surrender  that  Capital,  cover  every 
square  foot  of  it  with  a  living  body;  crowd  it  with  millions 
of  men  and  empty  every  bank  vault  at  the  North  to  pay  the 
cost.  Teach  the  world,  once  for  all,  that  North  America 
belongs  to  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  under  them  no  man 
shall  wear  a  chain.  .  .  .  Cannon  think  in  the  igth  century; 
and  you  must  put  the  North  in  the  right  before  you  can 
justify  her  in  the  face  of  the  world:  before  you  can  pour 
Massachusetts  like  an  avalanche  through  the  streets  of  Bal 
timore,  and  carry  Lexington  on  the  i9th  of  April,  s 
of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line." 

THE   FLAGS   OF   THE   BATTERY. 

NOTES    OF    FRANCIS*  P.    WASHBURN,    MAY    5,    IQOO. 

•  -As  regards  the  Battery  flags :  two  were  given  us  by  the 
state  when  we  were  organized;  one  a  full-sized  silk  battle 
flag,  the  stars  and  stripes,  the  other  a  white  silk  guidon  wit 


4  HISTORY    OF    THE 

cross  cannon  and  number  and  name  of  the  Battery.  The 
first  had  the  staff  shot  off  at  Gaines  Mills,  and  after  the 
battle,  was  spliced,  and  did  service  through  the  Seven  Days 
fight.  Both  flags  were  so  badly  used  up  in  the  campaign 
that  when  the  men  were  transferred  to  the  Third  Mass, 
and  Fourth  R.  I.  batteries  at  Harrison's  Landing  the  flags 
were  sent  back  to  the  state.  The  only  flags  we  ever  carried 
after  this  were  the  regular  U.  S.  Artillery  guidons. 

The  guidon  was  not  used  at  the  Seven  Days'  fight  but 
was  in  the  baggage  wagon  at  that  time,  and  a  can  of  oil 
was  spilled  on  it  which  spoiled  it  for  use  by  the  Battery,  and 
I  always  supposed  it  was  sent  home  with  the  other  flag. 

The  flags  were  furnished  by  the  state,  and  were  a  part  of 
the  equipment  carried  by  a  battery  at  that  time.  When  we 
joined  the  Army  we  were  not  allowed  a  color  bearer  or  a 
guide :  one  of  the  buglers  took  those  places." 

THE    COLOR   BEARERS. 

The  buglers  were  James  Winters,  John  C.  Tucker,  and 
after  Tucker's  three  years'  term  expired,  Henry  M.  Gifford. 
Winters  re-enlisted  and  served  through  the  war.  The  first 
guidon  was  Mortier  Gale.  He  carried  a  large  flag  at 
parade,  a  small  flag  or  guidon  was  ordinarily  used.  On  a 
march  both  flags  were  carried  in  the  Battery  wagon.  He 
carried  the  U.  S.  flag  until  after  the  seven  days'  battles.  He 
was  afterwards  hospital  steward.  The  second  Bugler  took 
his  place.  The  state  guidon  could  not  be  used  because  of 
the  white  color.  It  was  sent  home  from  Harrison's  Land 
ing. 

Then  came  Andrew  Hosley,  a  detached  man  from  an  in 
fantry  regiment,  who  carried  the  colors,  and  after  him 
A.  K.  P.  Hayden. 

In  the  memory  of  some  members  Chris.  Allen  of  New 
Bedford  at  one  time  acted  as  color  bearer,  and  George  W. 
Poole  as  Guidon. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  5 

According  to  the  report  of  Colonel  Charles  Amory,  Mas 
ter  of  Ordnance  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
for  1 86 1,  that  department  issued  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
i  silk  Guidon  with  staff  and  socket,  i  National  flag,  silk, 
with  staff  and  socket,  4  camp  colors  with  staves,  and  2 
bugles. 

THE   FLAGS    UNFURLED. 
Journal  of  D.  Henry  Grows. 

''Camp  on  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  Washington,  about  8 
or  10  minutes'  walk  from  the  Capitol,  Sunday  morning, 
Dec.  29,  1 86 1 :  After  breakfast  put  on  my  uniform  and 
went  on  dress  parade.  As  it  is  the  first  Sunday  here,  we 
took  our  Ensign  and  Right  Guide  from  their  covering  and 
for  the  first  time  in  our  presence  our  colors  were  loosed  to 
the  breeze. 

"They  are  handsome  flags,  one  an  American  flag  of  silk, 
and  the  guidon  of  red  and  white  with  golden  cannons,  and 
the  number  of  the  Battery.  After  parade,  before  we  were 
dismissed  we  had  divine  service.  The  officers  sang  a  psalm, 
then  Lieut.  Allen  acted  as  chaplain.  He  read  the  first  chap 
ter  in  the  Bible,  then  sang,  then  a  prayer,  and  finished  the 
services  by  all  the  men  singing  'Old  Hundred.'  ' 

At  this  time  the  state  guidon,  swallow  tail  in  form,  was 
half  red  and  half  white,  but  subsequently,  while  retaining 
its  shape,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  added  in  accordance 
with  the  following  general  order:— 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  January  18,  1862. 
General  Orders 
No.  4. 

I.  Under  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  January 
7,  1862,  guidons  and  camp  colors  for  the  Army  will  be  made  like  the 
United  States  flag,  with  stars  and  stripes.  .  .  . 

By  command  of  Major  General  McClellan. 

L.  THOMAS, 
Adjutant  General. 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE   FLAGS    REPLACED. 

His  Excellency  Governor  John  A.  Andrew  in  his  inaug 
ural  address,  January  9,  1863,  recommended  replacing  the 
flags  torn  and  worn  in  battle  in  the  following  words : 

"Since  the  summer  of  1862,  several  of  our  volunteer  corps  which 
reported  that  their  colors  had  become  unfit  for  use  by  being  in  battle 
and  worn  by  the  exposures  of  service,  have  been  supplied  by  the  Mas 
ter  of  Ordnance  with  new  flags  upon  the  return  to  his  charge  of  those 
which  they  had  borne  so  honorably  through  two  campaigns.  I  respect 
fully  ask  an  appropriation  to  cover  the  expense  thus  incurred,  and  of 
the  replacement  when  needed  of  the  colors  of  all  the  Massachusetts 
troops.  It  is  a  proud  satisfaction  to  know  that  never  yet  has  the  white 
standard  of  this  commonwealth  been  surrendered  to  the  enemy." 

In  1863,  Joel  Hay  den  was  Lieut.  Governor,  Oliver  War 
ner,  Secretary,  Henry  K.  Oliver,  Treasurer.  Jonathan  E. 
Field  was  president  of  the  Senate  and  Alexander  H.  Bul 
lock  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

The  legislature  of  that  year  passed  the  following  Resolve : 

Resolved,  That  a  sum  not  exceeding  three  thousand  dollars  is 
hereby  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  replacing  the  flags  of  Massa 
chusetts  regiments  worn  out  or  lost  in  service,  the  same  to  be  ex 
pended  from  time  to  time  during  the  current  year,  by  the  Governor 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Council. 

Approved  March  5,  1863. 

A  copy  of  this  Resolve  was  sent  to  the  Captain  of  the 
Battery  with  the  following  words  added  in  red  ink:  "A 
'special  Requisition'  for  the  above  will  be  promptly 
answered." 

It  is  noted  by  the  historian  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery 
that  on  March  13,  1863,  a  new  state  color  appeared  in  line. 
The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  then  in  camp  near  the  Third 
in  the  vicinity  of  Falmouth,  Va.,  but  there  is  no  record  of 
a  new  color  having  been  sent  or  received.  In  his  Returns 
of  Clothing,  Camp  and  Garrison  Equipage  for  Oct.  31, 
1863,  Captain  Phillips  made  the  following  entry: 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  7 

"Oct.  31,  1863,  Received  One  Silk  Guidon— new— ."  In 
November  of  the  same  year  "On  hand  One  Guidon." 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Master  of  Ordnance  of  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  for  the  year  1863,  no  worn  colors 
from  the  Fifth-  Mass.  Battery  were  in  possession  of  the 
Department,  January  i,  1864,  nor  received  during  that  year 
ending  December  31,  1863,  neither  is  there  any  mention  of 
the  one  issued  to  them  during  that  year. 

In  the  Acts  and  Resolves  of  the  Massachusetts  Legisla 
ture  for  1864,  Chapter  68,  may  be  found  the  following  Re 
solve  to  provide  for  the  procuring  of  flags  to  replace  those 
lost  or  worn  out  in  the  service,  and  for  other  purposes : 

Resolved,  That  the  unexpended  balance  of  the  appropriation  of 
three  thousand  dollars  authorized  by  Chapter  26  of  the  Resolves  of 
1863,  together  with  an  additional  sum  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dol 
lars,  shall  be  allowed  and  paid  for  the  purpose  of  replacing  the  flags 
of  Massachusetts  regiments  worn  out  in  the  service,  and  also  for  pro 
viding  the  necessary  colors  and  guidons  for  Massachusetts  regiments 
and  batteries  in  the  service  of  the  United  States;  the  same  to  be  ex 
pended  from  time  to  time,  during  the  current  year  by  the  Governor, 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Council. 

Approved  May  10,   1864. 

Section  77,  Chapter  238,  Acts  and  Resolves,  1864. 

Each  regiment  shall  be  furnished  by  the  State  with  the  national  and 
state  colors,  their  staffs,  belts  and  sockets,  and  each  battery  of  light 
artillery  and  company  of  cavalry  with  its  proper  guidon,  staff,  belt, 
and  socket,  and  the  commander  of  such  regiment,  battery,  or  company, 
shall  be  responsible  for  their  safe  keeping. 

From  the  Report  of  Brigadier-General  and  Acting  Chief 
of  Ordnance  Richard  A.  Peirce  to  the  Governor  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  dated  January  2,  1865,  for  the  year  1864: 

"Schedule  K:  Worn  colors  received  by  the  Chief  of  Ordnance  dur 
ing  the  year  ending  December  31,  1864. 

5th  Light  Battery,  I  Guidon,  silken. 

Schedule  L:  Worn  colors  in  charge  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance,  De 
cember  31,  1864. 

'5th  Light  Battery,  i  Guidon,  silken." 


8  HISTORY   OF    THE. 

There  is  no  mention  of  the  one  issued  to  them  in  1864. 

In  a  letter  to  a  member  of  his  family  Captain  Phillips 
wrote:  "Before  Petersburg,  Nov.  16,  1864,  I  send  you  by 
Lieut.  Tripp  the  Battery  flag  which  I  wish  to  preserve  as  a 
trophy.  It  is  torn  and  spotted,  but  I  wish  to  keep  it  just  as 
it  is." 

In  his  Returns  for  the  month  of  November,  1864,  he  has, 
— "Rec'd  One  Guidon  in  case — new — "  and  in  December 
"On  hand  one  Guidon." 

THE  INSCRIPTIONS  ON  THE  FLAGS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY. 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL' s  OFFICE 

General  Orders  WASHINGTON    Feb.  22    1862. 

No.  19 

The  following  Order  has  been  received  from  the  War  Department: 
It  is  ordered  that  there  shall  be  inscribed  upon  the  colors  or  guidons 
of  all  regiments  and  batteries  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  the 
names  of  the  battles  in  which  they  have  borne  a  meritorious  part. 
These  names  will  also  be  placed  on  the  Army  Register  at  the  head  of 
the  list  of  the  officers  of  each  regiment. 

It  is  expected  that  troops  so  distinguished  will  regard  their  colors 
as  representing  the  honor  of  their  corps — to  be  lost  only  with  their 
lives;  and  that  those  not  yet  entitled  to  such  a  distinction  will  not  rest 
satisfied  until  they  have  won  it  by  their  discipline  and  courage. 

The  General  commanding  the  Army  will,  under  the  instructions  of 
this  Department,  take  the  necessary  steps  to  carry  out  the  order. 
Bv  command  of  Major  General  McClellan. 

L.  THOMAS 
Official :  Adjutant  General. 

Nothing  was  done  in  relation  to  this  order  until  the 
autumn  of  1864,  when  there  appeared  the  following  circu 
lar  forwarded  through  the  Commander  of  the  Artillery 

Brigade : 

HEAD  QUARTERS  STH  ARMY  CORPS, 

Circular  September  2ist    1864. 

No.  135 

Division  Commanders  and  the  Commander  of  the  Artillery  Bri 
gade,  will  please  have  made  out  a  report  from  each  regiment  and  bat 
tery  in  their  commands,  of  the  battles  which  they  claim  should  be  in 
scribed  on  their  flags  and  guidons  for  meritorious  conduct  as  prescribed 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  9 

in  General  Order  No.  19,  of  February  22.  1862,  from  Head  Quarters  of 
the  Army. 

By  command  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  WARREN. 

(Signed)  FRED  T.   LOCKE 

A.  A.  G. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARTILLERY  BRIG.  STH  A.  C. 

Sept.  2ist    1864. 
Official. 

Furnished   for  the  information  of  Battery  commanders.     A  list  of 
battles   in   which  their  commands  have  borne  a  part,   and  which  will 
entitle  the  commands  to  have  the  same  inscribed  on  their  oruidons,  will 
be  forwarded  by  commanders  with  the  least  possible  delay. 
By  command  of 

COL.  C.  S.  WAINWRIGHT 

FORD.  MORRIS, 
Lieut.  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  following  November  a  document  was  received  at 
Battery  Head  Quarters  labelled  "Decision  of  the  Military 
Board  in  Relation  to  what  constitutes  a  battle  to  distinguish 
from  skirmishes  in  which  some  portions  of  the  command 
may  have  been  engaged. 

Also  calling  for  a  list  of  Battles  in  which  Battery  E  has 
actually  been  engaged  during  the  present  war." 

This  is  endorsed  by  Captain  Phillips,  "Received  and  in 
formation  furnished  Nov.  n.  1864." 

THE  DECISION    ETC. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  STH  ARMY  CORPS, 

Nov.  8.  1864 
General  Orders 
No.  55 

By  decision  of  the  Military  Board  convened  at  these  Head  Quar 
ters  Oct.  29,  1864,  by  S.  O.  (Special  Order)  No.  268,  the  following 
list  comprises  all  the  battles  in  which  this  Corps  has  been  engaged. 
Many  regiments  have  claimed  as  battles  actions  which  the  board  de 
cides  are  only  part  of  the  same  battle,  and  to  be  included  under  c 
name. 

All  that  are  claimed  on  the  original  list  that  do  not  appear  on  the 
list  furnished  have  been  rejected. 


10  HISTORY    OF    THE 

It  is  decided  that  an  organization  may  claim  any  engagement  in 
which  the  Corps  to  which  it  belonged  took  part,  whether  actually  en 
gaged  or  under  orders  and  held  in  readiness  on  the  field.  Division 
Commanders  and  the  Commander  of  the  Artillery  Brigade,  will  have 
new  lists  forwarded  as  soon  as  possible  from  all  the  regiments  and 
batteries  in  their  commands  to  include  only  such  battles  designated  on 
the  accompanying  list,  in  order  that  the  claims  may  be  forwarded,  and 
the  list  published  at  an  early  date. 

By  command  of 

MAJ.  GENERAL  WARREN 

A.  S.  MARVIN  JR. 

A.  A.  General. 

Head  Quarters  Artillery  Brig.  5th  A.  C. 
Nov.  9,   1864. 

FORD  MORRIS 

Lieut,  and  A.  A.  A.  General. 
Official : 

The  "list"  is  appended,  and  in  the  following  spring  the 
order  for  the  inscriptions  was  issued : 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

March  7.  1865. 
General  Orders 
No.  10. 

In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  General  Orders  No.  19,  of 
1862,  from  the  War  Department,  and  in  conformity  with  the  reports 
of  boards  convened  to  examine  into  the  services  rendered  by  the  troops 
concerned,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Lieutenant  General  command 
ing  Armies  of  the  United  States,  it  is  ordered 'that  there  shall  be  in 
scribed  upon  the  colors  or  guidons  of  the  following  regiments  and  bat 
teries,  serving  in  this  army,  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  they  have 
borne  a  meritorious  part,  and  as  hereinafter  specified,  viz : 


BATTERY  "E"  MASSACHUSETTS  ARTILLERY. 

Yorktown.  Rappahannock  Station. 

Hanover  Court  House.  Mine  Run. 

Mechanicsville.  Wilderness. 

Gaines  Mills.  Spottsylvania. 

Malvern  Hill.  North  Anna. 

Second  Bull  Run.  Bethesda  Church. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  H 

Fredericksburg.  Petersburg. 

Chancellorsville.  Weldon  Railroad. 

Gettysburg.  Hatcher's  Run. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Meade 

GEO.  D.  RUGGLES, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General 
Official : 

RETURNED  TO  THE  STATE. 

Many  flags  had  been  returned  before  the  war  ended,  for 
Governor  Andrew  thus  referred  to  them  in  his  inaugural 
address  to  the  legislature  in  January,  1865 : 

"In  the  vestibule  of  the  capitol  of  the  Commonwealth  you  passed  to 
this  hall  of  your  deliberations  beneath  a  hundred  battle-flags,  war  worn, 
begrimed  and  bloody.  They  are  sad  but  proud  memorials  of  the 
transcendent  crime  of  the  Rebellion,  the  curse  of  slavery,  the  elastic 
energy  of  a  free  Commonwealth,  the  glory  and  the  grief  of  War. 

There  has  been  no  loyal  army,  the  shout  of  whose  victory  has  not 
drowned  the  dying  sigh  of  a  son  of  Massachusetts.  There  has  been 
no  victory  gained  which  her  blood  has  not  helped  to  win." 

After  the  war  was  over  the  Government  made  the  follow 
ing  provision  for  the  preservation  of  the  colors  in  the  fol 
lowing  order : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE 

WASHINGTON    May  15,  1865. 
General  Orders 

No.  94. 

Extracts:  III.  The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  will  designate 
places  of  rendezvous  in  the  respective  States,  to  which  the  regiments, 
after  muster  out,  will  be  forwarded  for  payment. 

IV.  Upon  arrival  at  the  rendezvous  where  the  musters-out  are  to 
take  place,  a  critical  examination  of  the  regimental  and  company  rec 
ords,  books,  &c.,  will  be  made;  and  in  case  of  omissions,  the  proper 
commanders  will  be  made  to  supply  them,  and  make  all  the  entries  as 
enjoined  by  the  Army  Regulations.  At  the  same  time  the  muster- 
out  rolls  will  be  commenced  and  prepared  in  accordance  with  existing 
regulations,  under  the  direction  of  the  Assistant  Commissaries  of  Mus 
ters  of  Divisions,  superintended  by  the  Corps  Commissaries.  Corps 


12  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  Department  commanders  will  see  that  the  work  is  pushed  with 
energy  and  executed  promptly,  using  to  this  end  Division  and  Brigade 
commanders  to  superintend  it,  and  their  respective  staff  officers,  to 
aid  the  mustering  officers  in  collecting  the  data  for  the  muster-out 
rolls  and  discharge  papers  as  well  as  the  preparation  of  the  same.  .  .  . 

V.  So  soon  as  the  rolls  of  a  regiment  are  completed,  the  said  com 
mand,  with  its  arms,  colors,  and  necessary  equipage,  will  be  placed  en 
route  to  its  state,  and  to  the  rendezvous  therein  at  or  nearest  which  it 
was  mustered  in. 

En  route,  and  after  arrival  in  the  State  the  following  will  be  ob 
served  : 

i.  Immediately  on  arrival  at  the  State  rendezvous,  the  regiment 
will  be  reported  to,  and  taken  control  of,  by  the  Chief  Mustering 
Officer  for  the  State,  or  his  assistant  at  the  point. 

7.  The  Chief  Mustering  Officer  will,  under  regulations  to  be  estab 
lished  by  himself,  take  possession  of  and  carefully  preserve  the  regi 
mental  and  company  records,  also  the  colors  with  the  respective  regi 
ments,  and  hold  them  subject  to  orders  from  the  Adjutant  General  of 
the  Army. 

8.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  arrival  at  the  state  rendezvous  the 
Chief  Mustering  Officer,  or  his  assistant,  will  see  that  the  arms  and 
other  public  property  brought  to  the   State  by  the  troops  are  turned 
over  to  the  proper  officer  of  the  Supply  Department  thereat. 

VI.  In  preparing  the  muster-out  rolls,   Corps,   Department,   Divi 
sion  and  Brigade  commanders  will  hold  regimental  officers  to  a  strict 
accountability,  in  order  to  insure  accurate  and  complete  records  of  the 
enlisted  men,  and  the  better  to  establish  the  just  claims1  of  the  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates  who  have  been  wounded,  or  of  the 
representatives  of  those  who  have   died  from  disease  or  wounds,   or 
been  killed  in  battle. 

VII.  Prior   to    the   departure   of   regiments    from   the    rendezvous 
where   mustered    out,    all   public   property, — except    arms,    colors,    and 
equipage  required  en  route, — will  be  turned  over  to,  and  cared  for  by, 
the   proper   officers  of  the   Supply  Department   concerned. 


THE    RETURN    OF    THE    GUIDON    BY    CAPT. 
PHILLIPS. 

HEADQUARTERS  BATTERY  E. 

MASS.  ART'Y 
READVILLE,  MASS.,  June  12,  '65. 

I  certify  on  honor  that  I  have  this  day  turned  over  to 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  13 

Bv't  Capt.  (Robert)  Davis  2d  U.  S.  Inf.  and  mustering  of 
ficer  the  following  articles  of  C.  C.  and  G.  Equipage  in  obe 
dience  to  G.  O.  No.  94  War  Dept. 
A.  G.  O.  current  series. 


A  GUIDON. 

On  the  back  of  this  paper  is  written : — 
"No.  4.     Transferred  to  Capt.  Davis,  i  Guidon." 
In  Captain  Phillips'  Returns  of  Clothing,  Camp  and  Gar 
rison  Equipage  for  the  month  of  June,  1865,  there  is  the 
entry : — 

"Transferred  to  Capt.  Davis  One  Guidon." 
The  records  of  the  Record  and  Pension  Office  of  the  Wai- 
Department,  show  by  information  forwarded  from  that  of 
fice  December  8,  1900,  that  by  telegram  dated  War  Depart 
ment,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  June  13,  1865,  the  chief 
mustering  officer  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  was  author 
ized  to  turn  over  all  regimental  colors  in  his  charge  under 
section  7,  paragraph  5,  Special  Orders  No.  94,  War  Depart 
ment,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  1865,  to  the  Governor  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  at  such  time  as  the  latter  might 
name. 

RECEIVED   BY  THE   STATE. 

On  the  1 3th  of  December,   1865,  the  following  General 
Order  was  issued: 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSOTT* 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  BOSTON. 

December  13,  1865. 

General  Orders  No.   18 

By  General  Order  No.  94,  of  the  War  Department,  issued  May  15, 
1865,   volunteer   regiments   and  batteries,   on  their   return  to  their   re 
spective  states,  when  mustered  out  and  discharged  were  to  deposit  the« 
colors  with  the  chief  United  States  mustering  officers,  to  be  by  t. 
transferred  to  the  governors  of  the  states. 


14  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Since  that  time  the  following  Massachusetts  regiments  and  bat 
teries,  having  faithfully  served  their  country  to  the  end  of  the  Rebel 
lion,  returned  home  and  been  discharged,  their  colors  have  been  re 
ceived  by  Brevet-Colonel  F.  N.  Clarke  U.  S.  A..  Chief  Musterine 

Officer,  viz 4th,  5th,  6th,  7th,   nth,   isth,   i6th  Batteries,  Light 

Artillery  .... 

On  Friday,  22d.  instant. — Forefather's  Day. — the  colors  will  be 
escorted  from  Colonel  Clarke's  headquarters,  No.  2  Bulfmch  Street, 
to  the  State  House,  where  they  will  be  formally  received  by  His  Ex 
cellency  the  Governor;  and  placed  in  the  public  archives  of  the  Com 
monwealth,  to  be  sacredly  preserved  forever  as  grand  emblems  of  the 
heroic  services  and  patriotic  devotion  to  Liberty  and  Union  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  thousand  of  her  dead  and  living  sons. 

The  escort  will  be  performed  by  the  ist  Company  of  Cadets  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Holmes  commanding,  who  will  report  to  Brevet  Colonel 
Oarke,  at  his  headquarters,  at  n  o'clock  a.  m.,  when  the  line  of  march 
will  be  taken  up. 

All  general,  regimental  and  company  officers,  and  past  general, 
regimental  and  company  officers  of  Massachusetts,  and  especially  all 
officers  and  past  officers,  and  all  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri 
vates  of  the  several  organizations  named  above,  are  invited  to  take 
part  in  the  ceremony,  and  join  in  the  processsion. 

The  officers  will,  as  far  as  practicable  detail  a  color-guard  for  the 
colors  of  their  respective  late  commands.  The  original  date  of  muster- 
in  of  each  command  will  govern  its  place  in  the  procession.  Officers 
and  enlisted  men,  as  far  as  practicable,  will  appear  in  uniform. 

For  further  orders  and  information  apply  to  the  Adjutant  General 
of  the  Commonwealth. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency  JOHN  A.  ANDREW, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief. 
WILLIAM   SCHOULER,  Adjutant  General. 

The  returned  regiments  and  batteries  having  by  their  rep 
resentatives  signified  their  intention  of  taking  part  in  these 
ceremonies,  the  following  order  was  issued : 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  BOSTON, 

December  13,  1865. 
[General  Order,  No.  19.] 

It  having  been  represented  at  these  head-quarters  that  the  Massa 
chusetts  regiments  and  companies  which  had  filled  their  allotted  terms 
of  service  in  the  field  prior  to  May  15,  1865,  the  colors  of  which  are 
deposited  in  the  State  House,  desire  to  take  part  in  the  flag  reception 
on  the  22d.  instant,  referred  to  in  General  Order  No.  18,  current  series, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  15 

the  Commander-in-Chief  most  cordially  complies  with  their  wishes 
The  colors  of  these  organizations  will  be  handed  them  on  the  morning 
of  the  22d.  upon  proper  requisition.  They  are  to  be  returned  at  the 
close  of  the  services.  Major  General  Darius  N.  Couch  of  Taunton. 
ranking  officer  of  volunteers  in  Massachusetts,  has  been  invited  to  take 
command  of  the  troops.  Should  he  decline  Brevet  Major  General 
George  H.  Gordon  of  Boston,  next  in  rank,  will  take  command. 
The  commanding  general  will  arrange  details. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency  JOHN  A.  ANDREW, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief. 

WILLIAM  SCHOULER,  Adjutant  General. 

Major  Gen'l  Couch  accepted  the  command,  appointed  his 
staff,  designated  the  Division  and  Brigade  commanders,  and 
made  such  arrangements  for  the  order  of  the  procession  as 
he  thought  proper,  announcing  the  same  through  the  public 
press  as  directed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Included  in  the  regiments  and  batteries  were  those  who 
served  three  months,  ninety  days,  one  hundred  days,  six 
months,  nine  months,  one  year  and  three  years  regiments 
and  batteries,  and  it  was  decided  that  the  organizations 
should  take  their  places  in  line  according  to  their  numbers 
and  not  according  to  date  of  muster-in,  as  stated  in  General 
Order  No.  18.  This  was  to  prevent  confusion  in  the  forma 
tion  of  the  line.  Meetings  were  at  once  held  and  color- 
bearers  appointed  by  the  organizations,  and  Brig.  Gen.  Ed 
ward  W.  Hinks  was  appointed  Chief  of  Staff  with  head 
quarters  at  Room  10,  State  House. 

Brigadier  and  Brevet  Major-General  Joseph  Hayes  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Division  of  Artillery,  which 
consisted  of  two  Brigades:  First,  sixteen  light  batteries, 
Captain  and  Brevet  Colonel  Augustus  P.  Martin,  com 
manding,  and  Second,  four  regiments  and  two  battalions 
heavy  artillery,  Colonel  Wm.  S.  King,  commanding. 

The  procession  formed  in  the  following  order : 

ist,  Cavalry;  2d,  Artillery;  3d,  Infantry. 

The  Cavalry  formed  on  Park  Street  mall  of  the  Common, 
right  resting  near  Park  Street  gate,  the  Artillery  on  the 


16  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Tremont  Street  mall,  right  resting  near  Park  Street  gate, 
and  the  Infantry  on  Beacon  Street  mall,  right  resting  in 
front  of  the  State  House. 

General  officers  and  their  staffs  appeared  mounted  as  far 
as  practicable,  and  officers  and  men  were  in  uniform  and 
carried  side  arms  when  such  were  available. 

The  weather  was  clear  and  cold  and  the  ground  was  white 
with  snow. 

The  stars  and  stripes  floated  from  staffs  attached  to 
churches,  and  decorated  public  and  private  buildings.  The 
windows  and  roofs  of  houses  were  filled  with  spectators 
looking  down  on  the  crowd  beneath,  but  the  mind  was  busy 
with  memories  of  events  undreamed  of  in  1861,  and  at  sight 
of  the  worn  colors  borne  by  the  troops,  although  there  were 
cheers  hearty  and  prolonged,  they  were  cheers  with  a  differ 
ence. 

The  headquarters  of  General  Couch  were  pitched  on  the 
Park  Street  mall  near  the  gate,  and  the  colors  were  deliv 
ered  to  the  officers  of  the  respective  commands  from  his 
tent.  Before  the  procession  started  the  flags  were  formally 
passed  over,  with  a  few  remarks  from  Brevet  Colonel  Fran 
cis  N.  Clarke,  Chief  U.  S.  Mustering  Officer  to  General 
Couch  at  these  headquarters. 

General  Couch's  speech  of  acceptance  closed  with  the  fol 
lowing  words : 

"To  those  who  have  been  spared  to  bear  them  on  to  final  triumph, 
devolves  the  privilege  of  returning  them  to  the  Commonwealth,  in  the 
consciousness  that  the  object  for  which  they  were  unfurled  has  been 
fully  accomplished,  the  principles  they  symbolize  triumphantly  vindi 
cated,  and  the  Union  of  the  States  restored  upon  a  firm  and  enduring 
basis." 

This  ceremony  over,  the  procession  started  at  eleven 
o'clock  a.  m.  The  Boston  Brigade  Band  accompanied  the 
Independent  Cadets  who  formed  the  escort,  and  Gilmore's 
Band  preceded  the  Infantry  Corps. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  17 

The  route  of  march  was  from  the  Common  to  Tremont 
Street  as  far  north  as  Hanover  Street,  then  as  far  south  as 
Dover  Street  and  back  to  the  Common  through  Arlington 
and  Beacon  Streets. 

In  the  Artillery  Division,  which  made  a  fine  display,  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Brevet  Major  C.  A.  Phillips,  marched 
with  40  men. 

The  moment  the  head  of  the  procession  reached  the  State 
House,  its  arrival  was  announced  by  a  gun  from  Light  Bat 
tery  A  on  the  Common. 

The  color-bearers  took  their  places  on  each  side  of  the 
steps  leading  up  to  the  front  of  the  capitol,  and  the  remain 
der  of  the  commands  stood  about  in  the  yard  on  either  side. 

The  colors  were  raised  when  the  Governor  and  his  staff 
came  forward,  and  prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
K.  Lothrop  D.  D.  Chaplain  of  the  Cadets.  Gen.  Couch 
then  addressed  the  Governor.  His  speech  ended  with  the 
words, — 

"May  it  please  your  Excellency,  the  colors  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteers  are  returned  to  the  State." 

In  his  address  of  acceptance  Governor  Andrew  promised 
that  they  should  be  "preserved  and  cherished  amid  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  the  future,  as  mementoes  of  brave  men  and 
noble  actions/'  and  his  pledge  has  been  kept  inviolate  by 
successive  Governors  and  legislatures,  the  result  of  whose 
combined  efforts  is  a  Memorial  Hall  designed  especiallv  to 
hold  them,  in  simple  grandeur  second  to  none  in  the  world, 
which  forms  a  part  of  the  rotunda  of  the  capitol.  In  their 
sockets  cut  in  the  shelves  of  these  niches  the  staves  are  firmly 
fixed,  and  from  them  forever  droop  the  colors  never  more 
to  be  "loosed  to  the  breeze." 

THE  BATTERY  FLAGS  IN  1902. 
From  the  Report  of  Brigadier  General  and  Acting  Chief 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Ordnance  Richard  A.  Peirce  to  the  Governor  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  dated  January  i,  1866,  for  the  year  1865 : 

"Schedule  of  Worn  Colors  in  charge  of  the  Acting  Chief  of  Ord 
nance  Dec.  31,  1865.  .  .  . 

5th  Light  Battery  Mass.  Volunteers  2  Guidons,  silken,  National." 

These  are  doubtless  the  flags  belonging  to  the  Battery  now 
preserved  at  the  State  House  as  described  August  n,  1900, 
by  Mr.  Charles  O.  Eaton,  who  made  the  flags  for  the  troops 
in  the  first  place,  and  has  had  exclusive  charge  of  them  since 
they  were  brought  back  from  the  War,  viz., 

No.  i,  a  National  Flag,  stars  and  stripes,  about  five  feet 
long-,  a  large  flag  for  a  battery.  It  has  no  lettering,  and  is 
ragged  and  torn.  It  is  made  of  silk,  and  has  a  staff  with 
spear-head  and  battle-axe  combined. 

No.  2,  is  a  National  Guidon  in  good  condition,  that  is,  not 
torn.  It  has  a  staff  with  spear-head.  It  is  swallow  tail 
form,  with  gold  stars  on  a  blue  ground,  and  the  stripes  red 
and  white  alternate,  beginning  and  ending  with  red.  The 
names  of  the  battles  are  inscribed  with  red  letters  on  white 
stripes  and  gold  colored  letters  on  red  stripes,  beginning 
with  Yorktown  in  the  upper  red  stripe.  The  list  of  battles 
is  the  same  as  that  given  in  General  Order  No.  10  p.  10 
except  that  "Second  Bull  Run"  is  written  "Bull  Run  2d." 

CORPS    AND   BRIGADE   FLAGS  AND    BADGES. 

"He  interposed  only  a  pin  between  himself  and  the  only  thing  he 
dreaded — oblivion.  The  pin  held  his  name  to  his  blouse,  so  that  on 
the  morrow  the  newspapers  might  tell  who  had  died  for  his  country." 

— GEN.  W.  W.  AVERELL  on  the  American  Volunteer. 

The  Corps,  Division,  and  Brigade  flags  accompany  the 
commanding  general  on  the  march,  and  are  pitched  in  front 
of  Head  Quarters  in  camp. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  19 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
CAMP  NEAR  ALEXANDRIA  SEMINARY,  VA. 

March  24,  1862. 
General  Orders 
No.  102. 

Extract. 

X.  Brigades  in  Divisions,  and  Divisions  in  Army  Corps,  will  be 
numbered  from  right  to  left,  but  in  reports  of  operations  they  will  be 
designated  by  the  names  of  their  commanders. 

XL  Flags  will  be  used  to  designate  the  various  Headquarters  as 
follows : — 

General  Head  Quarters :  National  Flag. 

ist  Army  Corps,  National  Flag,  with  a  small,  square  red  flag  be 
neath;  2d  Army  Corps,  National  Flag,  with  a  small,  square,  blue  flag 
beneath;  3d.  Army  Corps,  National  Flag,  with  a  small,  square  blue  and 
red  flag  vertical  beneath ;  4th.  Army  Corps,  National  Flag,  with  a  small, 
square,  blue  and  red  flag  horizontal  beneath. 

ist.  Division  of  an  Army  Corps,  red  flag  6  ft.  long  and  5  ft.  wide. 

The  Artillery  will  have  the  colors  of  the  Division  to  which  it  be 
longs,  and  be  distinguished  by  a  right  angled  triangular  flag,  six  feet 
long  and  three  feet  wide  at  the  staff. 

The  Hospitals  will  be  designated  by  a  yellow  flag. 

These  flags  will  be  attached  to  a  portable  staff  14  feet  long,  in  two 
joints,  and  will  be  habitually  displayed  in  front  of  the  tent,  or  from 
some  prominent  part  of  the  house  or  grounds  occupied  as  the  Head 
Quarters  which  they  designate,  and  on  the  march  shall  be  carried  near 
the  person  of  the  officer  commanding  the  Corps,  Division,  Brigade  or 
Regiment  it  is  intended  to  designate. 

By  command  of 

MAJ    GEN'L  MCCLELLAN. 

S.  WILLIAMS, 

A.  A.  G. 


This  order,  that  in  reports  of  operations  the  organizations 
should  be  designated  by  the  names  of  their  commanders,  has 
done  much  to  make  incomprehensible  the  records  of  the 
War,  and  to  rob  those  who  merited  them  of  the  honors  to 
which  they  were  entitled,  for  in  many  instances  only  the 
last  name  of  a  commander  is  given,  where  there  were  several 
of  the  same  name  in  the  Division. 


Marcs  2^  iS6-.  General  Fitz  John  Porter's  Division  to 
which  the  Fifth  Mass.  Bsttery  was  attached,  formed  a  part 
::  the  Thir;  Crrps  «?f  the  Army  of  the  Pore-mac,  and  had 

.i   i:r  :   r   ?T       r 


When  the  Fifdi  Corps  was  permanently  established.  July 
22.  :Sv^    7   rrer  -  :  r:  I       -  :  • 

the  :"d  THrd  Corps,  ordered  during  the  Peninsn^  campaign 

th-e  ^>.  f:r  kksinficanoa  of  the  memrers  :f  his  Division, 

isrhirh  :f  5-n:  i  t:  hive  f    . .  T    I   ~:  r   : :-.  i^t*    it 

~7  aSez-era_  Dssit'.  I 

Vai-^r 


sd  sisccodact 


ill  at 


fd:  Ccs^ii.  a  Mafecse 

El^i:  iir 

UK  sze 


i.    WILLIAJfS, 

5  A.  A. 


-  <-  —  -..  - 


e      eserre  Arri 
^5  czmzos  white, 


Bosccsi  ^rrer  this^  be  h 
"ie"prel-ers  cs:  Washing-- 


HOSPITAL    FLAGS 


Orders 

a 


22  HISTORY    OF    THE 

follows : — For  General  Hospitals,  yellow  bunting  9  by  5  feet,  with  the 
letter  H,  24  inches  long,  of  green  bunting,  in  centre. 

For  Post  and  Field  Hospitals,  yellow  bunting  6  by  4  feet,  with  letter 
H,  24  inches  long,  of  green  bunting,  in  centre. 

For  ambulances,  and  guidons  to  mark  the  way  to  Field  Hospitals, 
yellow  bunting  14  by  28  inches,  with  a  border,  one  inch  deep,  of  green. 
By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Ass't  Adjt.  General. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  FLAGS. 
UNDER  GRANT  AND  MEADE. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

May  2.  10.30  a.  m.  1864. 
Circular : 

Hereafter  the  designating  flag  for  these  Head  Qrs.  will  be  a  ma 
genta  colored  swallow  tail  flag,  with  an  eagle  in  gold  surrounded  by  a 
silver  wreath  for  an  emblem. 

By  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  Meade. 

(Sgd)  S.  WILLIAMS, 

Ass't  Adjt.  Gen'l. 
HEAD  QRS.  STH  ARMY  CORPS. 

May  2,  1864. 

Official : 

(Sgd)  FRED  T.  LOCKE, 

Ass't  Adjt.  General. 
HEAD  QRS   ART'Y.  BRIG.  STH  A.  C. 

May  3,  1864. 

Official:  A.  MATTHEWSON, 

Lieut.  &  A.  A.  A.  Gen'l. 

THE  LETTER  E. 

In  the  estimate  for  clothing  for  October,  1864,  in  Quar 
ter  Master  Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Peacock's  Account  Book,  are 
30  blouses,  40  caps,  100  cross  cannon,  and  100  Letter  E. 
See  p.  50  General  Order  No.  86,  Consolidation  of  Artil 
lery. 


CHAPTER    II. 
IN   'SIXTY- ONE. 

"They  knew  how  genuine  glory  was  put  on; 
Taught  us  how  rightfully  a  nation  shone 
In  splendor;  what  strength  was,  that  would  not  bend 
But  in  magnanimous  weakness." 

— WILLIAM  WORDSWORTH. 

In  the  first  moment  of  the  declaration  of  a  Union  of 
States  bearing  the  title  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
the  germ  of  expansion  had  taken  root,  and  following  close 
upon  its  rapid  growth  came  the  anxiety  for  the  safety  of 
the  seat  of  government.  John  Quincy  Adams  in  a  speech 
in  Congress  on  April  14,  1842,  thus  gave  expression  to  his 
belief  that  the  vicinity  of  Washington  would,  sooner  or 
later,  become  the  theatre  of  a  great  conflict : — "If  civil  war 
come"  said  he,  "if  insurrection  come,  is  this  beleaguered 
capital,  is  this  besieged  government  to  see  millions  of  its 
subjects  in  arms,  and  have  no  right  to  break  the  fetters 
which  they  are  forging  into  swords  ?  No !  The  war  power 
of  the  government  can  sweep  this  institution  (slavery)  into 
the  Gulf." 

The  "institution"  standing  thus  between  the  States,  an 
ever  present,  ever  increasing  source  of  ill  feeling,  was  nev 
ertheless  not  the  immediate  provocation  that  roused  the 
North  to  action  in  'Sixty-One.  Not  the  slightest  allusion 
was  publicly  made  to  it  amidst  the  bustle  and  unusual  ex 
citement  of  a  military  character,  which  unsettled  the  pub 
lic  mind;  in  which  decision  and  hesitation  alternated, 
when  men  resolved  and  women  pleaded  tearfully,  then 
yielded  with  a  proud,  fond  foreboding,  too  soon  realized, 

23 


24  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  the  sacrifice  to  come :  but  the  plea  was  always  the  dan 
ger  that  menaced  the  capital  and  the  threatened  dissever 
ance  of  the  Union;  a  plea  which  was  comprehended  in 
England  as  shown  by  a  few  words  of  John  Bright  in  a 
speech  at  Rochdale,  when  he  declared : — "If  the  thirty- 
three  or  thirty-four  States  of  the  American  Union  can 
break  off  whenever  they  like,  I  can  see  nothing  but  disas 
ter  and  confusion  throughout  the  whole  of  that  continent. 
I  say  that  the  war,  be  it  successful  or  not,  be  it  Christian 
or  not,  be  it  wise  or  not,  is  a  war  to  sustain  the  govern 
ment  and  to  sustain  the  authority  of  a  great  nation." 

In  1 86 1,  John  A.  Andrew  was  Governor  of  the  state 
of  Massachusetts,  John  Z.  Goodrich  Lieutenant  Governor, 
Oliver  Warner  Secretary,  Henry  K.  Oliver  Treasurer. 
President  of  the  Senate  William  Claflin,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  John  A.  Goodwin.  Clerk  of  the 
Senate  Stephen  N.  Gifford,  Clerk  of  the  House  William 
Stowe.  The  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone  was  Chaplain  of  the  House, 
the  Rev.  A.  S.  Patton  of  the  Senate.  Maj.  John  Morissey 
was  Sergeant-at-Arms. 

The  Governor's  Staff  consisted  of  Lieutenant-Colonels 
Horace  Binney  Sargent,  Harrison  Ritchie,  John  W.  Weth- 
erell  and  Henry  Lee  Jr. 

The  members  of  the  United  States  Senate  from  Massa 
chusetts,  were  Charles  Sumner,  who  was  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  and  Henry  Wilson,  who 
was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs.  U.  S. 
Representatives  from  this  state  were  Thomas  D.  Eliot, 
James  Buffington,  Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  Alexander  H. 
Rice,  William  Appleton,  John  B.  Alley,  Daniel  W.  Gooch, 
Charles  R.  Train,  Goldsmith  F.  Bailey,  Charles  Delano, 
Henry  L.  Dawes. 

Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois,  had  been  elected  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  Hannibal  Hamlin  of  Maine, 
Vice  President.  The  election  took  place  on  November  6, 
1860. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 


25 


South  Carolina,  the  most  recalcitrant  State,  had  threat 
ened,  in  case  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected,  to  secede  from 
the  Union,  in  order  to  form  a  new  confederacy  of  those 
states  which  upheld  the  traffic  in  slaves.  Accordingly,  not 
withstanding  Congress  was  not  in  session  until  the  3d  of 
December,  1860,  the  members  of  the  United  States  Senate 
from  South  Carolina  hastened  to  resign  their  seats.  It 
was  determined  that  United  States  law  should  no  longer 
be  administered  in  that  state,  and  the  United  States  judge 
for  the  district  of  South  Carolina  resigned  his  office. 
Other  civil  officers  of  the  Government  followed  suit,  the 
palmetto  flag  of  South  Carolina  displaced  the  flag  of  our 
Union  on  several  vessels  in  Charleston  harbor,  and  a  con 
vention  of  the  people  was  recommended  by  the  state  legis 
lature  then  in  session.  On  December  20,  1860,  South 
Carolina  by  a  unanimous  vote  formally  passed  an  ordinance 
of  secession;  commissioners  were  appointed  to  proceed  to 
Washington  to  treat  with  the  United  States,  and  soon 
thereafter  its  representatives  in  Congress  dissolved  their 
connection  with  that  body. 

Thus  was  inaugurated  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  for 
Georgia  soon  joined  her  fortunes  with  those  of  South 
Carolina,  and  the  "blue  cockade"  a  sign  in  former  years  of 
South  Carolina's  nullification,  appeared  in  the  streets  of 
Savannah.  In  1832,  South  Carolina  nullified  the  revenue 
laws  of  the  Union. 

January  5,  1861,  John  A.  Andrew  was  inaugurated  Gov 
ernor  of  the  Commonwealth  and  on  the  Hth  a  committee 
of  the  State  Senate  made  the  following  report: 

Report  of  a  Committee. 

IN  SENATE,  January  14,  1861. 

The  Committee  on  the  Militia,  to  whom  was  referred  the  portion  of 
the  Governor's  address  relating  to  the  Militia,  beg  leave  to  report 
they  have  considered  the  suggestions  therein  contained,  and  in  order  to 
give  the  Commander-in-Chief  the  power  of  immediately  increasing  t 
efficiency  of  an  active  militia  by  enlarging  the  number  of  private; 


26  HISTORY    OF    THE 

comoanies  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  by  organizing  new  companies,  and 
filling  up  to  their  quota  the  regiments  and  battalions  now  existing,  and 
by  increasing  the  whole  force  on  the  present  basis,  to  such  an  extent 
as  in  his  opinion  the  exigencies  of  the  times  may  require,  unanimously 
recommend  the  passage  of  the  accompanying  Act. 

For  the  Committee, 

CHARLES  O.  ROGERS. 

This  report  was  accepted  but  before  the  bill  came  up  in 
the  Senate  the  following  General  Order  was  issued  by  the 
Adjutant  General  of  the  State. 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  BOSTON. 

January  16,  1861. 
[General  Order  No.  4.] 

Events  which  have  recently  occurred,  and  are  now  in  progress, 
require  that  Massachusetts  should  be  at  all  times  ready  to  furnish  her 
quota  upon  any  requisition  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  to 
aid  in  the  maintenance  of  the  laws,  and  the  peace  of  the  Union.  His 
Excellency  the  Commander-in-Chief  therefore  orders. — 

That  the  commanding  officer  of  each  company  of  Vplunteer  Militia 
examine  with  care  the  roll  of  his  company,  and  cause  the  name  of 
each  member,  together  with  his  rank  and  place  of  residence,  to  be 
properly  recorded,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  to  be  forwarded  to  the  office 
of  the  Adjutant  General.  Previous  to  which  commanders  of  com 
panies  shall  make  strict  inquirv,  whether  there  are  men  in  their  com 
mands  who  from  age,  physical  defect,  business,  or  family  causes,  may 
be  unable,  or  indisposed  to  respond  at  once  to  the  orders  of  the  Com 
mander-in-Chief,  made  in  response  to  the  call  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  that  they  be  forthwith  discharged,  so  that  their  places 
may  be  filled  bv  men  ready  for  any  public  exigency  which  may  arise, 
whenever  called  upon. 

After  the  above  orders  shall  have  been  fulfilled,  no  discharge,  either 
of  officer  or  private  shall  be  granted,  unless  for  cause  satisfactory  to 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  If  any  companies  have  not  the  number  of 
men  allowed  by  law,  the  commanders  of  the  same,  shall  make  proper 
exertions  to  have  the  vacancies  filled,  and  the  men  properly  drilled  and 
uniformed,  and  their  names  and  places  of  residence  forwarded  to  Head 
Quarters. 

To  promote  the  objects  embraced  in  this  order,  the  general,  field, 
and  staff  officers,  and  the  Adjutant  and  Acting  Quartermaster  General 
will  give  all  the  aid  and  assistance  in  their  power. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  27 

Major  Generals  Sutton,  Morse  and  Andrews,  will  cause  this  order 
to  be  promulgated  throughout  their  respective  divisions 

By  command  of  His  Excellency,  JOHN  A. 'ANDREW, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief. 
WILLIAM  SCHOULER, 

Adjutant  General. 

Adjutant  General  Schouler  in  his  "History  of  Massa 
chusetts  in  the  Civil  War"  says  that  although  this  order 
was  criticised  as  unnecessary  and  sensational,  in  some 
quarters,  it  was  obeyed  with  alacrity  by  those  to  whom  it 
was  addressed. 

Next  came  the  discussion  of  the  Militia  Bill  in  the  State 
Senate : 

AN    ACT    IN   RELATION   TO   THE  VOLUNTEER 

MILITIA. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  Gen 
eral  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  as  follows:— 

SECTION  I.  The  volunteer  militia  companies,  as  now  organized, 
with  their  officers,  shall  be  retained  in  the  service:  and,  hereafter,  as 
the  public  exigency  may  require,  the  organization  of  companies  of  ar 
tillery  may  be  authorized,  on  petition,  by  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
with  advice  of  the  Council,  and  the  organization  of  other  companies 
may  be  authorized  on  petition  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  or  by  the 
mayor  and  aldermen  or  selectmen  by  his  permission;  but  all  additional 
companies,  battalions  and  regiments  which  may  be  organized  under  the 
provisions  of  this  Act,  shall  be  disbanded  whenever  the  Governor,  or 
the  legislature,  shall  deem  that  their  services  are  no  longer  needed. 
Companies  of  cavalry  shall  be  limited  to  one  hundred  privates  and  a 
saddler  and  a  farrier:  companies  of  artillery  to  forty-eight  cannoneers, 
twenty-four  drivers,  and  a  saddler  and  a  farrier:  the  cadet  companies 
of  the  first  and  second  divisions  to  one  hundred,  and  companies  of  in 
fantry  and  riflemen  to  sixty-four  privates. 

SECTION  2.  The  fourteenth  section  of  the  thirteenth  chapter  _  of  the 
General  Statutes,  and  all  laws  or  parts  of  laws  now  in  force,  limiting 
the  number  of  the  volunteer  militia,  are  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  3.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

SENATE,  January  18,  1861. 

Passed  to  be  engrossed. 

Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

S.  N.  GIFFORD,  Clerk. 

There  were  several  substitute  bills  but  they  were  re 
jected,  and  the  bill  as  here  given  passed  both  branches; 
amended  in  Section  i,  by  the  insertion  of  the  words, 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"and  said  companies  so  retained  and  so  organized,  shall  be  liable  on  a 
requisition  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  upon  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  to  be  marched  without  the  limits  of  the  Commonwealth," — 

after  the  lines  referring  to  the  authorization  of  the  com 
panies  and  before  those  referring  to  their  disbandment. 

It  was  signed  by  the  Governor  February  15,  1861,  but 
in  the  mean  time  Resolutions  had  passed  both  branches 
and  received  the  Governor's  signature,  for  plans  for  seces 
sion  were  rapidly  reaching  their  consummation  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  the  situation  became  more  and  more 
one  of  anxiety  and  alarm.  Mississippi  promptly  gave  evi 
dence  of  her  affiliation  with  the  seceding  states.  Jefferson 
Davis,  afterwards  president  of  the  confederacy,  who  had 
been  U.  S.  Secretary  of  War  under  President  Franklin 
Pierce,  and  was  then  U.  S.  senator  from  Mississippi,  took 
leave  of  the  U.  S.  Senate  on  January  20,  1861.  It  was 
months  before  the  other  Southern  States  passed  ordinances 
of  secession,  and  the  western  portion  of  Virginia  never 
wavered  in  her  loyalty  to  the  Union,  but  was  made  a  new 
state,  that  of  West  Virginia,  while  the  conflict  raged  in  the 
eastern  portion  of  her  sacred  soil.  There  was  in  all  the 
southern  states  a  respectable  minority  in  favor  of  the 
Union  who  found  their  most  distinguished  representative  in 
the  person  of  ex-President  Andrew  Jackson  of  Tennessee, 
on  the  pedestal  of  whose  monument  were  cut  in  the  solid 
granite  by  the  order  of  the  citizens  of  that  state,  his  mem 
orable  words : — "The  Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved." 

It  was  the  union  of  the  State  of  Virginia  with  the  Con 
federacy  which  placed  Washington,  the  capital  of  the  na 
tion  in  imminent  peril  for  four  years.  Already,  in  the  win 
ter  of  'Sixty-One  the  extremity  of  the  Long  Bridge  across 
the  Potomac  River  over  which  was  the  passage  south  out 
of  Washington,  was  "hostile  soil." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  29 

RESOLUTIONS    IN    THE    MASSACHUSETTS 
LEGISLATURE. 

January  23,    1861,  the  Governor  signed  the  following: 
Resolves  tendering  the  Aid  of  the  Commonwealth  to  the 

President  of  the  United  States,  in  enforcing  the  Laws  and 

Preserving  the  Union. 

WHEREAS,  Several  states  of  the  Union  have  through  the  action  of 
their  people  and  authorities,  assumed  the  attitude  of  rebellion  against 
the  national  government;  and  whereas,  treason  is  still  more  extensively 
diffused,  and,  whereas,  the  state  of  South  Carolina,  having  first  seized 
the  post  office,  custom  house,  moneys,  arms,  munitions  of  war  and 
fortifications  of  the  federal  government,  has,  by  firing  upon  a  vessel  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  committed  an  act  of  war:  and, 
whereas,  the  forts  and  property  of  the  United  States  in  Georgia,  Ala 
bama,  Louisiana  and  Florida,  have  been  seized  with  hostile  and  trea 
sonable  intention :  and,  whereas,  senators  and  representatives  in  Con 
gress  avow  and  sanction  these  acts  of  treason  and  rebellion:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  now,  as  always, 
convinced  of  the  inestimable  value  of  the  Union,  and  the  necessity  of 
preserving  its  blessings  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  regard  with  un- 
mingled  satisfaction  the  determination  evinced  in  the  recent  firm  and 
patriotic  special  message  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  (James 
Buchanan)  to  amply  and  faithfully  discharge  his  constitutional  duty  of 
enforcing  the  laws  and  preserving  the  integrity  of  the  Union:  and  we 
proffer  to  him,  through  the  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  such  aid 
in  men  and  money  as  he  may  require,  to  maintain  the  authority  of  the 
national  government. 

Resolved,  That  the  Union-loving  and  patriotic  authorities,  represent 
atives  and  citizens  of  those  states  whose  loyalty  is  endangered  or 
assailed  by  internal  or  external  treason,  who  labor  in  behalf  of  the 
Federal  Union  with  unflinching  courage  and  patriotic  devotion,  will 
receive  the  enduring  gratitude  of  the  American  needle. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  forward,  forthwith, 
conies  of  the  foregoing  resolutions,  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  Governors  of  the  several  states. 

Approved  January  23,  1861. 

At  this  period,  and  intimately  connected  with  the  scenes 
enacted  in  the  national  capital  previous  to  the  inaugura 
tion  of  President  Lincoln  March  4,  1861,  immortal  names 


30  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Massachusetts  illumine  every  page  of  history,  names, 
some  of  which  are  borne  by  members  of  the  Battery  and 
by  others  whose  influence  swayed  its  fortunes.  Here  also 
Rhode  Island,  so  closely  connected  with  the  Battery  in  its 
marches,  camps,  and  battles,  furnishes  her  quota  of  lead 
ing  figures. 

It  was  as  members  of  a  commission  appointed  to  repre 
sent  the  interests  of  Massachusetts  on  a  question  of  dis 
puted  boundary  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island, 
— a  question  which  had  long  been  in  dispute,  the  first  re 
port  of  a  commission  having  been  made  to  this  Common 
wealth  February  21,  1792, — in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States,  that  four  lawyers  met  at  Washington  in 
January,  1861 :  Ex-Governor  John  H.  Clifford  of  New 
Bedford,  who  had  been  attorney  general  of  the  state  from 
1849  to  I853,  and  again  from  1854  to  1858,  and  was  then 
"Of  Counsel  for  the  Commonwealth,"  and  Hon.  Stephen 
H.  Phillips  who  had  been  attorney  general  since  1858,  rep 
resented  Massachusetts;  the  Hon.  Charles  S.  Bradley  ex- 
Chief  Justice,  and  the  Hon.  Thomas  A.  Jenckes,  repre 
sented  Rhode  Island.  All  arrived  in  Washington  before 
January  26,  1861.  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton  was  then 
U.  S.  Attorney  General,  holding  that  office  in  the  Cabinet 
of  the  retiring  President,  James  Buchanan. 

An  account  of  an  interview  between  Attorney  General 
Stanton  and  these  gentlemen,  with  attending  circumstances, 
by  the  late  Hon.  Stephen  H.  Phillips,  from  which  these 
facts  are  taken,  was  published  in  the  New  York  Sun,  June 
n,  1893.  He  was  then  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
commission. 

On  Wednesday  evening  Tanuary  30,  1861,  a  special  mes 
senger  was  sent  to  Willard's  Hotel  to  convey  the  gentlemen 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  Attorney  General's  office  in  the 
Treasury  Building. 

Stanton  said  when  Governor  Clifford  remarked  upon  the 
difficult  access  to  the  building,  that  such  strictness  might 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  31 

keep  honest  men  out,  but  that  all  the  public  buildings  were 
full  of  traitors.  In  relation  to  the  seizure  of  all  the  ar 
chives  and  muniments  of  the  Government,  the  following  is 
quoted  by  Mr.  Phillips  from  a  letter  written  by  Governor 
Clifford  to  Gen.  the  Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  dated  Feb.  5, 
1871  :— 

"When  it  was  known  with  what  facility  this  could  have  been  accom 
plished,  and  a  provisional  Government  declared,  with  the  ready  recog 
nition  of  almost  every  diplomatic  representative  of  foreign  governments 
then  in  Washington,  it  is  not  surprising  that  I  should  have  felt  in 
passing  through  the  corridors  of  the  Treasury  building  at  midnight 
with  two  or  three  superannuated  watchmen  only  for  its  custody  and 
defense,  as  if  I  were  walking  over  a  mined  fortress,  that  might  at  any 
moment  be  blown  up  under  my  feet." 

At  the  time  of  this  interview  of  January  30,  1861,  the 
navy  had  been  dispersed  where  it  would  do  no  good,  the 
"Brooklyn"  was  the  only  fighting  ship  at  Secretary  Tou- 
cey's  disposal,  (Isaac  Toucey  of  Connecticut  was  Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy)  the  officers  of  the  Naval  Academy  and 
the  practice  ship  "Constitution"  and  the  northern  cadets 
generally  were  loyal. 

Secretary  Stanton  thought  that  the  militia  could  be 
promptly  mobilized  only  in  three  states,  viz.,  New  York, 
Massachusetts,  and  Rhode  Island. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  signed  John  H.  Clif 
ford  and  Stephen  H.  Phillips  to  Governor  John  A.  Andrew, 
written  that  night  after  their  return  to  the  Hotel  from 
their  call  upon  the  U.  S.  Attorney  General  :— 

WASHINGTON,  WEDNESDAY  NIGHT, 

January  30,  1861. 

Dear  Sir. 

In   an    interview   we   have   had   with   the  Attorney   General 
United  States,  we  have  been  authorized  to  express  to  you  confidentially 
ins  individual  opinion  that  there  is  imminent  if  not  inevitable  I  ;rU  o: 
an  attack  upon  the  city  of  Washington,  between  the  4th  and  isth 
ruary,    with   a  view   to   secure  the   svmbols   of   Government,   and 
power  and  prestige  of  nossessions  bv  the  traitors  who  are  plo 
dissolution  of  the  Union. 


32  HISTORY    OF    THE 

We  have  a  moment  before  the  closing  of  the  mail,  to  say  to  you, 
in  this  informal  way,  that  no  vigilance  should  be  relaxed  for  Massa 
chusetts  to  be  ready  at  any  moment,  and  upon  a  sudden  emergency,  to 
come  to  the  succor  of  the  Federal  Government. 

This  may  be  an  unnecessary  precaution,  but  we  feel  that  it  is  a  sim 
ple  discharge  of  a  plain  duty  on  our  part,  to  give  you  the  intimation  of 
what  we  have  heard  from  a  source  of  such  high  authority. 

In  great  haste  we  are  very  truly  and  respectfully, 

JOHN   H.   CLIFFORD. 
STEPHEN   H.    PHILLIPS. 

Gov.  Andrew. 


Clifford  said  to  Phillips  "Bradley  and  you  must  get 
through  your  printing  by  Friday.  If  the  Supreme  Court 
endures  till  then  we  will  pack  up  and  go  home,  arouse  the 
people,  and  await  the  logic  of  events." 

The  "logic  of  events"  was  a  favorite  phrase  of  the  seces 
sionists.  Phillips  says  "They  reckoned  upon  getting  the 
revolution  well  under  way,  and  afterwards  trusting  to  the 
logic  of  events.'  " 

Stanton  mentioned  that  General  Scott,  who  was  at  the 
head  of  the  Army,  had  prevailed  on  the  President  to  send 
for  two  more  batteries. 

Stanton  was  an  old  democrat,  without  as  he,  himself, 
said,  affiliation  with  Republican  leaders,  neither  was  he  in 
the  councils  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  friends,  yet  he  ac 
cepted  the  entire  responsibility  of  publishing  to  all  whom  it 
might  concern,  his  profound  sense  of  the  impending  peril, 
and  his  earnest  appeal  to  all  in  authority  to  contribute  their 
utmost  energy  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 

The  day  after  the  meeting  at  the  office  of  the  U.  S.  At 
torney  General,  the  gentlemen  from  Massachusetts  sent  a 
letter  to  the  Hon.  Horace  Gray,  explaining  much  that  Mr. 
Stanton  had  told  them,  and  especially  indicating-  the  route 
through  Annapolis  which  Mr.  Stanton  favored.  Mr.  Gray 
was  to  apprise  Governor  Andrew  of  the  contents  of  this 
letter. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 


33 


Mr.  Felton  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Balti 
more  Railroad  in  a  conversation  with  Mr.  Clifford  that 
day,  said  he  was  alarmed  for  his  bridges. 

On  Friday,  February  ist,  Governor  Clifford  explained 
the  elaborate  details  of  the  disputed  boundary  case  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  then  alluding  to  the  troubled  condi 
tion  of  the  country,  protested  that  in  New  England  we 
should  resort  to  no  arms  but  those  of  the  law  to  settle 
troubles  between  sister  states.  He  used  few  words,  but  the 
placid  dignity  of  his  manner  made  a  profound  impression. 
When  he  got  through  the  Chief  Justice  gave  special  direc 
tions  to  the  Clerk,  carefully  notifying  that  the  plat  and  sur 
veys  must  be  returned  into  court  by  the  ist  of  August. 
(See  p.  47.  Letter  of  C.  A.  Phillips.) 

Feb.  2,  1 86 1,  Saturday,  the  commissioners  left  Washing 
ton.  At  the  President  street  station  they  passed  a  long 
train,  with  pieces  of  artillery,  caissons,  horses,  and  the 
equipage  of  a  light  battery,  followed  by  three  cars  full  of 
soldiers.  This  was  the  West  Point  battery,  which  had  left 
the  Military  Academy  the  day  before,  commanded  by 
Lieut.  Charles  Griffin,  afterwards  a  Division  and  Corps 
commander  often  mentioned  in  these  pages.  The  orders 
of  which  Mr.  Stanton  had  spoken  had  been  executed  with 
military  promptness. 

In  a  New  York  newspaper  which  they  obtained  at  Tren 
ton,  Mr.  Clifford  read  what  caused  him  to  exclaim  "Our 
letter  has  reached  Boston."  Then  he  read  that  by  request 
of  Governor  Andrew,  the  legislature  of  Massachuetts  went 
the  day  before  into  secret  session,  in  consequence  of  alarm 
ing  news  from  Washington,  and  placed  an  emergency  fund 
of  $100,000  at  the  disposal  of  the  Governor. 

In  New  York  Mr.  Phillips  met  John  Bigelow,  then  con 
nected  with  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  who  urged  him 
to  go  to  Albany  to  see  Governor  Morgan  which  the  Mas 
sachusetts  gentlemen  refused  to  do.  Mr.  Bigelow  called, 
bringing  Mr.  W.  C.  Bryant  and  a  friend  of  the  Governor, 


34  HISTORY    OF    THE 

but  Phillips  earnestly  exhorted  them  to  persuade  Gov.  Mor 
gan  to  send  some  officer  of  the  National  Guard  to  confer  at 
Washington  with  General  Scott  and  the  secretary  of  war, 
[Ex-Postmaster  General  Joseph  Holt  of  Kentucky  an  hon 
orable  and  patriotic  Democrat,  was  then  Secretary  of  War], 
and  this  timely  warning  in  New  York  no  doubt  resulted  in 
the  readiness  of  the  N.  Y.  /th  Regiment  to  go  to  Washing 
ton  the  following  April.  The  commissioners  reached  Bos 
ton  at  ii  o'clock  p.  m.  Monday  Feb.  4th,  going  to  the 
Tremont  House,  where  they  met  more  friends  anxious  for 
news.  They  seemed  to  be  preparing  for  the  worst,  which 
simply  meant  war. 

Mr.  Phillips  went  to  the  State  House  at  an  early  hour, 
and  was  cordially  welcomed  by  Governor  Andrew,  who 
spoke  of  their  letter  as  acceptable,  not  because  it  contained 
anything  unexpected,  but  because  it  was  the  first  responsi 
ble  and  compact  statement  which  he  could  show  to  others. 

Everything  was  bustle  about  the  Governor's  room.  Mili 
tary  preparations  were  universal. 

Later  in  the  day,  after  Mr.  Clifford's  call  on  the  Govern 
or,  Colonel  Harrison  Ritchie  was  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Washington  at  once,  to  be  in  communication  with  Mr. 
Stanton  and  General  Scott  according  to  Clifford's  advice. 

In  a  sketch  of  Governor  Andrew  by  Albert  G.  Browne 
Jr.  military  secretary  to  the  Governor  during  the  war,  pub 
lished  in  1868,  is  the  following-  in  relation  to  the  route  to 
Washington  by  sea: — 

"General  Scott  and  Governor  Andrew  in  consultation  had  provided 
in  anticipation  of  obstruction  of  their  route  overland,  that  they  should 
proceed  by  sea  and  be  disembarked  either  under  cover  of  the  guns  of 
Fort  McHenry  at  Baltimore,  or  else  at  Annapolis  Md.,  and  steamers 
were  kept  for  weeks  in  readiness  at  his  (the  Governor's)  bidding,  to 
transport  them  to  the  Chesapeake." 

This  in  point  of  time  was  January  and  February,  1861. 
Fort  McHenry  was  built  in  the  form  of  a  star,  the  guns 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 


35 


being  placed  on  the  projections.  Towards  the  city  of  Balti 
more  there  were  open  and  level  grounds  affording  an  op 
portunity  for  50,000  men  to  manoeuvre.  The  walls  were 
earth  embankments,  not  more  than  six  to  eight  feet  in 
height.  Mr.  Phillips  thus  refers  in  his  article  to  what 
occurred  in  March  and  April  :• — 

"During  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln,  it  was  thought  pru 
dent  to  display  a  strong  military  force  and  to  conceal  a  stronger  one. 
All  the  avenues  and  approaches  to  the  Capitol  and  even  the  roofs  of 
buildings  were  guarded  by  armed  men  and  artillery  posted  to  sweep 
the  streets.  Little  more  than  a  month  later,  in  consequence  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  the  new  President  appealed  to  'the  country 
and  5,500  men  of  Massachusetts  and  1,000  from  Rhode  Island  with 
Governor  Sprague  at  their  head,  moved  almost  at  the  tap  of  the 
drum." 

LINCOLN'S  CABINET. 

President  Lincoln's  Cabinet  consisted  of  William  H. 
Seward  Secretary  of  State,  Simon  Cameron  Secretary  of 
War,  Gideon  Welles  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Salmon  P. 
Chase  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Edward  Bates  Attorney 
General.  The  Department  of  the  Interior  was  in  charge 
of  Caleb  Smith  and  the  Post  Office  Department  had  Mont 
gomery  Blair  at  its  head.  These  counsellors  of  the  Presi 
dent  exercised  a  marked  influence  on  the  conduct  of  the 
War  in  its  earliest  years. 

March  9,  1861,  the  Confederate  Congress  passed  an  Act 
for  the  organization  of  an  army,  and  the  Confederate  Sec 
retary  of  War  prophesied  that  the  Confederate  flag  would 
float  over  the  Capitol  at  Washington  before  the  ist  of  May, 
and  it  might  float  eventually  over  Faneuil  Hall  itself. 

April  12,  1 86 1,  the  attack  was  made  by  the  Confeder 
ates  on  Fort  Sumter,  South  Carolina,  and  30,000,000  peo 
ple,  it  was  said,  watched  the  contest  by  telegraph. 

April  15,  1 86 1,  Abraham  Lincoln  President  of  the 
United  States  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  75,000 
men. 


36  HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE   ROADS   TO   WASHINGTON. 

The  railroad  bridges  of  the  Northern  and  Central  Penn 
sylvania  and  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Railway, 
crossed  several  rivers  within  the  boundaries,  and  on  the 
night  of  the  igth  of  April,  1861,  after  the  Massachusetts 
6th  Reg't.  Infantry,  had  fought  its  way  through  the  riot 
ous  city  of  Baltimore,  the  bridges  over  them  were  destroyed 
by  the  order  of  the  authorities  of  the  city. 

Besides  the  route  from  the  north  to  Washington  through 
Baltimore,  there  were  two  other  routes  viz.,  one  by  the 
Potomac  River,  and  the  other  by  way  of  Annapolis.  The 
route  adopted  by  the  New  York  7th  Regiment  Infantry  was 
followed  for  months  by  all  succeeding  regiments  from  the 
North.  From  Philadelphia  there  were  two  ways  to  Annap 
olis,  one  down  the  Delaware  River,  passing  the  capes  of 
Chesapeake  Bay,  through  the  Bay  and  up  the  Severn  River 
to  the  harbor  of  Annapolis,  the  other  was  to  go  to  Havre 
de  Grace,  from  Philadelphia,  and  from  there  to  Annapolis. 
The  N.  Y.  7th  took  the  latter  route.  All  the  rails  were  up 
from  Annapolis  to  Annapolis  Junction,  and  communica 
tion  between  Washington  and  the  North  by  rail  and  wire, 
was  destroyed.  Telegraphing  direct  from  Washington  to 
New  York,  was  suspended  for  nine  days. 

At  this  time  Charles  A.  Phillips  a  younger  brother  of 
the  Attorney  General  and  afterwards  captain  of  the  Bat 
tery,  having  graduated  from  Harvard  College  class  of 
1860,  at  the  age  of  19,  was  studying  law  in  a  lawyer's  of 
fice  in  New  York.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  his 
Journal. 

New  York.  Monday,  April  22,  1861 :  "I  start  on 
Wednesday  to  join  Salem  Zouaves — uniform  ordered — re 
volver  purchased  and  all  ready.  T  am  just  packing  this 
book  away." 

The    Salem   three   months   men   were   passing   through 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY. 


37 


New  York  bound  South.  The  next  day  he  wrote  home, 
"I  am  off  for  Washington.  I  have  stood  it  as  long  as  I 
could  and  can't  keep  away:  I  was  asked  to  join  the  gth 
Regiment  here  but  I  prefer  to  join  the  Salem  Zouaves,  so 
I  am  going  on  to  join  them  and  see  if  they  will  not  take 
me.  I  shall  start  at  the  earliest  opportunity,  probably  on 
Wednesday  or  Thursday,  with  the  9th  Regiment.  Mas 
sachusetts  is  doing  nobly  and  exciting  the  admiration  of  all 
here." 

Still  in  New  York  on  April  24th  he  wrote  to  one  of  his 
brothers : — "I  want  to  get  on  to  Washington  and  join  the 
Salem  Light  Infantry,  but  find  I  may  have  some  difficulty 
in  getting  on.  Can't  you  get  me  some  certificate  or  some 
thing  of  the  sort  from  the  authorities  in  Massachusetts,  that 
will  put  me  through  ?  I  have  no  doubt  Captain  Devereaux 
will  take  me. 

Can't  you  get  a  note  from  Gov.  Andrew  passing  me  on 
to  Washington  as  a  recruit  to  the  S.  L.  L?  They  are 
rather  short  of  men,  only  64,  and  ought  to  be  glad  to  get 
me.  I  am  determined  to  go,  somehow,  and  if  you  can  get 
me  something  of  the  sort  I  can  get  an  opportunity  to  leave 
with  the  Qtli  Reg't.  which  will  leave  here  no  earlier  than 
Friday  afternoon,  and  probably  not  before  Saturday.  Miss 
ing  these,  I  can  probably  get  a  chance  very  soon.  I  pre 
fer  a  Massachusetts  regiment.  Please  see  what  you  can  do 
for  me." 

The  advice  he  received  from  his  brother  was  that  if  he 
was  to  join  the  Salem  Zouaves,  or  Light  Infantry,  he  must 
go  home  and  start  from  Massachusetts.  Another  brother 
Edward  W.  Phillips  afterwards  lieutenant  in  the  5Oth  Mas 
sachusetts  Infantry,  had  joined  the  Fourth  Battalion. 
The  New  York  Seventh  Regiment  arrived  in  Washington 
at  noon  of  April  25th  and  were  cheered  by  the  Sixth  Mas 
sachusetts  outside  the  Capitol  as  they  approached  the  sta 
tion.  For  five  days  Washington  had  been  isolated  from  the 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE 

rest  of  the  world,  defended  only  by  a  small  force  of  Regu 
lars  and  District  Militia,  the  Massachusetts  Sixth  Regi 
ment,  and  citizens,  including  congressmen  from  the  west 
ern  states;  not  more  than  five  thousand  men  under  arms. 
The  windows  of  the  public  buildings  by  order  of  General 
Scott  were  barricaded  and  earthworks  were  thrown  up. 
The  principal  passage  ways  of  the  Treasury  and  the  Capi 
tol  were  defended  by  howitzers  which  .raked  their  length. 
Breastworks  were  set  up  in  the  Capitol  made  of  the  iron 
plates  cast  for  the  dome  supported  by  barrels  of  cement  and 
heaps  of  stone  and  timber.  The  basement  of  the  building 
was  used  as  a  kitchen  and  bakery,  and  after  communication 
with  the  North  was  resumed,  troops  bivouacked  in  the  ro 
tunda,  and  the  chambers  of  the  Senate  and  House  were 
turned  into  barracks. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  incumbents  of  the  public  offi 
ces  in  all  the  Departments,  had  been  retained  by  the  in 
coming  administration,  and  it  was  well  known  that  among 
them  were  many  spies  and  traitors,  ready  to  give  aid  and 
encouragement  to  the  enemv  in  the  destruction  of  the  Gov 
ernment  to  which  they  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
The  Confederacy  had  a  considerable  force  the  whole  line, 
from  the  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Edward's  Ferry,  about  30 
miles  above  the  capital.  Maryland  was  then  mainly  in 
hostile  possession.  Baltimore  and  Ashland  Md.  were  in 
the  hands  of  the  insurgents.  THe  White  House  and  Treas 
ury  building  might  be  destroyed  by  long  range  cannon 
aimed  from  Arlington  Heights  two  miles  away. 

The  number  of  troops  then  reported  at  Richmond  under 
command  of  the  rebel  general  Beauregard  was  27,000  men, 
in  addition  to  the  Virginia  troops  in  the  vicinity  of  Wash 
ington. 

The  Long  Bridge  had  been  secured  by  General  Scott,  and 
the  bridge  at  Georgetown  had  been  rendered  useless. 

If  taken,  the  capital  could  not  have  been  retained  against 
superior  numbers,  but  the  capture  would  have  placed  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 


39 


archives  in  the  hands  of  the  enemies  of  the  Union.  Wash 
ington  was,  however,  in  the  words  of  President  Lincoln, 
considered  "safe  for  the  country  and  the  Constitution," 
after  the  Mass.  6th  Regiment  via  Baltimore,  and  the  New 
York  ;th  via  Annapolis  had  arrived,  although  there  was 
"great  need  of  reinforcements." 

PRIVATE    OF    MARINES. 

C.  A.  Phillips  instead  of  going  to  Washington  as  he  pro 
posed  in  his  New  York  letters,  went  to  Salem  and  as  he 
recorded  in  his  Journal  of  July  2/th,  1861,  "got  a  place 
as  private  of  marines  on  board  the  Propeller  'Cambridge' 
owned  by  the  State  of  Massachusetts  and  the  underwriters 
of  Boston. 

Sergeant  of  Marines  JOHN  DOVE. 

Corporal  CHAS.  J.  LEE/' 
There  were  other  Salem  young  men  on  this  transport. 

FOUR  LETTERS  OF  C.  A.  PHILLIPS. 

(BOSTON,  MASS.) 

"PROPELLER  CAMBRIDGE  T  WHARF. 
Wednesday  Evening,  May  i,  1861. 

We  got  on  board  here  about  two  hours  ago.  and  are  just 
sitting  down.  Yesterday  we  did  nothing  but  drill  a  little, 
get  caps  etc.  About  5  o'clock  we  were  dismissed  for  the 
night,  and  I  went  out  to  Cambridge  and  spent  the  night 
with  Fox  and  Scott.  Fox  was  keeping  guard  at  the  Ar 
senal  in  the  rain  till  9  o'clock  this  morning.  We  reported 
at  9  o'clock,  and  after  loafing  round  a  little  while,  we  signed 
a  receipt  for  equipments  etc.  and  then  the  Articles,  and 
took  an  oath  of  allegiance.  After  this  we  were  dismissed 
till  3,  and  Huntington  and  I  went  over  to  Jamaica  Plain; 
our  uniforms  passing  us  over  the  road  free.  At  half  past 
two  we  got  our  uniforms,  and  started  for  Roxbury  with 
the  Sergeant.  Our  uniform  consists  of  a  dark  blue  fatigue 


40  HISTORY    OF    THE 

cap  with  a  bugle  in  front,  dark  blue  frock  coat  with  brass 
buttons  and  yellow  trimmings,  and  light  blue  pants,  alto 
gether  a  snug  looking  uniform.  After  standing  in  the  rain 
some  time  we  got  into  a  car  and  started  for  Roxbury.  Ar 
riving  at  the  Sergeant's  we  stumbled  into  the  middle  of  an 
Irish  picnic  party  and  a  good  many  small  boys.  The  Ser 
geant — John  Dove — has  a  pretty  little  house  and  quite  a 
large  estate,  into  which  we  marched  and  paraded  for  a 
little  time,  after  which  we  marched  into  the  house,  stacked 
our  arms  in  the  back  parlor,  and  then  marched  into  the 
front  parlor  to  be  introduced  to  the  notabilities.  Here  we 
found  quite  a  crowd  gathered  to  receive  us,  particularly 
young  ladies.  After  a  short  interval  of  conversation,  we 
adjourned  to  the  dining-room  and  prepared  to  gitch  in. 
The  Sergeant  had  prepared  quite  a  little  collation  of  oys 
ters,  ham,  corned  beef,  salad,  coffee,  lemonade  etc.  to 
which  you  may  be  assured  we  did  ample  justice,  particular 
ly  as  I  had  had  no  dinner.  After  this  we  returned  imme 
diately  to  our  quarters  and  were  ordered  to  prepare  to  go 
on  board.  Accordingly  we  shouldered  our  knapsacks  and 
haversacks,  took  our  revolvers,  formed,  and  marched  down 
State  Street. 

Here  we  got  our  first  taste  of  glory. 

The  small  boys  hurrahed,  the  people  stood  still  and 
looked,  and  for  a  short  time  we  were  the  centre  of  attrac 
tion.  Our  men  are  pretty  good  looking,  and  a  pretty  good 
set  of  fellows.  Their  names  are  Sergeant  John  Dove,  Cor 
poral  C.  J.  Lee,  Privates  James  Turner,  Andrew  Miller, 

Albert  Upton, Arnold,  Ben  Nichols,  C.  E.  Pond, 

-  Cutler,  -  -  Henry,  Frank  Pope,  W.  D.  Huntington, 
C.  A.  Phillips. 

When  we  got  to  the  wharf  we  found  the  'Cambridge' 
lying  ready  to  take  in  her  guns,  which  were  on  the  wharf: 
two  8  in.  to  go  forward,  one  small  brass  to  go  on  the  quar 
ter  deck,  another  ditto  to  go  forward.  We  are  quartered  in 
the  state  rooms, — 3  in  a  room — opening  into  the  cabin. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  41 

Huntington,  Lee  and  I  are  in  one  room.  Our  state  rooms 
are  first  rate  and  our  accommodations  excellent.  At  this 
moment  we  are  most  of  us  sitting  around  the  cabin  table.  78 
bunks  have  been  fitted  up  amidships  to  carry  two  men  in 
each,  recruits.  We  shall  sail  tomorrow  for  Fort  Monroe 
and  Annapolis.  Our  Articles  bind  us  for  30  days  unless 
sooner  discharged." 

"PROPELLER  CAMBRIDGE 

OFF  CAPE  COD 
May  2,  1861. 

As  I  shall  get  a  chance  to  send  a  letter  at  Holmes  Hole 
by  William  Lee  I  have  come  down  from  deck  to  write  a 
little.  To  continue  my  journal  which  I  sent  by  Mr.  Hunt 
ington  : — Last  evening  we  turned  into  our  state  rooms 
and  enjoyed  a  good  night's  rest  till  about  7  o'clock.  As 
the  cook  had  neglected  to  provide  for  us  we  went  on  shore 
to  get  breakfast.  At  half  past  nine  having  returned  to  the 
boat,  we  were  put  on  guard  at  the  gangways  and  on  the 
wharf,  while  we  took  on  board  our  guns: — two  8  in.  for 
ward,  one  12  pounder  brass  gun  on  the  forecastle,  and  one 
12  pound  rifled  brass  gun  on  the  quarter  deck.  From  9 
and  one  half  to  1 1  and  one  half,  I  was  keeping  guard  on 
the  wharf,  my  musket  gaining  weight  very  rapidly.  At  1 1 
and  one  half  we  cast  off,  and  steamed  down  the  harbor, 
saluting  Fort  Independence  as  we  passed.  We  were  too 
far  off,  however,  to  distinguish  any  faces. 

At  noon  our  duties  proper  commenced,  and  so  far  consist 
in  mounting  guard  three  at  a  time,  two  at  the  after  com 
panion  way,  and  prevent  any  but  officers,  marines,  etc. 
from  passing,  and  one  on  the  lower  deck  over  the  forward 
hatchway,  to  prevent  any  smoking,  fire  etc.,  the  powder 
being  stored  below.  The  last  guard  carries  a  cutlass,  and 
the  post  is  not  considered  a  very  desirable  one,  as  it  helps 
on  sea-sickness  very  much.  The  weather  was  very  rough 
coming  out,  the  number  stretched  out  on  deck  was  very 


42  HISTORY    OF    THE 

large,  and  I  fared  like  the  rest,  but  having  now  cast  up 
my  account  and  eaten  a  good  dinner  I  feel  all  right.  We 
dine  in  the  cabin,  faring  like  the  officers  on  roast  beef,  ham, 
potatoes  etc.  Owing  to  the  number  of  officers  on  board 
we  have  been  crammed  a  little,  6  being  quartered  in  each 
state  room :  but  as  we  shall  keep  watch  and  watch,  this  will 
not  trouble  us  much.  The  watches  will  be  set  tonight  at 
8  o'clock.  There  are  two  watches  of  six  each,  four  hours 
apiece,  two  at  the  companion  way,  two  at  the  powder 
hatch,  and  two  on  deck.  We  have  a  number  of  troops  on 
board,  I  do  not  know  how  many,  bunked  amidships.  We 
shall  stop  at  Fort  Monroe,  then  at  Annapolis,  and  thence, 
nobody  knows  where." 

"WASHINGTON  May  9,  1861. 

4  o'clock  P.  M. 

My  last  letter  left  me  at  Fort  Monroe,  Saturday  night. 
Sunday  morning  we  hauled  up  to  the  wharf  and  landed 
about  a  hundred  troops,  and  then  took  in  six  eight  inch 
Columbiads  and  1200  shells  to  carry  to  Washington.  This 
was  quite  a  job  as  there  were  no  machines  for  handling  the 
heavy  guns.  The  shells  were  passed  in  quite  easily,  a  string 
of  riflemen  forming,  and  passing  them  from  hand  to  hand. 
During  the  day  we  got  two  hours  leave  of  absenc.e,  and 
visited  the  Fort.  This  is  a  tremendous  fort  and  a  very 
pleasant  place.  The  grounds  are  planted  with  apple  trees 
and  the  officers'  quarters  are  surrounded  with  gardens 
full  of  roses  and  flowers  of  all  kinds,  in  full  bloom.  After 
exploring  the  Fort  thoroughly  we  went  down  to  see  the 
big  gun  which  stands  out  on  the  point  on  a  concrete  plat 
form,  solitary  and  alone.  They  say  they  won't  allow  it  to 
be  fired,  because  it  breaks  all  the  windows  in  the  Fort. 
After  getting  in  a  part  of  our  cargo,  we  hauled  into  the 
stream  and  lay  there  over  night,  keeping  a  strict  guard,  to 
guard  against  any  attack.  In  the  morning  we  found  the 
steamer  'Roanoke'  lying  alongside,  and  while  speculating 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  43 

as  to  her  character  and  passengers,  her  boat  came  alongside 
with  Capt.  Devereaux  and  Lieut.  Putnam  of  the  Salem 
Zouaves,  who  were  going  to  Washington  in  the  'Roa- 
noke.'  By  this  time  we  could  see  the  fellows  on  the  quarter 
deck  getting  leave  of  absence.  We  started  in  the  ship's 
boat  for  the  'Roanoke.'  The  wind  was  blowing  heavily, 
and  I  had  a  tremendous  long  oar,  but  Cambridge  training 
showed  itself,  and  very  soon  we  arrived.  We  met  quite 
a  cordial  reception  on  deck,  and  had  quite  a  jolly  time  till 
our  leave  expired  and  we  reluctantly  rowed  back.  Luckily, 
however,  we  did  not  part  here :  the  'Roanoke'  wanted  to 
go  up  the  Potomac,  and  havinp-  no  guns  hardly  dared  to  go 
alone,  not  knowing  how  many  batteries  might  have  been 
erected  along  the  shore. 

As  we  were  armed  and  our  new  Captain  not  unwilling 
to  try  our  guns,  we  changed  our  destination  and  agreed  to 
go  as  a  convoy. 

About  11.30  Monday  morning,  having  got  all  our  cargo 
on  board,  we  steamed  off  up  Chesapeake  Bay  in  company 
with  the  'Roanoke.'  The  weather  was  squally  and  un 
pleasant,  but  nevertheless  we  contrived  to  enjoy  the  sail. 
About  8.30  we  arrived  in  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac  and 
anchored  for  the  night. 

About  20  of  Dodd's  Rifles  turned  out  to  assist  us  in  the 
watch,  and  we  began  to  realize  that  we  were  in  an  enemy's 
country.  We  were  armed  with  rifles  and  revolvers  loaded 
and  capped,  and  had  ten  rounds  of  ball  cartridge  in  our 
boxes.  Our  orders  were  not  to  allow  any  boat  to  approach 
the  ship,  but  to  hail  it  and  to  fire  if  they  did  not  sheer  off, 
and,  as  the  Captain  observed,  to  fire  very  quick. 

However,  we  were  not  molested,  as  the  secessionists 
evidently  did  not  care  to  attempt  to  cut  out  an  armed 
steamer. 

The  rifle  which  we  carry  on  night  watch,  is  a  very  pretty 
one,  with  a  large  bore  and  rather  heavy,  but  very  neat  and 
serviceable. 


44  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Early  in  the  morning  we  started  up  the  Potomac,  the 
'Roanoke'  ahead  with  a  pilot.  The  day  was  lovely,  and 
we  had  a  splendid  sail  up  the  river.  We  saw  nothing  of 
the  batteries  thrown  up  along  the  river  and  we  think  they 
must  be  somewhere  else.  However,  we  were  all  ready  for 
them ;  our  guns  were  shotted  and  run  out,  and  all  of  us,  who 
were  not  on  duty,  were  ordered  to  be  between  decks  to 
serve  the  bi§f  guns. 

Acquia  Creek  was  the  point  where  we  apprehended  an 
attack,  and  as  we  approached  it,  the  Captain  told  the  gun 
ners  to  get  ready  to  be  fired  into.  Our  8  inch  gun  on  the 
port  bow  was  cleared  for  action,  the  tackle  run  out,  sight 
adjusted,  and  all  the  preparations  made.  As  we  approached 
the  critical  point  the  'Roanoke'  dropped  back  to  give  us  the 
first  chance,  and  we  steamed  ahead,  expecting  the  battle  to 
begin,  every  moment.  All  our  hopes,  however,  were  dis 
appointed  :  our  peaceful  voyage  was  not  interrupted,  and 
we  steamed  past  Fort  Washington  and  Alexandria,  where 
the  secession  flags  have  all  disappeared,  and  made  fast  to 
the  Arsenal  wharf,  after  colliding  with  another  propeller, 
which  carried  away  the  starboard  fore  shrouds. 

The  next  day  we  commenced  to  unload,  and  as  we  were 
of  no  use  we  went  into  the  city. 

ist  to  the  Capitol,  where  we  found  the  Salem  Zouaves 
quartered  in  the  rear  of  the  left  wing  behind  the  House  of 
Representatives.  The  House  was  full  of  soldiers,  writing 
letters.  Lang  Ward  was  at  one  desk,  John  Hodges  at  an 
other,  and  by  invitation  of  the  Salem  Zouaves  we  stopped 
to  dinner  and  had  a  jolly  time. 

The  dining  room  is  very  high  studded,  being  the  area  on 
the  side  of  the  Capitol  steps.  Our  dinner  consisted  of 
minced  fish,  bread,  crackers,  and  coffee,  and  though  not  very 
luxurious  fare  we  had  a  pleasant  time,  and  a  jollier  crowd 
was  never  seen.  We  spent  about  the  pleasantest  time  we 
have  had  since  we  left.  We  returned,  according  to  orders, 
about  six  o'clock,  just  in  time  to  see  the  'Cambridge' 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  45 

steaming  up  the  river  and  passing  through  the  bridge.  In 
quiring  I  found  she  had  gone  up  to  G  street,  so  chartering 
an  omnibus  we  started,  and  arrived  on  board  at  8  o'clock; 
luckily  finding  the  steamer,  as  we  should  have  been  locked 
up  if  found  out  after  9.30.  This  regulation  is  quite  strict,  a 
man  was  shot  last  night  for  not  answering  the  post.  It 
was  about  2  o'clock  in  my  watch,  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
off.  I  saw  the  flash  and  heard  the  report. 

This  morning  I  was  up  at  the  Capitol,  then  went  down 
to  the  National  Hotel  to  get  a  bath  and  some  dinner. 
Washington  is  quite  warlike,  regiments  parading,  all  round, 
and  almost  every  other  house  being  used  as  barracks. 
Colonel  Ellsworth's  regiment  is  very  ubiquitous,  and  you 
see  them  everywhere.  They  keep  guard  at  the  Capitol, 
where,  however,  our  uniforms  pass  us  everywhere,  and  last 
night  they  turned  out  to  put  out  a  fire  at  Willard's.  They 
entirely  took  the  shine  off  the  Washington  firemen.  This 
morning  they  were  pulling  down  the  wall  as  we  passed. 
The  5th  Mass.  Regiment  is  quartered  at  the  Treasury 
Department. 

We  are  lying  at  the  foot  of  G  street,  discharging  and 
repairing.  We  shall  probably  sail  in  4  or  5  days,  though 
there  is  some  talk  of  selling  the  ship  to  the  Government  and 
discharging  the  crew.  I  don't  think  however,  this  amounts 
to  anything." 

Fort  Washington  mentioned  in  this  letter  was  on  the 
Potomac  River  six  miles  below  Alexandria.  It  was  a  mere 
water  battery,  intended  for  offensive  action  against  the 
river  side. 

This  trip  on  the  "Cambridge"  lasted  ten  days,  and 
Phillips  went  back  to  the  study  of  law  which  he  continued 
in  Boston  in  the  office  of  his  brother  Hon.  Stephen  H. 
Phillips.  From  there  he  wrote  the  following  letter:— 

"BOSTON,  June  10,  1861. 
I  think  the  Government  has  shown  great  energy,  and  the 


46  HISTORY    OF    THE 

movements  of  the  Army  seem  to  be  well  planned  and  emi 
nently  successful.  Of  course  such  dashing  exploits  as  the 
ride  through  Fairfax  C.  H.  appear  to  display  more  energy 
than  the  advance  of  a  large  army,  but  like  the  charge  of 
Balaklava  they  do  not  decide  the  event  of  a  war.  It  is 
only  an  army  of  inferior  strength  that  needs  to  try  such 
experiments.  Scott's  policy,  I  take  it,  is  to  use  to  the  ut 
most  the  advantages  he  has  in  numbers  and  position,  and 
never  to  allow  the  enemy  a  chance  to  fight  except  at  a  dis 
advantage.  Such  appears  to  be  the  plan  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

Our  forces  are  advancing  from  every  direction,  in  over 
whelming  numbers,  and  the  Southerners,  if  they  remain, 
must  inevitably  be  surrounded  and  starved  out,  or  fight 
Scott  on  his  own  ground. 

So  with  Richmond,  a  strong  column  will  soon  move 
down  from  the  North  on  this  city,  while  Butler  will  co 
operate  on  the  South.  If  the  rebels,  therefore,  take  posi 
tion  on  either  side  of  the  city  for  its  defense,  they  will  be 
answered  by  the  advance  of  the  column  on  the  other  side. 
They  will  thus  be  unable  to  check  the  march  of  either  col 
umn  at  a  distance  from  the  city,  and  must  take  up  a  position 
near  Richmond  and  fight  it  out.  This,  I  have  no  doubt,  is 
the  way  in  which  the  first  battle  will  be  fought,  and  Scott 
is  not  the  cautious  general  we  think  him,  if  he  loses  it.  Of 
the  success  of  this  plan  I  have  no  doubt,  but  its  success 
depends  much  on  careful  preparation,  which  may  account 
for  the  apparent  sluggishness  of  the  movements.  But  still, 
the  advance  goes  on :  day  after  day  we  hear  of  military 
movements,  small  in  themselves,  but  in  a  week  amounting 
to  a  great  deal.  Now  it  is  the  attack  of  a  company  on  Fair 
fax  Court  House,  to  be  followed  by  a  regiment  in  a  day  or 
two :  now  a  regiment  attacks  Philippi  and  in  three  days 
10,000  men  occupy  the  town:  or  General  Butler  occupies 
the  point  of  Newport  News,  and  in  a  week  we  find  5000 
men  advanced  10  or  15  miles  into  the  country.  So  the 
movement  goes  on.  The  first  attack  attracts  people's  atten- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  47 

tion,  but  few  pay  any  attention  to  the  advance  of  the  troops 
afterwards.  For  the  last  week  I  have  kept  an  account  of 
military  movements,  and  I  have  on  mv  list  69  regiments  of 
volunteers  now  in  active  duty  in  Virginia  and  Maryland, 
besides  several  batteries  of  field  artillery,  battalions  of  rifles 
&c.,  and  my  list  is  by  no  means  complete,  for  there  must  be 
20  or  30  regiments,  at  least,  in  these  states,  of  which  I  have 
no  account. 

This  does  not  include  the  troops  at  Cairo,  encamped  in 
Ohio,  at  Chambersburg,  in  Massachusetts,  Staten  Island  &c 
&c.,  which  would  more  than  double  the  number.  This  cer 
tainly  does  not  look  like  a  lack  of  energy. 

In  addition  to  the  plan  I  have  sketched  out,  the  approach 
of  cool  weather  will  probably  witness  an  attack  upon 
Charleston  and  New  Orleans:  the  navy  yards  at  Norfolk 
and  Pensacola  will  be  repossessed,  and  a  fleet  and  army 
will  move  from  Cairo  down  the  Mississippi.  Thus  threat 
ened  on  every  side  I  do  not  see  what  the  rebels  can  do  but 
surrender. 

In  the  meantime  I  am  getting  a  little  anxious  about  our 
foreign  relations :  the  attitude  of  England  is  anything  but 
friendly.  Spain  seems  to  have  taken  advantage  of  our 
dissensions  to  seize  St.  Domingo,  and  the  rejection  of  Bur- 
lingame  is  a  gratuitous  insult  on  the  part  of  Austria.  I 
should  not  be  surprised  if  a  general  war  broke  out  within 
a  year,  with  England,  Spain,  and  Austria, — and  perhaps 
Prussia,— on  one  side,  and  France,  Russia,  and  the  United 
States  on  the  other.  Better  this  than  that  we  should  de 
scend  so  low  as  to  bid  against  our  rebel  subjects  for  the 
favor  of  foreign  nations. 

I  am  studying  law  in  Stephen's  Boston  office,  and  shall 
not,  probably,  return  to  New  York." 

Now  approaches  the  ist  of  August  when  the  papers  re 
lating  to  the  Rhode  Island  boundary  were  to  be  returned 
into  court,  and  Charles  A.  Phillips  was  employed  by  his 
elder  brother  as  special  messenger.  The  commissioner  says 


48  HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  his  article  in  the  Sun,  referring  to  this  mission,  "He  got 
through  without  difficulty.  Upon  completing  his  business 
a  clerk  in  the  office  from  a  window  in  the  west  front  of  the 
capitol  showed  him  rebel  flags  at  Hall's  Hill.  The  enemy 
never  got  nearer  than  Hall's  Hill." 

In  a  note  dated  Washington  Aug.  i,  1861,  written  to  his 
brother  young  Phillips  says : — 

"Immediately  after  my  arrival  I  went  uj)  to  the  capitol. 
...  I  was  in  the  Senate  this  morning,  and  left  while 
Breckenridge  was  making  a  speech  against  confiscating 
property  in  the  seceded  states." 


The  utterances  of  the  Southern  press  were  read  with 
great  interest  at  the  North.  Said  the  Richmond  Whig,  as 
quoted  in  the  Boston  Journal  of  Aug.  23,  1861 : — 

"They  are  alarmed  for  Washington,  but  they  have  not  yet  begun  to 
tremble  for  New  York  and  Boston.  As  England  and  France  knew 
that  there  could  be  no  stable  peace  with  the  treacherous,  knavish,  cow 
ardly  and  cruel  Chinese,  short  of  Pekin,  so  we  know  that  there  can 
be  no  lasting  peace  with  the  Chinese  counterparts  on  this  continent 
until  Confederate  cannon  overawe  New  York,  and  Confederate  legions 
bivouac  on  Boston  Common.  Boston  is  the  Pekin  of  the  Western 
China:  and  'On  to  Pekin'  is  the  watchword  of  Southern  armies. 
Washington  is  a  mere  circumstance." 


CHAPTER  III. 
THE    COMPOSITION    OF    THE    BATTERY. 

"Whether  in  camp,  on  the  march,  or  on  the  field  of  battle,  there 
was  a  strength,  an  evident  power  in  the  artillery  service  that  left  an 
impression  on  the  mind  of  the  spectator  not  liable  to  be  effaced,  and 
no  scenes  in  war  are  more  terribly  suggestive  than  an  array  of  bat 
teries  in  position,  ready  to  open  fire  at  the  word  of  command." 

EDWIN   FORBES. 

The  artillery  has  been  esteemed  a  valuable  arm  of  the 
service,  on  account  of  its  capability  of  inflicting  so  much 
more  loss  than  it  receives,  and  the  many  changes  in  the 
composition  of  the  light  batteries,  which  followed  the  for 
tunes  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  as  well  as  in  their  or 
ganization,  prove  their  adaptability  to  the  requirements  of 
the  variable  demands,  and  that  the  general  disposition  of 
them,  as  reduced  or  enlarged  in  their  capacity,  occupied  a 
large  share  of  the  attention  of  the  authorities  whose  delib 
erations  determined  these  changes,  in  the  state  legislatures, 
in  Congress,  and  at  General  Head  Quarters. 

Her  batteries  of  light  artillery  were  sent  out  from  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  as  independent  batteries, 
known  by  numbers  from  the  "First"  to  the  "Sixteenth." 
This  suited  the  requirements  at  the  time,  for  at  first  single 
batteries  were  attached  directly  to  infantry  Brigades, — one 
battery  to  each  Brigade, — and  they  "camped  and  marched, 
and  fought  together."  Some  batteries  in  other  states  were 
independent,  and  some  were  formed  into  regiments,  like 
the  Regular  artillery  of  12  batteries  each,  designated  by  let 
ters  from  A  to  L,  but  these  were,  like  the  rest,  passed 
around  from  one  Division  or  Corps  to  another,  even  after 

49 


50  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  artillery  was  grouped  into  Brigades,  and  in  that  way 
attached  to  a  Division  or  Corps,  forming  a  part  of  it  and 
under  the  orders  of  its  commander,  and  there  was  a  distinct 
organization  called  the  "Artillery  Brigade,"  and  the  "Artil 
lery  Corps,"  with  a  chief  who  had  his  staff  as  in  infantry 
or  cavalry. 

The  only  reason  for  preference  seemed  to  be  that  in  the 
regimental  organization,  although  assigned  like  the  rest  to 
temporary  service,  there  was  chance  for  promotion  for  the 
officers,  while  as  independent  batteries  there  was  no  such 
chance. 

In  respect  to  Massachusetts  it  will  be  shown  that  not 
withstanding  all  the  influence  that  could  be  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  War  Department  to  effect  the  change,  her  bat 
teries  came  back  as  they  went  out,  designated  by  numbers 
and  independent  of  each  other,  and  had  no  right  to  be 
classed  in  any  sense  as  a  regiment  and  designated  by  let 
ters,  yet  in  the  spring  of  1863,  when  it  was  thought  expe 
dient  to  consolidate  the  artillery,  General  Orders  No.  86 
compelled  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  although  not  a  part  of 
any  regiment,  to  accept  the  regimental  company  or  battery 
designation  of  a  letter  "E." 

CONSOLIDATION  OF  ARTILLERY. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE 

General   Orders  WASHINGTON    April  2,  1863. 

No.  86. 

i.  Under  the  authority  contained  in  Sections  19  and  20  of  the  act 
"for  enrolling  and  calling  out  the  national  forces,  and  for  other  pur 
poses,"  approved  March  3,  1863,  it  is  ordered  that  for  each  and  every 
regiment  of  the  volunteer  army  now  reduced,  or  that  may  be  reduced 
hereafter,  as  set  forth  in  said  sections,  consolidation  shall  be  made  in 
accordance  with  the  following  rules: 

ARTILLERY. 

3.  Each  regiment  will  be  consolidated  into  six,  or  a  less  number  of 
batteries,  an!  the  colonel,  two  majors,  and  one  assistant  surgeon,  mus 
tered  out. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  51 

4.  The    companies   and   batteries    formed   by   consolidation   will   be 
of  the  maximum  strength,  and  will  be  organized  as  now  directed  by 
law  and  regulation.     The  first  letters  of  the  alphabet  will  be  used  to 
designate  the  companies.      (See  p.  22.     The  "E"  on  the  caps.    Peacock.) 

5.  The    company    officers — commissioned    and    non-commissioned — 
rendered  supernumerary,   with  those  enumerated  in  the  foregoing,  will 
be  mustered  out  of  service  at  the  date  of  consolidation,  all  other  offi 
cers  and  non-commissioned  officers  will  be  retained. 

6.  The  officers  to  be  retained  will  be  selected  by  the  Division  and 
Corns   commanders,   under  the   instructions   of  the   Commanding  Gen 
eral  of  the  Army  or  Department,   from  among  the  most  efficient  offi 
cers  of  the  respective  regiments. 

ill.  The  following  are  the  sections  of  the  Act  referred  to,  and 
under  which  the  foregoing  is  ordered: 

Sec.  19.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  whenever  a  regiment  of 
volunteers  of  the  same  arm,  from  the  same  state,  is  reduced  to  one- 
half  the  maximum  number  prescribed  by  law,  the  President  may  direct 
the  consolidation  of  the  companies  of  such  regiment,  Provided,  That 
no  company  so  formed  shall  exceed  the  maximum  number  prescribed 
by  law.  When  such  consolidation  is  made,  the  regimental  officers 
shall  be  reduced  in  proportion  to  the  reduction  in  the  number  of 
companies. 

Sec.  20.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  whenever  a  regiment  is 
reduced  below  the  minimum  number  allowed  by  law,  no  officers  shall 
be  appointed  in  such  regiment,  beyond  those  necessary  for  the  com 
mand  of  such  reduced  numbers. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.    D.    TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


The  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  mindful  of  its  respon 
sibility  hastened  to  put  on  its  passage  the  following  Act  :- 

Chapter  243,  Section  2,  of  an  Act  in  Addition  to  an  Act 
concerning  the  militia. 

The  Militia  so  organized  shall  consist  of  at  least  one  regiment  of 
cavalry  to  consist  of  twelve  troops  or  companies:  one  regiment  of 
artillery  of  not  more  than  twelve  batteries,  and  eight  regiments  of 
infantry  of  ten  companies  each,  which  shall  be  officered  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States  and  of  this  State  concern 
ing  the  Militia. 

Approved   April   29,    1863. 


52  HISTORY    OF    THE 


NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  NATHAN  APPLETON. 

"That  I  gave  some  time  and  thought  to  the  improvement 
of  the  Light  Artillery  service  of  our  Army  during  the  long 
months  of  comparative  idleness  of  winter  quarters,  1863 
and  '64,  can  be  judged  by  the  letters  I  wrote  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Hon.  Alexander  H. 
Rice  M.  C.  from  Massachusetts,  and  a  long  article  to  the 
'Army  and  Navy  Journal'  which  I  do  not  think  was  pub 
lished  :— 

TO  SECRETARY  STANTON. 

HON.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON. 
Sir. 

Ever  since  the  Rebellion  has  existed, 

the  Light  Artillery  of  Massachusetts  has  been  organized 
as  so  many  independent  batteries,  each  commanded  by  a 
captain. 

The  Governor  and  Senators  of  Massachusetts,  I  am  in 
formed,  and  some  of  the  Artillery  officers  of  the  state,  have 
interested  themselves  in  the  plan  of  having  the  batteries 
united  in  a  regiment,  with  the  appointment  of  field  officers. 
I  consider  that  it  personally  concerns  all  those  connected 
with  the  Mass.  Light  Artillery,  and  I  lately  received  a  com 
munication  from  one  of  Governor  Andrew's  staff  on  the 
subject,  who  said  that  a  request  from  General  Sykes, — 
Captain  Martin  3d.  Mass.  Battery,  is  the  chief  of  artillery 
of  the  Fifth  Corps, — or  from  General  Meade,  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  might  have  the  desired  effect. 

This,  at  best,  places  the  matter  in  uncertainty,  and  is  an 
embassy  which  it  would  scarcely  be  becoming  for  one  so 
young  as  myself  (20  years  of  age)  to  undertake,  unless  so 
ordered,  and  I  thought  that  I  would  write  to  you,  and  ex 
press  freely  my  opinion  on  the  subject. 

That  Massachusetts  should  have  Field  officers  of  Light 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY. 


53 


Artillery  seems  to  me  a  right  which  she  deserves,  not 
merely  in  connection  with  other  states  that  have  regimental 
organizations, — and  I  believe  that  most  of  the  states  hav 
ing  Light  Artillery  enough  to  warrant  it  are  so  arranged, 

but,  also,  in  connection  with  her  Cavalry  and  Infantry. 
For  now  there  is  a  dead  stop  to  promotion  in  Light  Artil 
lery,  and  some  of  the  oldest  and  best  tried  officers  of  the 
state,  who  have  served  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and 
who  do  not  wish  to  leave  their  favorite  branch  of  the  ser 
vice,  cannot  get  higher  up  the  ladder  than  two  bars.  But, 
Sir,  there  is  another  consideration, — The  Artillery  Brigade 
of  our  Corps  is  commanded  by  a  captain  of  Massachusetts. 
In  the  Brigade  there  are  captains  belonging  to  states  hav 
ing  regimental  organizations.  In  case  of  their  promotion 
to  field  appointments  in  their  regiments  the  Massachusetts 
captain  would  be  ousted  from  his  command. 

I  think  that  the  subject  of  Artillery  in  the  field  is  one 
about  which  little  can  be  known  except  from  actual  expe 
rience.     A    Brigade   of    Infantry   must   generally   act   to 
gether,  but  it  is  not  so  with  Artillery,  for  it  has  to  do  its 
work  for  the  whole  Corps.     Some  guns  have  to  be  put  in 
one  place,  some  in  another,  some  rushed  to  the  front,  some 
kept  in  reserve,  and  the  caissons  must  be  put  in  some  shel 
tered  spot.     This  must  be  all  personally  attended  to  by  the 
Chief  of  Artillery,  and  in  addition,  the  position  of  every 
thing  remembered,  while  he  is  responsible  for  everything. 
A  Brigade  of  Infantry  is  commanded  by  a  brigadier  gen 
eral  or  a  colonel :  a  Brigade  of  Artillery  often  by  a  captain ! 
It  seems  to  me  that  a  man  commanding  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  one  hundred,  odd,  horses,  six  guns  and  six  cais 
sons,  in  all  about  fifty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  United 
States  property,  and  who  has  an  independent  command, 
should    rank  higher  than    one  commanding    one  hundred 
men  and  one  hundred  muskets,  and  who  is  under  the  direct 
command  of  another. 

Why  cannot  the  Artillery  be  reorganized,  and  the  chiefs 


54  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Artillery  be  commissioned  by  the  President,  and  the  old 
plan  of  calling  a  battery  a  company  be  dropped? 

Is  not  a  battery  of  six  guns  as  responsible  a  command  as 
that  which  a  major  of  Infantry  generally  has?  For  while 
regiments  are  constantly  thinned  a  battery  must  be  kept 
full  to  a  certain  complement,  or  its  guns  are  worse  than 
useless. 

And,  finally,  is  Massachusetts  to  be  forgotten? 

It  may  seem  to  you,  sir,  unbecoming  for  one  so  young  as 
myself  to  write  thus  on  this  matter,  but  I  think  that  in  a 
democracy  one  cannot  overrate  the  good  or  bad  which  he 
can  individually  perform,  and  I  consider  it  the  bounden 
duty  of  any  one  who  has  ideas  whicr;  he  thinks  may  accom 
plish  good,  to  present  them  to  those  in  places  of  authority. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  most  respectfully  yours. 

NATHAN  APPLETON 
2d.  Lieut.  5th  Mass.  Battery. 

HON.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON. 

This  very  contingency  mentioned  in  my  letter  to  Secre 
tary  Stanton,  occurred  when  General  Grant  came  in  person 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  consolidated  the  corps. 

When  the  Third  Corps  was  united  to  the  Fifth,  its  chief 
of  Artillery  was  Colonel  Charles  S.  Wainwright  of  the 
First  N.  Y.  Regiment  of  Light  Artillery,  and  as  he  ranked 
Captain  A.  P.  Martin,  he  naturally  assumed  command  of 
the  Artillery  Brigade.  I  was  on  his  staff  later  as  I  had 
been  on  that  of  Captain  Martin. 

In  a  letter  I  wrote  my  brother  W.  S.  Appleton  from  this 
camp  about  this  date,  I  described  Captain  Martin's  com 
mand  as  follows : — 

'Our  Brigade  is  commanded  by  Captain  Martin  of  the 
3<:1.  Mass.  Battery,  and  he  has  as  big  a  staff  and  as  respon 
sible  a  place  as  any  Brigadier.  It  consists  of  the  3d.  Mass. 
Lt.  Walcott,  12  Ib.  Napoleons;  5th  Mass.  3  inch;  Battery  D, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  55 

5th  U.  S.  Griffin's  Battery,  commanded  by  Hazlett  killed  at 
Gettysburg,  now  by  Lieut.  Rittenhouse,  Parrotts  3  inch; 
Batteries  F  &  K.  3d.  U.  S.  four  guns  12  Ib.  Napoleons, 
commanded  by  Lieut.  Barstow;  Battery  L,  ist  Ohio  12  Ib. 
Napoleons,  Capt.  Gibbs;  Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y.  4  guns,  3 
inch  Ordnance, — same  as  5th  Mass., — Capt.  Barnes.' 

I  find  this  at  the  end  of  my  letter: — 'And  now  I  want 
you,  and  some  other  influential  people  in  Boston,  to  go  to 
work,  with  John  A.  Andrew  to  get  the  light  batteries 
formed  regimentally,  with  a  colonel,  lieutenant  colonel,  3 
majors,  adjutants,  quartermasters  &c  &c.  It  ought  to  be 
done,  as  it  stops  promotion,  keeps  down  pay,  and  gives  the 
responsible  command  of  a  Brigade, — over  30  pieces  of  Ar 
tillery, — to  a  captain.  Moreover  the  other  states  are  or 
ganized  and  Massachusetts  kept  behind.  If  the  matter  was 
brought  before  the  Governor  in  the  right  manner  I  think 
he  would  fix  it  all  right.  If  I  am  in  Boston  this  winter  I 
shall  try  to  do  something  about  it  myself. 

Another  thing  is,  the  Mass.  Batteries  ought  to  have  con 
scripts  immediately.  I  have  no  doubt  but  what  there  are 
enough  at  Long  Island  today  to  fill  them  all.  This  should 
be  attended  to,  as  it  is  hard  on  the  men  to  have  to  do  Guard 
Duty  so  often.'  ' 

At  the  time  this  letter  was  sent  home  by  Lieut.  Appleton 
the  Legislature  of  1864,  had  assembled. 

Jonathan  E.  Field  was  president  of  the  Senate,  Alexander 
H.  Bullock  was  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
John  A.  Andrew  had  been  elected  Governor  for  the  fourth 
time,  Joel  Hayden  was  Lieut-Governor.  Warner  and 
Oliver  were  Secretary  and  Treasurer  as  in  1861. 
United  States  senators  were  the  same,  Sumner  and  Wilson, 
but  there  had  been  some  changes  in  the  members  of  Con 
gress.  Some  of  the  old  ones  had  dropped  out.  The  new 
ones  were  Oakes  Ames,  Samuel  Hooper,  George  S.  Bout- 
well,  John  D.  Baldwin  and  William  B.  Washburn.  Edwin 


56  HISTORY    OF    THE 

M.   Stanton  attorney  general  in  Buchanan's  Cabinet  was 
U.  S.  Secretary  of  War. 

LETTER  FROM  GOVERNOR  ANDREW  TO  THE  SENATORS 

AND  REPRESENTATIVES  FROM  MASSACHUSETTS 

IN  CONGRESS. 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 
EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 
BOSTON,  May  5,  1864. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senators,  and  the  Representatives  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States : 

I  beg  to  renew  my  previous  representations  of  the  anomaly  existing 
in  the  organization  of  the  light  artillery  arm  of  the  volunteer  forces 
of  the  United  States,  by  means  of  which  an  injustice  is  done  to  cer 
tain  states  relatively  to  certain  other  states  and  their  officers.  I  will 
illustrate  by  the  example  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  the 
nature  of  this  injustice,  selecting  that  Commonwealth  for  the  illustra 
tion  only  because  I  am  more  familiar  with  the  facts  concerning  it,  but 
being  informed  and  believing  that  similar  injustice  is  practised  towards 
others  also. 

There  are  in  the  volunteer  service  of  the  United  States,  at  this  time, 
sixteen  batteries  of  light  artillery  from  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa 
chusetts. 

The  Government,  having  power  in  the  premises  to  grant  or  to  with 
hold  organization,  denies  a  regimental  organization  for  these  bat 
teries,  or  any  portion  of  them,  while  it  concedes  such  organization  for 
the  artillery  batteries  of  the  states  of  Illinois,  Indiana,  Maine,  Michi 
gan,  New  York.  Ohio,  and  Rhode  Island,  certainly,  and  perhaps  to 
some  other  states. 

This  discrimination  creates  great  dissatisfaction  among  the  artillery 
troops,  and  with  reason,  for  a  man  enlisting  into  an  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Maine,  Michigan,  New  York,  or  Rhode  Island  battery,  has  a  road  open 
to  promotion  to  be  a  colonel,  while  in  the  Massachusetts  batteries,  no 
regimental  organization  existing,  a  soldier  can  rise  to  no  grade  higher 
than  captain. 

Among  the  sixteen  batteries  of  Massachusetts,  is  one  which  has 
been  in  the  field  since  April  19,  1861,  having  accompanied  the  column 
which  opened  communication  between  Annapolis  and  Washington,  and 
having  re-enlisted  for  three  years  at  the  end  of  the  three  months'  term 
of  enlistment. 

[This  was  the  First  Light  Battery  M.  V.  M.  Major  Asa 
M.  Cook :  Lieutenants  Josiah  Porter,  Wm.  H.  McCartney, 
Caleb  C.  E.  Mortimer  and  Robert  L.  Sawin.  It  proceeded 
to  Washington  with  the  Fifth  Mass.  Infantry,  April  20, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  57 

1 86 1,  by  way  of  Annapolis,  and  was  stationed  at  the  Relay 
House,  10  miles  from  Baltimore.] 


A  majority  of  all  the  other  Massachusetts  batteries  entered  the 
field  near  the  beginning  of  the  war.  They  have  served  everywhere 
with  honor:  their  officers  have  been  tested  and  sifted  by  this  long 
experience,  and  they  deserve,  by  military  accomplishment  and  merito 
rious  service,  equal  opportunity  for  promotion  with  the  officers  of  any 
other  state. 

I  have  frequently,  but  in  vain,  by  letter  and  by  officers  of  my  staff 
specially  deputed  for  the  purpose,  asked  for  them  from  the  Secretary 
of  War  such  equal  opportunity,  which  would  be  afforded  by  authoriz 
ing  the  appointment  of  field  officers  of  light  artillery  for  the  Massa 
chusetts  batteries  in  the  same  manner  as  for  the  batteries  of  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Maine,  Michigan,  New  York,  Ohio,  and  Rhode  Island. 

The  reasons  which  are  assigned,  in  reply,  by  the  Secretary  of  War, 
for  thus  withholding  from  one  state  what  he  grants  to  others,  are:— 

1.  The  averment  that  he  accepted  the  batteries  from  those  other 
states   as   components   of   regimental   organizations,   while   he  accepted 
the  batteries  from  Massachusetts  as  independent  and  unattached. 

2.  That  he  regards   the  appointment  of  any  field-officers  of  artil 
lery  as  useless,  and 

3.  That  by  Section   i.  of  General  Order  No.   126  of  War  Depart 
ment's   series   of    1862,    he   intended   to   restrict   such   appointments   by 
denying   special   authorities   for  muster,   and  thereby  ultimately  to   do 
away  with  them   altogether. 

But  I   would   respectfully  represent : — 

1.  That  the   volunteer  batteries   of  all  the  states  named,    whether 
accepted  originally  as  components  of  regimental  organizations  or  not, 
have  all   been   serving  in   like   manner. 

2.  That  the  weight  of  military  practice  sanctions  the  employment 
of  field-officers  of  artillery,  and 

3.  That  since  the  date  of  General  Order  No.  126,  above  mentioned, 
special    authorities    for    the    muster    of   field-officers    of   artillery    have 
repeatedly  been  granted  by  the  War  Department. 

The  example  of  all  other  military  powers'  instituting  grades  of 
rank  among  artillery  officers  corresponding  with  those  among  officers 
of  other  arms  of  the  service,  has  long  been  approved  by  the  legisla 
tion  of  your  honorable  body,  and  the  artillery  arm  of  the  regular  army 
of  the  United  States  is  organized  accordingly  into  regiments. 

And  in  the  volunteer  service  independent  though  the  ^  batteries  may 
be,    each   constituting  a   unit   of  organization,   yet,  practically  thev  do 
serve  in  conjunction,  and  if  no  artillery  officers  have  higher  rank 
captain,  there  will  be,  in  such  a  force  as  ours,  a  great  number  of  such 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE 

officers  exercising  more  than  a  captain's  command,  and  for  every  cap 
tain  thus  employed,  there  will  be  a  first  lieutenant  exercising  a  cap 
tain's  command,  a  second  lieutenant  exercising  a  first  lieutenant's  com 
mand,  and  a  sergeant  exercising  a  second  lieutenant's  command. 

Therefore  the  injustice  of  thus  restricting  to  the  rank  of  captain, 
officers  doing  field-officers  duty  reaches  the  whole  way  down  through 
all  the  grades  of  rank,  preventing  some  first  lieutenant  from  his  right 
ful  promotion  as  captain,  some  second  lieutenant  as  first  lieutenant, 
some  sergeant  as  second  lieutenant,  some  corporal  as  sergeant,  and 
some  private  as  corporal. 

I  fully  recognize  that  in  any  great  army  it  will  be  often  necessary,  by 
the  exigencies  of  the  service,  for  officers  to  exercise  commands,  tem 
porarily,  superior  to  their  grades  of  rank ;  but  at  the  same  time  this  fact 
in  no  manner  justifies  the  restriction  of  rank  as  a  principle,  or  rule, 
in  the  case  of  the  light  artillery  officers  of  the  volunteer  service,  and 
the  unsoundness  of  the  principle  in  its  application  to  these  officers  is 
aggravated  by  the  inequality  of  its  administration;  it  being  enforced 
against  Massachusetts  and  certain  other  states,  while  it  is  relaxed 
from  Illinois  and  Indiana,  Maine,  Michigan,  New  York,  Ohio,  and 
Rhode  Island,  and  also,  as  I  am  informed  from  unofficial  sources,  from 
New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 

Within  the  last  month  the  captain  of  a  Massachusetts  volunteer 
battery,  who  has  long  exercised  with  honor,  the  command  of  a  Brigade 
of  Light  Artillery,  in  a  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  has  been 
superseded,  through  no  fault  of  his  own,  but  by  the  addition  to  the 
Corps  of  an  officer  who  is  his  senior  in  point  of  rank  only,  by  reason 
of  one  state  being  privileged  to  appoint  artillery  field-officers,  while 
like  permission  is  refused  to  another  state. 

It  is  irksome  to  me  to  be  obliged  to  return  to  this  subject.  But  I 
know  not  how  I  can  otherwise  discharge  my  duty  to  the  officers  and 
men  of  sixteen  batteries  of  Massachusetts  Light  Artillery:  many  of 
them  among  the  best  the  Commonwealth  has  contributed  to  the  service 
during  the  war.  I  am  convinced  that  I  ought  not  to  leave  them  un 
supported  by  such  effort  as  I  may  be  able  to  command.  I  had  hoped 
that  the  object  would  have  been  attained  without  my  appealing  to  the 
Congressional  Delegation  from  the  Commonwealth  in  this  formal  man 
ner,  but  now  I  fear  that  the  session  of  Congress  may  end  without 
its  accomplishment. 

If  captains  of  batteries  were  never  needed  for  field  or  staff  positions 
pertaining  to  officers  of  higher  rank,  the  mere  desire  to  secure  rank  to 
our  soldiers,  however  meritorious,  would  not  have  influenced  me,  but 
when  I  know  that  our  officers  are  used  and  needed  to  command 
Brigades  of  Artillery,  to  act  as  chiefs  of  Artillery  and  otherwise,  on 
the  staffs  of  corps  and  division  commanders,  leaving  their  companies 
to  be  commanded  by  lieutenants ;  when  I  know  that  the  laws  and  regu 
lations  for  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  include  the  regimental  or 
ganization,  with  its  field-officers,  for  regular  United  States  batteries, 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  59 

when  I  know  that  such  organization  and  officers  are  not  denied  to 
other  states, — some  of  them  with  fewer  batteries  in  the  field  than  we 
have — ;  and  when  I  know  that  by  reason  of  this  sort  of  discrimination, 
good  and  brave  officers  whom  I  have  commissioned  are  made  to  suffer 
what  the  soldier  feels  to  be  a  personal  and  undeserved  humiliation,  I 
am  not  at  liberty  to  omit  my  efforts. 

I,  therefore,  earnestly  and  respectfully  commend  this  subject  to  the 
attention  of  the  gentlemen  whose  presence  in  Washington,  whose  rela- 
.tion  to  the  Executive  Government,  and  whose  personal  and  official  in 
sight  as  the  Senators  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the  Representatives 
of  the  People  of  Massachusetts,  will  enable  them  to  speak  efficiently, 
and  entitle  them  and  their  opinions  to  the  highest  influence  and  con 
sideration. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be.  gentlemen,  most  respectfully, 
Your   obedient   servant, 

JOHN  A.  ANDREW, 

Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 
Official    Copy. 

A.  G.  BROWNE  JR. 

Lieut. -Col.   Military   Secretary. 

STATE  LEGISLATION. 

In  the  Acts  and  Resolves  of  1864,  may  be  found  the  fol 
lowing  : — 

Section  17,  Chapter  238.     Concerning  the  Militia. 

The  volunteer  companies  shall  be  formed  into  separate  regiments, 
or  attached  to  such  regiments  of  the  active  militia  as  the  commander- 
in-chief  shall  deem  proper,  and  he  may  retain  any  existing  regiments  of 
the  volunteer  militia. 

Section  19.  Companies  of  cavalry,  artillery  and  engineers  may  re 
main  unattached  to  any  regiment  or  brigade,  if  the  good  of  the  service 
in  the  opinion  of  the  commander-in-chief,  shall  require  it,  and  the  two 
corps  of  cadets,  or  either  of  them,  may  be  attached  to  divisions  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  commander-in-chief.  In  such  case,  such  companies  or 
corps,  shall  be  subject  to  the  immediate  orders  of  the  commanders  of 
such  divisions  or  brigades  as  the  commander-in-chief  shall  designate: 
who  shall  receive  the  reports,  returns  and  orders,  have  the  authority 
and  discharge  the  duties,  with  regard  to  such  companies  or  corps, 
which  are  prescribed  for  the  commanders  of  regiments  with  regard 
to  other  companies. 

Section  25.     Artillery.     To  each  regiment  of  Artillery  there  shall  be 


60  HISTORY    OF    THE 

one  colonel,  one  lieutenant-colonel,  one  major,  to  every  four  com 
panies  or  batteries,  one  adjutant,  and  one  quartermaster,  each  with  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant,  but  not  to  be  extra  lieutenants,  one  chaplain, 
one  sergeant-major,  one  quartermaster-sergeant,  onet  commissary-ser 
geant,  one  hospital  steward,  and  two  principal  musicians. 

To  each  battery  of  Light  Artillery,  or  company  of  Heavy  Artillery, 
there  shall  be  one  captain,  two  first  lieutenants,  two  second  lieutenants, 
one  first  sergeant,  one  quartermaster-sergeant,  six  sergeants,  twelve 
corporals,  two  musicians,  two  artificers,  one  wagoner,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty-two  privates. 

Anproved  May  14,  1864. 


Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  no  blame  can  attach  to  the  state 
legislature  for  neglect  of  duty  in  this  regard. 

Every  artillery  officer  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest 
rank  was  interested  in  this  subject,  and  pens  were  busily 
employed  in  the  endeavor  to  effect  a  change.  An  article 
appeared  in  the  Army  and  Navy  Journal  of  Nov.  14,  1864, 
in  which  the  following  views  are  attributed  to  General  W. 
F.  Barry.  The  theme  as  expressed  by  the  author  of  J:he 
article  is  'The  Deficiency  of  Rank  in  the  Artillery  ser 
vice"  :— 

"This  faulty  organization  can  only  be  suitably  corrected  by  legisla 
tive  action,  and  it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  the  attention  of  the  proper 
authorities  may  be  at  an  early  day  invited  to  it." 

The  editor  adds  that  he  "regrets  to  say  that  although  their  'atten 
tion'  has  often  since  been  'invited'  to  it,  the  evil  remains  to  this  day  in 
almost  equal  force,  and  the  gross  injustice  is  seen  of  a  body  of  officers, 
whose  services  are  unequalled  in  their  value  and  importance,  suffering 
from  the  false  organization  of  their  arm.  This  radical  defect  has 
already  lost  us  some  of  our  finest  artillery  officers,  and  if  not  corrected, 
it  must,  we  fear,  lose  us  a  great  many  more." 

Of  the  result  in  Congress,  Brevet  Major  Charles  A.  Phil 
lips  thus  wrote  in  a  letter  home,  dated  at  City  Point,  March 
15,  1865;  Captain  Robert  H.  Fitzhugh  of  New  York  had 
gone  above  him,  and  was  lieutenant  colonel  in  command  of 
a  Brigade  of  the  Artillery  Reserve,  after  having  been  a 
junior  captain  to  him  at  Gettysburg: — 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  61 

'Tartly  I  think  at  my  suggestion  Senator  Wilson  intro 
duced  a  bill  to  remedy  the  evil,  and  give  all  battery  com 
manders  an  equal  chance  of  promotion,  but  I  believe  it  was 
incorporated  into  the  'Omnibus  Bill/  and  was  lost  at  the 
close  of  the  session.  However,  Congress  managed  to  raise 
our  pay,  which  will  make  a  difference  to  me  of  $30  per 
month." 

FROM  THE  REPORT  OF  B'V'T.  MAJ.  GEN.  HENRY  J.  HUNT, 
U.   S.  ARMY,  CHIEF  OF  ARTILLERY:— 

i;  ARTILLERY  HEAD  QUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

CAMP  NEAR  FORT  ALBANY,  VA. 

June  i,  1865. 

....  In  my  previous  reports  I  have  had  occasion  to  call  attention 
to  the  want  of  a  proper  proportion  of  field  officers  for  the  artillery,  and 
this  I  did  especially  in  the  reports  of  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville 
and  Gettysburg :  and  as  there  is  no  bureau  of  artillery  nor  other 
centre  of  administration  for  it,  I  take  this  occasion  to  present  the  same 
subject  in  order  that  the  results  of  our  experience  may  not  be  lost. 
This  is  due  to  the  reputation  of  the  artillery  in  this  war,  as  well  as  to 
the  future  interests  of  the  service.  At  an  early  period  of  the  war,  or 
ders  were  given  that  field  artillery  should  be  taken  into  service  only 
by  single  batteries,  'in  order  to  save  field  officers' ;  this  whilst  infantry 
regiments  of  a  single  battalion  were  allowed  four  with  their  proper 
staffs.  Why  this  policy,  so  contrary  to  that  of  all  modern  armies,  and 
so  destructive  to  the  efficiency  of  the  most  complicated  of  all  the  arms 
of  the  service,  was  adopted,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  discern.  Its  effects  have 
been  but  too  clear.  Not  only  has  the  service  suffered  from  the  want 
of  officers  absolutely  necessary  to  its  highest  efficiency  and  economy, 
but  the  system  has  stopped  promotion  in  the  artillery,  and,  as  a  conse 
quence,  nearly  every  officer  of  promise  as  well  as  of  any  distinction 
has  been  offered  that  promotion  in  the  infantry,  cavalry,  or  the  staff, 
which  no  amount  of  capacity,  gallantry,  or  good  conduct,  could  secure 
him  in  his  own  arm.  The  result  is  that,  with  a  few  marked  exceptions, 
in  which  officers  were  willing  to  sacrifice  their  personal  advancement 
and  prospects  to  their  love  for  their  arm,  the  best  and  most  distin 
guished  of  the  officers  of  the  artillery  accepted  positions  elsewhere,  or 
left  the  service  in  disgust,  as  opportunity  offered.  The  effect  of  this 
and  of  other  errors  of  organization,  has  been  but  too  evident:  the 
artillery,  although  it  has  done  much  better  than  under  the  circum 
stances  could  have  been  expected  or  even  hoped,  has  not  attained  to 
that  efficiency  which  was  possible,  and  has  failed  to  retain  the  pre-emi 
nence  it  once  held  in  our  Army  and  in  public  estimation.  This  sacri 
fice  of  efficiency  has  been  made  at  the  expense  of  economy.  I  do  not 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE 

hesitate  to  say  that  the  field  artillery  of  this  Army,  although  not  in 
ferior  to  any  other  in  our  service,  has  been  from  one-third  to  one-half 
less  efficient  than  it  ought  to  have  been,  whilst  it  has  cost  from  one- 
third  to  one-half  more  money  than  there  was  any  necessity  for.  This 
has  been  due  principally  to  the  want  of  proper  organization,  which 
has  deprived  it  of  the  experienced  officers  required  for  its  proper  com 
mand,  management,  and  supervision,  and  is  in  no  respect  the  fault  of 
the  artillery  itself." 

General  Meade  wrote  to  Captain  Martin  at  the  expira 
tion  of  the  term  of  service  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery,  as 
quoted  by  the  historian,  "In  no  branch  of  the  service  is 
knowledge  and  experience  so  essential  to  success  as  in  the 
artillery,  nor  is  there  any  branch  of  the  service  where  so 
little  has  been  done  by  promotion  to  encourage  the  faithful 
and  efficient  officer." 

Perhaps  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State,  William 
Schouler,  who  shared  with  the  Governor  the  care  of  all  the 
troops  who  went  from  Massachusetts  throughout  the  War, 
had  as  clear  an  insight,  and  was  as  capable  of  impartially 
stating  what  treatment  her  light  artillery  deserved  and  what 
it  received  as  any  one. 

In  his  "History  of  Massachusetts  in  the  Civil  War"  pub 
lished  in  1868,  he  says: — "No  arm  of  the  Massachusetts 
volunteers  did  greater  service  to  the  nation,  or  reflected 
greater  honor  upon  Massachusetts,  than  the  sixteen  light 
batteries  which  went  from  this  Commonwealth  to  the  War. 
Many  of  the  officers  held  high  commands,  some  of  them  of 
the  artillery  of  a  Corps,  and  yet  none  of  them  could  ever 
reach  a  higher  rank  than  captain,  and  for  the  reason  that 
the  Secretary  of  War  would  not  consent  to  have  our  bat 
teries  given  either  a  battalion  or  a  regimental  organization. 
States,  which  did  not  send  half  as  many  batteries  into  the 
service,  had  these  privileges  allowed  them,  and  in  conse 
quence  they  had  their  majors,  lieutenant-colonels,  and 
colonels  of  artillery,  while  Massachusetts  had  no  officer  of 
higher  rank  in  this  arm  of  the  service  than  a  captain. 

The  Governor  exerted  his  utmost  power  to  have  this 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  63 

wrong  righted,  but  in  vain.  The  only  answer  which  Sec 
retary  Stanton  gave,  was  that  'mistakes  had  been  made  in 
the  beginning  of  the  War,  which  he  did  not  wish  to  keep 
up.' 

We  will  not  say  that  the  Secretary  was  altogether  to 
blame :  but  the  wrong  done  could  have  been  righted  by  Con 
gress  fixing  a  brevet  rank  which  would  have  carried  com 
mand  and  pay  with  it,  and  not  have  permitted  officers  of 
the  skill  and  bravery  of  Martin,  McCartney,  Nims,  and 
others  we  could  name,  to  serve  in  positions  which  properly 
belonged  to  brigadier  generals,  and  to  perform  the  duties  of 
those  positions  with  pre-eminent  merit,  while  only  holding 
in  reality  the  commissions  of  captains,  and  allowed  only  the 
pay  and  allowances  of  captains. 

It  is  true  that  these  gentlemen  were  named  in  official  bul 
letins  in  words  of  praise,  for  'gallant  and  efficient  service 
in  the  field,'  and  at  the  end  of  the  War  they  were  brevetted 
brigadier-generals :  but  something  more  was  due  the  of 
ficers  and  men  of  the  light  batteries  of  Massachusetts." 

A  GLANCE  AT  ARTILLERY  TACTICS. 

"The  Artillery  drill,  although  equally  interesting,  was  not  as  rapid 
as  that  of  the  cavalry,  because  of  the  weight  of  the  guns,  but  there  was 
a  grandeur  in  the  movement  of  so  many  spirited,  well-trained  teams 
and  heavy  pieces,  not  seen  in  the  other  branches  of  the  service.  Target 
firing  was  also  practiced  to  a  high  degree  of  excellence." 

EDWIN  FORBES. 

Brig.  Gen.  John  Gibbon  who  compiled  'The  Artillerist's 
Manual,"  edition  of  1863,  declares  that — "Batteries  derive 
all  their  value  from  the  courage  and  skill  of  the  gunners, 
from  their  constancy  and  devotion  on  difficult  marches, 
from  the  quickness  and  capacity  of  the  officers,  and  espe 
cially  from  the  good  condition  and  vigor  of  the  teams,  with 
out  which  nothing  can  be  undertaken." 


64  HISTORY    OF    THE 

From  the  revised  system  of  Light  Artillery  Tactics  sub 
mitted  January  15,  1859,  by  a  Light  Artillery  Board  con 
sisting  of  Brevet  Major  Wm.  H.  French,  Captain  William 
F.  Barry  and  Brevet  Major  Henry  J.  Hunt,  having  been 
approved  by  President  James  Buchanan,  accepted  for  the 
government  of  the  Army  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  and 
used  by  the  Light  Batteries  during  the  War  of  the  Rebel 
lion,  the  following  is  taken  : — 

"The  battery  of  manoeuvre  is  composed  of  six  fieldpieces  and  six 
caissons,  properly  manned,  horsed,  and  equipped.  It  is  sometimes 
reduced  to  four  or  increased  to  eight  pieces.  The  tactics  is  adapted 
to  either  number,  but  six  pieces  are  supposed.  Each  carriage  is  drawn 
by  four  or  six  horses,  and  the  officers  and  men  are  as  follows. — One 
captain,  who  commands  the  battery,  three  lieutenants,  each  command 
ing  a  section:  the  section  of  the  junior  lieutenant  should  be  in  the 
centre. 

One  lieutenant  commanding  the  line  of  caissons. 

When  half  batteries  are  formed,  they  are  commanded  by  the  two 
lieutenants  highest  in  rank. 

Six  mounted  sergeants,  each  charged  with  guiding  and  superintend 
ing  a  piece. 

Twenty-four,  or  thirty-six  drivers,  being  one  to  each  pair  of  horses. 

Six  detachments  of  cannoneers,  each  containing  nine  men  in 
mounted  batteries,  and  eleven  in  horse  batteries.  This  number  in 
cludes  two  cornorals.  one  of  whom  is  chief  of  the  caisson,  and  the 
other  the  gunner,  has  charge  of  the  gun  and  its  detachment. 

Two  trumpeters  or  buglers. 

One   guidon. 

The  battery  is  divided  into  three  sections  denominated  the  right, 
left,  and  centre  sections. 

A  section  contains  two  pieces  and  two  caissons  and  in  each  section 
the  pieces  are  denominated  right  piece  and  left  piece. 

The  battery  is  also  divided  into  half  batteries  denominated  right 
half  battery,  and  left  half  battery.  The  word  piece  applies  to  the  gun 
or  howitzer,  either  with  or  without  its  limber,  and  sometimes  to  the 
piece  and  caisson  together. 

The  front  of  a  battery,  in  the  order  in  battery,  is  the  front  of  the 
line  of  pieces.  In  all  other  formations  it  is  the  front  of  the  first  line 
of  drivers. 

The  right  or  left  of  a  battery  is  always  that  of  the  actual  front, 
whether  the  pieces  or  caissons  lead. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  65 

PARADE  FOR  REVIEW  AND  INSPECTION. 

The  battery  being  in  line,  with  the  pieces  in  front :  the  first  sergeant 
2  yards  from  the  right:  the  bugler  and  guidon  in  one  rank,  6  yards 
on  his  right:  the  quartermaster  sergeant  2  yards  from  the  left:  the 
artificers  in  one  rank,  6  yards  on  his  left:  all  dressed  on  the  lead 
drivers  of  the  pieces:  the  Captain  commands: 

1.  Attention. 

2.  Prepare  for  Review. 

3.  Action  Front. 

4.  Right-Dress. 

5.  Front." 


A  LITTLE  BIT  FROM  MEMORY. 

Notes  of  Private  D.  Henry  Grows  Oct.  28,  1900: — "A 
section  consists  of  two  guns,  as  there  are  six  guns  to  a  bat 
tery,  they  are  called  the  Right,  Left,  and  Centre  sections. 
When  in  camp  the  tents  are  placed  the  same  as  the  men  are 
at  the  guns,  viz.,  odd  numbers  on  the  right  and  even  ones 
on  the  left,  making  Nos.  i,  3  &  5  on  the  right,  and  2,  4  & 
6  on  the  left,  so  you  will  see  that  I,  being  in  the  5th  detach 
ment  I  would  be  placed  on  the  right  half.  No.  6  is  rarely 
changed,  because  the  one  holding  the  place  has  to  learn  the 
firing  table,  which  is  placed  in  the  cover  of  the  limber 
chest." 

Notes  of  Corporal  Benjamin  Graham  Nov.  n,  1900: — 
"The  pieces  are  all  numbered  from  One  to  Six  on  a  march 
or  in  a  line.  On  a  march  the  First  piece  is  supposed  to  be 
in  front  or  first,  and  in  line  of  battle  it  is  supposed  to  be  on 
the  right,  thus:  6,  5,  4,  3,  2,  i,  and  the  First  piece  is  the 
First  Detachment,  the  Second  piece  the  Second  Detach 
ment,  and  so  on." 


CHAPTER  IV. 
RECRUITING  THE  BATTERY. 

"Come  forth !  come  as  the  torrent  comes  when  the  winter's  chain  is 

burst ! 

So  rushes  on  the  land's  revenge,  in  night  and  silence  nursed — 
The  night  is  passed,  the  silence  o'er — on  all  our  hills  we  rise — 
We  wait  thee,  youth !  sleep,  dream  no  more !  the  voice  of  battle  cries." 

— The  Summons,  Mrs.  Hemans. 

The  summons  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  send  on  all 
regiments  and  parts  of  regiments  then  enlisted,  gave  rise  to 
an  increased  activity  in  the  various  executive  departments. 
The  demand  made  so  peremptorily,  called  for  prompt  and 
speedy  action.  Governor  Andrew  issued  a  proclamation 
on  August  20,  1 86 1,  which  closed  with  the  following 
words : — 

"Citizen  Soldiers  of  Massachusetts!  Duty,  Honor,  the  dearest 
sentiments  of  Patriotic  Love  and  Devotion  call  for  your  brave  hearts 
and  unconquerable  arms ! 

JOHN    A.    ANDREW 
Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief." 

On  the  25th  advices  had  been  received  at  the  State  De 
partment  in  Washington,  from  all  our  foreign  ministers, 
stating  confidently  that  there  would  be  no  movement  among 
the  European  governments  to  recognize  the  rebels  so  long 
as  the  federal  government  kept  forces  in  the  rebel  states  and 
held  Washington. 

The  President  not  only  directed  that  fortifications  should 
be  erected  to  protect  Washington,  but  he  desired  that  they 
should  form  a  base  of  operations  against  the  rebels.  These 

66 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  67 

works  were  divided  into  three  sections, — western,  middle, 
and  eastern. 

Army  Head  Quarters  were  at  Arlington  House  on  Ar 
lington  Heights,  a  ridge  of  land  running  parallel  with  the 
Potomac  River  from  Alexandria  to  a  point  opposite 
Georgetown  a  distance  of  nine  miles.  South  of  these 
heights  was  Four  Mile  Run,  a  small  creek,  and  upon  them 
a  series  of  earthworks  were  erected  by  which  a  few  thou 
sand  men  could  hold  a  large  army  in  check.  The  Potomac 
Canal  crossed  the  river  on  a  high  stone  bridge.  The  bridge 
was  guarded  by  a  breastwork,  and  two  bomb  proof  block 
houses  of  large  logs  two  stories  high  were  erected  and 
pierced  on  all  sides  for  musketry.  Opposite  on  the  Vir 
ginia  shore  the  land  rises  about  150  feet  to  a  plateau  on 
which  stood  Fort  Corcoran.  About  a  mile  from  Arlington 
Heights  towards  Alexandria,  were  the  middle  works, 
erected  at  the  crossing  of  the  road  from  Alexandria  to 
Georgetown  and  that  from  the  Long  Bridge  to  Fairfax 
Court  House.  They  commanded  a  deep  ravine  towards 
Arlington,  a  wide  plain  towards  Fairfax,  and  a  broad  val 
ley  toward  Alexandria.  A  dense  forest  was  cut  down  in 
order  to  permit  an  unobstructed  view. 

The  eastern  defences  were  back  of  Alexandria  on  Shu- 
ter's  Hill  and  were  known  as  Fort  Ellsworth.  The  level 
ling  of  a  forest  of  fifteen  acres  which  sheltered  Alexandria 
by  three  thousand  men  in  a  short  time,  is  thus  described  in 
the  Philadelphia  Ledger  in  August,  1861 : — "The  axmen 
cut  the  trees  only  on  one  side,  leaving  them  with  just 
enough  of  the  body  to  keep  them  upright.  When  the  ut 
most  verge  was  reached  the  largest  trees  were  cut,  and 
falling,  swept  the  entire  fifteen  acres  with  one  stroke. 
These  laps  are  all  sharpened  and  present  a  formidable  ap 
pearance." 

General  George  B.  McClellan,  at  the  immature  age  of 
thirty-two  suddenly  summoned  from  Western  Virginia  to 
take  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  was  already 


68  HISTORY    OF    THE 

from  personal  observation  qualified  to  express  an  opinion 
on  the  methods  to  be  adopted  in  carrying  out  the  Presi 
dent's  plans.  He  criticised  the  conduct  of  the  allied  gen 
erals  of  the  Crimean  war  in  the  following  terms : — "Their 
measures  were  half  way  measures,  slow  and  blundering, 
they  failed  to  keep  constantly  in  view  the  object  of  the  ex 
pedition,  and  to  press  rapidly  and  unceasingly  toward  it. 

If  a  deficiency  in  men  and  means  is  assigned  as  a 

reason  for  the  early  operations  of  the  allies,  it  is  but  another 
proof  that,  in  undertaking  the  affair,  they  neglected  one  of 
the  clearest  rules  of  war;  that  is,  to  undertake  no  impor 
tant  operation  without  full  and  reliable  information  as  to 
the  obstacles  to  be  overcome,  and  the  means  of  resistance  in 
the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

He  immediately  introduced  the  strictest  discipline,  of 
which  there  had  been  a  lack.  It  had  been  said  that  the  bat 
tle  of  Bull  Run  exhibited  the  efficiency  of  artillery,  and  the 
comparative  weakness  of  the  infantry  arm  of  the  service. 
McClellan  declared  that  this  should  be  a  war  waged  with 
artillery,  and  at  once  called  for  a  large  increase  of  artillery 
and  cavalry,  and  after  the  review  on  the  South  side  of  the 
Potomac  it  was  telegraphed  August  25,  1861,  all  over  the 
country : — "Gen.  McClellan  declares  perfect  satisfaction 
with  his  army,  and  his  army,  the  greatest  ever  seen  on  this 
continent,  is  equally  satisfied  with  him." 

From  this  moment  a  sentiment  of  sacred  honor  attached 
itself  to  membership  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Mc- 
Clellan's  acknowledged  preference  for  artillery  aroused  in 
Massachusetts  the  latent  liking  for  that  arm  of  the  service 
which  had  lurked  in  the  militia  system  since  the  first  two 
years  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  the  one  Corps  of 
Artillery  in  the  service  of  the  Continent,  under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  General  George  Washington,  was  com 
posed  chiefly  of  Massachusetts  men. 

September  5th,  1861,  the  mayor  of  New  Bedford,  Hon. 
Isaac  C.  Taber,  was  authorized  to  organize  one  or  more 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  69 

companies  "for  the  national  army",  the  bounty  to  each 
member  not  to  exceed  fifteen  dollars,  and  the  next  day  the 
Taunton  Gazette  thus  appealed  to  the  people: — 

"Shall  we  have  an  artillery  company?"  "We  say  yes:"  replies  the 
New  Bedford  Mercury,  "and  suggest  that  the  company  already  in  exist 
ence  here  under  command  of  John  B.  Hyde,  as  the  nucleus  of  such 
an  organization.  Captain  Hyde,  we  doubt  not,  would  enter  into  such 
a  scheme  with  zeal,  and  of  his  efficiency  there  can  be  no  question." 

John  B.  Hyde  was  born  in  New  Bedford,  August  14, 
1830,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
At  the  age  of  18,  he  joined  the  New  Bedford  Volunteer 
Fire  Department,  and  was  Foreman  of  Columbian  Engine 
No.  5,  from  1854,  to  1861. 

In  1855,  he  became  a  member  of  the  New  Bedford  City 
Guards,  and  served  out  the  enlistment  term  of  live  years, 
during  which  time  the  Guards  were  commanded  by  Major 
George  A.  Bourne  and  Colonel  Timothy  Ingraham,  both 
superior  military  men.  In  1857  and  '58,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council.  At  that  time  the  Hon. 
George  H.  Dunbar  was  mayor  of  the  city. 

When  the  war  broke  out  and  the  Home  Guard  was 
formed,  he  was  requested  by  Mayor  Taber  to  take  charge 
of  two  brass  pieces  belonging  to  the  city,  and  organize  a 
company  to  man  them:  and  from  the  spring  of  1861,  to  the 
time  of  bis  recruiting  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  he  was  in 
command  of  that  branch  of  the  home  guard  for  the  pro 
tection  of  the  city  in  case  of  an  invasion.  This  no  doubt 
inspired  the  effort  which  resulted  in  the  larger  organiza 
tion,  whose  destination  was  the  seat  of  war. 

The  New  Bedford  City  Guards,  composed  of  so  many 
of  her  citizens  who  were  inclined  to  serve  their  country  in 
the  hour  of  danger,  enlisted  on  the  call  for  three  months 
men,  and  with  Timothy  Ingraham  as  captain,  went  out  as 
Company  L  of  the  Third  Mass.  Regt.  Infantry.  Colonel 
David  W.  Wardrop  commanding.  On  their  return  July 
23,  1 86 1,  with  full  ranks,  their  arrival  was  greeted  by  a 


70  HISTORY    OF    THE 

salvo  of  artillery  fired  upon  the  Common,  and  they  were 
escorted  to  the  City  Hall  by  four  companies  of  the  Home 
and  Coast  Guard  where  they  were  addressed  about  5  p.  m. 
by  the  mayor  and  Ex-Governor  John  H.  Clifford. 

It  is  recorded  in  the  columns  of  the  daily  press  that  the 
Flying  Artillery  at  the  Common  performed  sundry  evolu 
tions,  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  City  Guards,  which 
evinced  a  commendable  knowledge  of  their  peculiar  duty, 
and  great  dexterity  in  discharging,  unlimbering,  and  lim 
bering  their  pieces. 

The  New  Bedford  Mercury  of  July  25th  says  of  this  ar 
tillery  company : 

'They  are  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  proficiency  they  have 
made  in  artillery  practice,  and  particularly  as  they  have  not  had  the 
benefit  of  any  instruction,  but  have  studied  the  science  without  any  aid 
from  a  master.  We  regard  it  as  quite  extraordinary  that  Captain  Hyde 
and  his  command  have  acquired  such  skill  in  all  the  details  of  duty 
from  the  mere  reading  of  the  manual." 

Captain  Timothy  Ingraham  was  afterwards  Lieutenant 
Colonel  of  the  Mass.  i8th  Regt.  Infantry,  and  Colonel  of 
the  38th.  He  was  provost  marshal  in  Washington  when 
President  Lincoln  was  assassinated. 

The  Morning  Mercury  announced  on  this  6th  Septem 
ber,  1 86 1  :— 

"The  sabres  loaned  to  the  city  for  the  Home  and  Coast  Guard  Light 
Artillery,  have  been  recalled  by  the  Governor.  Captain  -Hyde  will 
take  them  to  Boston  today." 

Thus  the  scene  was  changed  to  the  city  of  Boston. 
Three  days  after,  there  was  issued  the  following  document 
bearing  the  state  seal : — 

GENERAL  RECRUITING  OFFICE  FOR  MASS.  VOLUNTEERS. 

HEAD   QUARTERS    FIRST   BRIGADE 
FIRST  Div.  M.  V.  M. 
No.  14  PITTS  STREET. 
BOSTON,  Sept.  9,  1861. 

This  certifies  that  I  have  this  day  appointed  G.   D.  Allen  Deputy 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  71 

Recruiting  Officer  for  Gen.  Wilson's   Regiment   Massachusetts  Volun 
teers   in  the  towns  of  Maiden,   Medford  and  Melrose. 

All  Recruiting  Officers  appointed  by  this  Department  are  hereby 
directed  to  co-operate  with  each  other,  By  order  of 

W.  W.  BULLOCK 
General  Recruiting  Officer  Mass.  Vols. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  in  camp  with  the  22d  and 
the  236,  but  both  infantry  regiments  preceded  it  to  the  field. 
From  the  New  Bedford  Mercury. 

Sept.  13,  1861. 

The  New  Artillery  Company:  Lieut.  John  B.  Hyde  has  opened  a 
recruiting  office  at  the  Armory  corner  of  Mechanics  Lane  and  Pleasant 
street.  The  Company  for  which  he  is  recruiting  is  to  be  attached  to 
Gen  Wilson's  regiment  (22d.),  and  it  should  be  filled  at  once.  Lieut. 
Hyde  is  well  known  in  this  county,  and  his  personal  popularity  should 
secure  his  success  in  his  present  undertaking.  If  he  fails,  we  shall 
despair  of  any  man's  raising  a  company  in  New  Bedford." 


In  another  column  was  the  advertisement: — 
LIGHT   ARTILLERY   COMPANY 

RECRUITS    WANTED. 

For  an  Artillery  Company  now  forming  in  the  City  of  New  Bedford 
to  be  attached  to  Gen.  Wilson's  Regiment. 

$100  Bounty  at  the  end  of  the  War. 

$15   Bonus   from   the   City  at  the   time   of  enlisting. 

$13  per  month,  with  Clothing  and  Rations. 

$4  per  month  for  a  wife. 

$8  per  month  for  a  wife  and  one  child. 

$12  per  month  for  a  wife  and  two  children. 

Pay  monthly  from  the  State.     Pay  and  Rations  to  commence  imme 
diately. 

Ihese  inducements  are  the  best  now  offered  for  young  men  de 
sirous  of  serving  their  country. 

Office  at  the  Armory  of  the  N.  B.  Light  Artillery  Company,  corner 
of  Mechanics  Lane  and  Pleasant  Street. 

J.  B.  HYDE. 


72  HISTORY   OF    THE 

Boston  next. 

GENERAL  RECRUITING  OFFICE  FOR  MASS.  VOLUNTEERS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE 
FIRST  Div.  M.  V.  M. 

No.  14  PITTS  STREET 
BOSTON,  Sept.  16,  1861. 

This  certifies  That  I  have  this  day  appointed  G.  D.  Allen  Deputy 
Recruiting  Officer  for  the  Fourth  Battery  of  Light  Artillery  for  Gen. 
Wilson's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  in  the  City  of  Boston 
and  vicinity. 

All  Recruiting  Officers  appointed  by  this  Department  are  hereby 
directed  to  co-operate  with  each  other. 

By  order  of 

W.  W.  BULLOCK 
General   Recruiting   Officer 
Mass.  Vols. 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  GEO.  D.  ALLEN 
Sept.  3.   1900. 

"I  had  the  mustering  in  papers  made  out  on  the  date  of 
the  first  order  I  had  for  recruiting  the  Battery,  this  espe 
cially  saved  the  New  Bedford  men  two  or  three  weeks  pay. 

General  Schouler  sent  for  me  to  come  to  his  office  in  the 
State  House,  and  informed  me  that  Salem  and  Lawrence 
wanted  to  join  in  recruiting  a  battery,  and  he  had  decided 
to  call  their  battery  the  Fourth,  and  our  battery  would  be 
the  Fifth." 

THE  CALL. 

The  New  Bedford  Standard  of  Sept.  23,  1861,  contained 
the  following  notice: — 

"Lt.  John  B.  Hyde  advertises  today  for  recruits  for  the  artillery 
company  to  be  attached  to  General  Wilson's  regiment.  Lt.  Hyde  is 
well  known  here  and  has  been  exceedingly  popular  with  his  acquaint 
ance's,  among  whom  we  trust  his  call  will  meet  with  a  prompt  re 
sponse.  The  inducements  [This  refers  to  general  inducements  offered 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  73 

bv  the  city]   it  will  be  seen  are  extremely  liberal.     His  office  is  at  the 
Armory,  corner  of  Mechanics  Lane  and  Pleasant  street. 

The  following  appeared  in  the  Boston  Journal  of  Sep 
tember  25,  1 86 1 : — 

"Wanted — Recruits  for  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Light  Battery,  to  be 
attached  to  the  Twenty-third  Regiment,  Col.  Whson. 

Able-bodied  young  men  of  good  standing  will  ^lease  apply  imme 
diately  to  G.  D.  Allen,  in  Court  street. 

The  Company  goes  into  Camp  at  Lynnfield  immediately." 

The  regiment  raised  by  Senator  Wilson  _was  the  22d. 
The  23d.  was  commanded  by  Colonel  John  Kurtz.  The 
Third  Mass.  Battery  accompanied  the  22d.  to  the  seat  of 
war. 

in  Court  street  was  about  where  the  Palace  Theatre 
now  stands,  at  the  head  of  Sudbury  street.  Sergt.  Wm.  H. 
Peacock  recollects  the  enlistment  place  as  a  vacant  store. 

September  28th,  1861,  George  D.  Allen  of  Maiden  was 
commissioned  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Fifth  Massachusetts 
Battery.  The  same  day  the  following  Special  Order  was 

issued : 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
HEAD  QUARTERS,  BOSTON, 

Sept.  28,  1861 
Special  Order  No.  484. 

Mr.  George  D.  Allen  of  Maiden,  who  is  recruiting  the  Fifth  Battery 
of  Light  Artillery,  to  Le  attached  to  the  Twenty-third  Resriment  of 
ivlassachusetts  Volunteers,  now  in  camp  at  Lynnfield,  is  ordered  to 
report  with  his  command  to  Lt.  Col.  Kurtz,  who  will  find  him  proper 
quarters. 

By   order   of   the    Commander-in-Chief. 

WM.  SCHOULER 
Adj.  General. 

The  New  Bedford  Mercury  of  the  same  date  had  the  fol 
lowing  notice: — 

NOTICE. 

"To  the  members  of  the  N.  B.  Light  Artillery  Company. 

The  members  of  this  Company  are  notified,  that  they  go  into  camp 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE 

at  Lvnnfield,  on  Monday  Sept.  30,  1861.  They  are  requested  to  meet 
at  the  Artillery  Armory,  Mechanics  Lane,  on  Monday  morning,  Sept. 
30,  1861,  at  6  o'clock  precisely. 

LIEUT.  J.   B.   HYDE. 
New  Bedford  Sept.  28,  1861. 

Lynnfield  formerly  a  part  of  Lynn,  is  a  small  town  12 
miles  from  Boston,  and  the  camp  was  established  near  the 
Lynnfield  Hotel,  in  a  level  field,  once  used  for  a  race-track. 

When  Lieut.  Allen  went  into  camp  at  Lynnfield  he  was 
presented  with  a  horse,  in  color  a  dark  chestnut,  by  E.  R. 
Sawyer  &  Co. — in  whose  employ  he  was  when  he  joined  the 
army; — other  wholesale  coal  dealers  in  Boston  contribut 
ing.  When  he  found  that  they  were  not  going  to  take  the 
Battery  horses  from  here,  he  was  obliged  to  sell  him,  and 
buy  another  in  Washington. 

From  the  New  Bedford  Mercury  Oct.  2,  1861. 

DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  CAMP. 

"Lieut.  John  B.  Hyde  and  his  command,  56  men,  left  by  the  early 
train,  on  the  New  Bedford  and  Taunton  Railroad  yesterday  morning. 
They  marched  from  their  Armory  to  Market  Square  (City  Hall)  where 
prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Tohn  Girdwood,  and  his  Honor  the 
Mayor  made  a  few  remarks,  and  presented  to  Lieut.  Hyde,  on  behalf 
of  the  City,  a  full  set  of  equinments.  Lieut.  Hyde  made  an  appropriate 
response.  As  the  train  left,  a  salute  was  fired  on  the  Common  by  a 
detachment  of  the  Light  Artillery  Company  of  this  city,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Pliny  B.  Sherman.  A  large  number  of  citizens  were  at 
the  depot  to  witness  the  departure  of  their  friends  and  neighbors,  and 
to  express  their  hearty  wishes  for  their  success." 

Same  date: 

"We  learn  from  the  'Journal'  that  Lieut.  Hyde  and  hi§  command 
dined  at  the  Parker  House  in  Boston  yesterday.  His  Honor  Mayor 
Taber  accompanied  them,  and  Mayor  Wightman  (of  Boston)  and  our 
friend  Colonel  Hatch  were  at  the  dinner.  The  Mayor  of  Boston  was 
introduced  by  the  Colonel,  and  addressed  the  men  in  cheering  words 
of  welcome." 


m 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  75 


PRESENTATION  OF  EQUIPMENTS. 

His  Honor  Mayor  Isaac  C.  Taber  requested  Lieut.  Hyde 
to  present  himself  with  his  recruits  October  i,  1861,  at  7 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  where  he 
proposed  to  make  an  address  to  his  command.  Owing  to 
sickness  the  Mayor  was  unable  to  be  present  in  person  but 
delegated  Mr.  James  B.  Congdon,  who  made  the  address 
and  presented  to  Lt.  Hyde  his  equipments,  consisting  of  a 
sabre,  belt,  sash,  shoulder  straps,  spurs,  and  a  pair  of  Colt's 
revolvers. 

After  these  ceremonies  were  concluded  they  proceeded 
to  the  depot,  headed  by  the  New  Bedford  Brass  Band,  and 
took  the  train  for  the  camp  at  Lynnfield. 

CERTIFICATE  OF  MEMBERSHIP. 

NEW  BEDFORD,  October  i,  1861. 

This  certifies  that  William  H.  Peacock  has  been  regularly  mustered 
and  sworn  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  as  a  member  of  5th 
Battery,  23d  Regiment,  now  in  Lynnfield. 

LIEUT.  JOHN  B.  HYDE. 

"Personal"  in  the  New  Bedford  Mercury 
Oct.  3,  1861. 

"Lieut.  T.  B.  Hyde  of  the  Fifth  Battery,  returned  to  the  city  last 
evening.  He  reports  that  his  men  have  all  been  sworn  in,  uniformed 
and  equipped.  They  are  all  in  excellent  spirits,  and  highly  pleased 
with  their  quarters  and  rations." 

The  next  day  came  the  following  anonuncement. 

"Fifth  Battery :  Lieut.  H^de  returns  to  Camp  Schouler  at  Lynnfield 
this  morning  (October  4th)  with  the  following  recruits: — 

Robert  A.  Dillingham,  Timothy  W.  Terry,  Henr-  D.  Scott,  Alpheus 
Haskins.  Edward  F.  Smith,  William  Turner.  Mason  W.  Page,  Joseph 
G.  Braley,  George  McCully,  Samuel  A.  hardy,  George  H.  Chadwick, 
J.  Augustus  Wood,  Christopher  C.  Allen,  Edward  Mitchell,  Philo  P. 


76  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Braley,  William  Greeley,  Josiah  W.  Gardner,  John  Langley,  James  D. 
Allen,  Charles  D.  Barnard,  Michael  Flynn.  George  W.  Smith,  Thomas 
Higgins  and  several  others  whose  names  we  could  not  learn. 

Timothy  W.  Terry,  brother  of  our  city  marshal,  has  received  the  ap 
pointment  of  Quartermaster's  Sergeant.  The  recruiting  office  will  be 
kept  open  a  short  time,  and  those  intending  to  enlist  should  do  so  at 
once.  Lieut.  Hyde  has  made  arrangements  with  the  postmaster  at 
Lynnfield,  so  that  all  letters  addressed  Fifth  Battery  Artillery,  Camp 
Schouler,  Lynnfield,  will  be  conveyed  daily  to  the  camp  by  the  Quar 
termaster's  Sergeant." 

ADVERTISEMENT  IN  THE  MERCURY  OCT.  5th. 
"LAST  CHANCE. 

20  able-bodied  men  wanted  Immediately.     For  the 

New  Bedford 
Light    Artillery    Company 
Now  encamped  at  Lynnfield." 

After  specifying  the  bounty,  as  before,  the  following  is 
added : — 

"Call  soon,  as  only  a  few  more  can  be  accepted  in  this  Company. 
Apply   at  the   Armory  of  the   New   Bedford  Light  Artillery   Com 
pany,  on  Mechanics  Lane,  above  Purchase  street." 

October  8,  1861,  John  B.  Hyde  of  New  Bedford  was 
commissioned  Second  Lieutenant.  Robert  A.  Dillingham 
of  New  Bedford  Third  Lieutenant.  Charles  A.  Phillips  of 
Salem,  Fourth  Lieutenant  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

On  the  same  day  the  New  Bedford  Mercury  announced 
the  following  additional  recruits : 

"THE  FIFTH  BATTERY 

"Lieut.  Hvde  leaves  for  camp  this  morning  with  the  following 
recruits  for  the  Fifth  Battery,  completing  the  number  of  his  company: 
Christopher  C.  Allen,  Michael  Hewitt,  Robert  King,  Joseph  R.  Hath 
away,  Thomas  Place,  Richard  Heyes,  John  F.  Hathaway,  Stephen 
Townsend,  John  H.  Alton,  Christopher  B.  Tripp,  William  S.  Wilcox, 
Peleg  W.  Blake,  Joseph  B.  Alton,  James  Robinson,  Thomas  A.  Cush- 
man,  Squire  W.  Butts,  Michael  Sullivan,  David  B.  Peirce,  Benjamin 
S.  Kanuse,  James  L.  Warren,  William  H.  Caswell,  John  T.  Drew, 
Francis  P.  Washburn.  Lot  Tynan,  James  H.  Albro." 


FIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  77 

Oct.  8th,  the  22d.  Regiment  left  Boston  for  Washington. 
On  the  loth,  according  to  the  Mercury,  the  mayor  and  city 
treasurer  of  New  Bedford  "proceeded  to  Camp  Schouler, 
Lynnfield,  and  paid  the  bounty  offered  by  the  City  to  vol 
unteers  in  Lieut.  Hyde's  company,  and  the  Clifford  Guards, 
Co.  D,  23d  Regiment." 

This  company  was  recruited  by  Cornelius  Rowland  Jr. 
and  went  to  camp  about  the  time  the  artillery  company  was 
sent  there.  On  the  i6th  Colonel  Kurtz  changed  the  camp 
of  the  23d  to  the  location  vacated  by  the  22d. 

October  23,  1861,  Max  Eppendorff  of  New  Bedford, 
was  commissioned  captain  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

CAPTAIN  MAX  EPPENDORFF. 

The  first  commander  of  the  Battery  enjoyed  the  full  con 
fidence  of  His  Excellency  Governor  Andrew,  and  the  high 
officials  with  whom  he  came  in  business  connection,  and 
he  tried  to  deserve  this  confidence  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  EPPENDORFF. 
October  26,   1900. 

''When,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1849,  the  Royal 
Saxon  Army, — I  am  a  subject  of  the  King  of  Saxony,  not 
of  Prussia — ,  was  reorganized  and  increased,  the  Minister 
of  War  was  compelled  to  call  for  Volunteers  to  fill  the 
vacant  positions  of  Subaltern  Officers. 

With  8  other  young  men,  who  like  myself,  had  formerly 
been  students  of  the  Polytechnic  High  school  in  Dresden, 
I  applied  for  admission  in  the  Artillery  Corps.  We  were 
accepted  and  mustered  in  as  Ensigns.  For  5  months  we 
were  drilled  in  Artillery  and  Infantry  service,  and  in 
structed  by  Officers  of  the  Regiment  in  general  duties  of  an 
Artillery  Officer,  and  in  special  Artillery  science. 

Having  satisfactorily  passed  examination  before  a  com 
mittee  composed  of  the  Staff  of  the  Regiment,  we  obtained 


78  HISTORY    OF    THE 

our  appointments  as  Second  Lieutenants  of  the  Saxon  Ar 
tillery. 

I  served  my  King  faithfully  for  6  years,  when  I  tendered 
my  resignation  and  obtained  my  honorable  discharge  with 
pension,  which  latter  I  am  by  special  favor  allowed  to  draw 
in  any  foreign  country. 

On  my  first  interview  with  Governor  Andrew,  I  handed 
him  these  papers,  of  whose  contents  he  took  the  necessary 
insight.  My  application  for  a  position  as  a  kind  of  in 
structor  for  officers  and  men  of  Batteries  of  the  State  then 
to  be  organized,  was  finally  refused  by  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  Washington." 

THE  ORIGINAL   ENLISTMENT   ROLLS   IN   NEW 

BEDFORD. 

Signed  by  The  Recruits. 

Enlisted  at  New  Bedford  from  September  23d.  to  Oct. 
8th,  1 86 1,  by  Lt.  John  B.  Hyde. 

Robert  A.  Dillingham   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Henry  D.  Scott New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Timothy  W.  Terry    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Charles  H.  Morgridge New  Bedford,  Mass. 

George  Shaw  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Anson  E.  Ferris New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  Pilling    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Luther  Petty   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Thomas  Burke    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Jacob  A.  Gilbert New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Francis  Oldis   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Michael   Flynn    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

George  W.  Smith   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Samuel  R.   Jordan    Mattapoisett,   Mass. 

Henry  W.   Soule    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

John  C.  Hart New  Bedford,  Mass. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  79 

Patrick  Walsh    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

James  A.  Tripp New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  G.   Sanford    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Robert  Miller New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Michael  Dugan   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Alexander  Moore New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Henry  D.  Crapo New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Andrew  W.  Almy    Fairhaven,   Mass. 

Francis  Carson   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  Agen    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Benjamin  T.   Burt    Fall   River,   Mass. 

James  Winters,  Bugler New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  W.  Carsley New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Albion  K.  P.  Hayden   New .  Bedford,  Mass. 

George  S.  Manchester   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Jacob  Peacock    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Charles  C.  Weeden   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Joseph  W.  Clarke New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Thomas   Higgins    New   Bedford,   Mass. 

James  Neild    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Elisha  J.  Gibbs   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Charles  A.  Clark   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

James  Kay New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Benjamin  Graham New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Benjamin  F.   Smith    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  Waddington New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Edwin  J.  Butler New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Thomas  Carney New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  Pinder   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

James  T.  Shepard New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Joseph  Hall    New   Bedford,   Mass. 

John  E.  Dyer New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Edward  T.  Wilson  2d New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Edward  W.  West   Fairhaven,  Mass. 

Philip  T.   Quillin    Fairhaven,    Mass. 

William  H.  Dunham    Fairhaven,  Mass. 


80  HISTORY   OF    THE 

William  H.  Ray Fall  River,  Mass. 

Alpheus  Haskins   Marion,  Mass. 

Edward  F.  Smith New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  Gunning   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  Saxner    Blackstone,  R.   I. 

Mason  W.  Page  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Joseph  G.  Braley   Freetown,  Mass. 

George  McCulley   Freetown,  Mass. 

Samuel  A.   Hardy    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

George  H.  Chadwick New  Bedford,  Mass. 

J.  Augustus  Wood New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Christopher  C.  Allen New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Edward  Mitchell    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Philo  L.  Braley   Freetown,  Mass. 

William    Greely    Germany. 

Josiah  W.  Gardner    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  Langley New7  Bedford,   Mass. 

James  D.  Allen  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

[afterwards  captain's  clerk] 

Charles  D.  Barnard   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Lemuel  A.  Washburn    Freetown,  Mass. 

Michael  Hewitt New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Ephraim  B.   Nye    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Edward  Champlin    Westerly,  R.  I. 

James  Cox    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

Samuel   Clark    Smithfield,    R.    I. 

John  M.  Canty   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Charles  Jay   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  Hathaway  Jr New  Bedford,  Mass. 

James  H.  Paxton   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Frederick  D.  Alden   Fall  River,  Mass. 

Charles  H.   Macomber    Fall   River,   Mass. 

Benjamin  West New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  Sweeney   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

A.  F.  Milliken    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Patrick  Doyle New  Bedford,  Mass. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  81 

Henry  Fitzsimmons   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Lorenzo  D.  Brownell New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  H.  Hodgins   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

George  F.  Healy   Rochester,  Mass. 

David  McVey   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Robert  King   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Joseph  R.  Hathaway New  Bedford,  Mas^ 

Thomas   Place    New   Bedford,   Mass. 

Richard  Heyes    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  F.  Hathaway. New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Stephen  Donovan   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  H.  Alton   Freetown,  Mass. 

Christopher  B.   Tripp    Westport,   Mass. 

William  S.  Wilcox New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Frederick  W.  Wood New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Peleg  W.  Blake   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Samuel  Sanderson New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Joseph  B.  Alton   Sandwich,  Mass. 

James   Robinson    New   Bedford,    Mass. 

Thomas  A.  Cushman New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Michael  Sullivan    New  Bedford,   Mass. 

David  B.  Peirce New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Benjamin  S.  Kanuse New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Squire  W.   Butts    New   Bedford,   Mass. 

James  L.  Warren   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  W.  Caswell New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  A.  Drew  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Francis  P.  Washburn    New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Lot  Tynan New  Bedford,  Mass. 

James  H.  Albro New  Bedford,  Mass. 

James  W.  Baldwin New  Bedford,  Mass. 

John  H.  Cole New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  H.  Peacock New  Bedford,  Mass. 


82  HISTORY    OF    THE 

THE    ORIGINAL    COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 
From  Lt.  Hyde's  Rolls. 

Captain,  Max  Eppendorff,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Sen.  ist  Lt.  George  D.  Allen,  Maiden,  Mass. 

Jun.  ist  Lt.  John  B.  Hyde,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Sen.  2d  Lt.  Robert  A.  Dillingham,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Jun.  2d  Lt.  Charles  A.  Phillips,  Salem,  Mass. 

ORIGINAL  NON  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Major,  George  H.  Johnson,  Boston,  Mass. 

Sergeants : — 

Frederick  A.  Lull,  Cambridge,  Mass. 
Henry  D.  Scott,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 
Otis  B.  Smith,  Boston,  Mass. 
Charles  H.  Morgridge,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 
William  B.  Pattison,  Boston,  Mass. 
Peleg  W.  Blake,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 
William  H.  Peacock,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

Timothy  W.  Terry,  New  Bedford. 

Corporals. 

W.  G.  Warren   Boston,  Mass. 

A.  E.  Ferris   New  Bedford,  Mass. 

H.  O.  Simonds  Boston,  Mass. 

Mason  W.  Page  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

William  H.  Baxter Boston,  Mass. 

Ephraim  B.  Nye New  Bedford,  Mass. 

The  representative  of    the    New    Bedford  Mercury  at 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  83 

Camp  Schouler  thus  describes  an  unusual  scene  and  a  novel 
recruit : — 

"We  saw  a  dav  or  two  since  a  noble  looking  mastiff,  a  most  intelli 
gent  brute,  and  thoroughly  trained,  which  was  purchased  by  certain 
gentlemen  in  the  city,  and  presented  to  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Bat 
tery.  He  was  taken  to  the  camp  by  Ass't  Engineer  H.  H.  Fisher,  who, 
we  learn,  made  an  appropriate  presentation  speech.  As  'Jack's'  loyalty 
was  beyond  all  question,  the  usual  oath  was  dispensed  with." 

The  sentinel  "Jack"  was  also  called  "Trusty." 


October  28th,  His  Excellency  Governor  Andrew  re 
ceived  the  Twenty-Third  Regiment  and  the  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery,  at  Lynnfield. 

Corporal  Thomas  E.  Chase  refers  to  this  in  his  Diary, 
and  says  there  were  fifteen  guns  fired  in  honor  of  His  Ex 
cellency,  and  that  on  that  day  Captain  Max  Eppendorff 
took  command  of  the  Battery. 

In  relation  to  Lieut.  Phillips'  fitting  himself  for  promo 
tion,  Private  Louis  E.  Pattison  says: — 

"Chas.  A.  Phillips  joined  the  company  at  Lynnfield  as 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  and  immediately  had  Thomas 
Stantial,  an  artificer,  make  him  a  table  on  which,  with  the 
aid  of  blocks  representing  artillery,  and  a  copy  of  the  tac 
tics,  he  familiarized  himself  with  the  movements  of  a  bat 
tery,  so  that  later  he  was  competent  to  perform  his  duties 
successfully." 

MEETING  IN  MALDEN  TOWN  HALL. 

Maiden,  like  New  Bedford,  had  just  sent  out  an  infantry 
company,  Co.  K,  of  the  Mass.  I7th  Regt,  which  was  at 
Camp  Andrew,  Baltimore,  Md.,  when  on  Monday  evening 
October  28th,  1861,  there  was  a  Masonic  celebration  at  the 
Maiden  Town  Hall, — a  public  installation  of  officers  of 
Mount  Vernon  Lodge,  and  a  presentation  to  the  retiring 
Master  of  the  Lodge,  George  D.  Allen. 


84  HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  the  centre  of  the  hall  stood  the  altar,  draped  with  the 
American  flag,  and  above  the  platform  where  were  seated 
the  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  hung  a 
portrait  of  Washington  festooned  with  red,  white  and  blue. 

SABRE  AND  EQUIPMENTS. 

The  installation  of  the  officers  was  by  the  Grand  Master 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  R.  W.  Wm.  D.  Coolidge,  followed  by 
a  hymn  written  for  the  occasion  by  the  Rev.  T.  J.  Green 
wood  and  sung  by  a  choir  of  thirty  voices,  the  closing 
verses  of  which  were  as  follows : — 

O'er  our  country  in  her  sorrow 

Deign  to  hold  thy  mighty  shield: 
Bring  to  us  a  bright  tomorrow, 

Through  the  struggles  of  the  field. 
Lo !  our  cherished  brother  leaves  us, 

Dangers,  for  our  Land,  to  brave : 
While  the  parting  sadly  grieves  us, 

We  for  him  thy  blessing  crave. 


Shield  him,  by  thy  gracious  power ! 

Shield  his  comrades  in  the  strife, 
And  to  life's  remotest  hour, 

Be  his  helper,  God  of  Life ! 
Guide  us  onward,  all,  and  ever, 

'Till  thou  lead  a  world  to  thee ! 
Let  our  trusting  falter,  never, 

God  of  Life,  and  Liberty. 

Then  came  the  presentation  of  a  splendid  sabre  and 
equipments  to  the  late  Master  of  the  Lodge,  George  D. 
Allen,  the  exercises  commencing  with  the  song  "Comrades 
Awake  to  Glory":— 

Comrades  awake  to  glory, 

Know  ye  not  the  foe  is  near, 
Hear  ye  not  the  trumpet  sounding, 

See  ye  not  the  glistening  spear? 

You'll  awake  on  your  graves, 

Already  the  torch  is  applied. 
And  the  blood  of  your  comrades 

Is  dyeing  the  turf  at  your  side. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  85 

The  presentation  speech  was  made  by  Wm.  H.  Richard 
son  Jr.  Esq.  who  said  in  part: — 

"The  members  of  Mount  Vernon  Lodge  .  .  .  have  called  you  here 
tonieht  to  seal  their  approbation  of  a  step  which  reflects  equal  honor 
upon  you  in  the  taking  and  upon  them  in  their  prompt  recognition  of 
its  high  importance. 

A  few  weeks  since  we  learned  that  you,  in  obedience  to  the  prompt 
ings  of  an  unselfish  patriotism  had  offered  your  services  to  your  country 
in  her  hour  of  darkness  and  trial :  we  learned  also,  that  the  offer  had 
been  accented,  and  that  in  a  few  brief  weeks  you  would  exchange  the 
quiet  walks  of  life,  the  delights  of  home,  and  the  society  of  cherished 
friends,  for  the  distant  and  stirring  scenes  of  camp  and  battle  field. 
Spontaneously,  as  it  were,  the  members  of  this  Institution,  with  whom 
you  have  been  so  long  and  honorably  connected,  suggested  the  idea  of 
a  parting  testimonial,  which  should  be  alike  a  substantial  token  of  our 
appreciation  of  your  labors  with  us,  of  our  regard  for  you  as  a  gentle 
man  and  brother,  and  as  useful  and  appropriate  symbols  of  the  new 
profession  in  which  you  are  about  to  embark.  ...  It  is  no  empty  com 
pliment,  no  formal  act  of  courtesy — no  enforced  compliance  with  the 
fashion  of  the  times  that  seeks  this  method  to  cover  a  heartless  cere 
mony,  but  it  is  the  warm  expression  of  a  hundred  hearts  that  beat 
in  proud  sympathy  with  a  step  that  evinces  the  noblest  patriotism  and 
the  truest  devotion  to  a  sacred  cause.  .  .  .  We  do  not  forget  that  the 
name  of  Allen  bears  an  historic  glory,  and  a  revolutionary  memory 
that  will  never  die,  and  may  you  emulate  that  sturdy  patriotism  and 
unflinching  courage  which  make  the  name  of  Allen  and  Ticonderoga 
the  watchwords  of  victory.  .  .  .  You  are  now  to  exchange  the  gavel 
for  the  sword,  and  thereby  discharge  the  duties  you  owe  to  the  laws 
under  which  you  live;  keeping  steadily  in  view  the  allegiance  due  to 
your  country. 

These  spurs,  too,  are  emblems  of  honor,  suggestive  of  that  open  eyed 
vigilance  which  is  ever  ready  for  the  word  of  command,  come  when  it 
may:  requiring,  as  Napoleon  used  to  term  it,  a  sort  of  'two  o'clock 
in  the  morning'  courage,  and  demanding  great  discipline  and  great 
enthusiasm  to  guard  against  surprise.  It  is  said  of  Suwarrow  that 
even  in  peace  he  always  slept  fully,  armed,  boots  and  all,  and  when  he 
wished  to  enjoy  a  very  comfortable  nap  he  used  to  take  off  one  spur. 
Let  his  ready  zeal  be  to  you  a  lesson  in  fidelity."  .  .  . 

MR.  ALLEN'S  REPLY. 

Mr.  Allen  replied  as  follows : 

"Brother  Senior  Warden,  and  Brothers  of  Mount  Ver 
non  Lodge :  There  are  moments  when  even  the  lips  of  elo 
quence  are  held  mute  by  the  emotions  that  struggle  in  the 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE 

heart.  And  if  to  such  souls  emotions  are  sometimes  un 
mastering,  how  much  more  so  must  they  now  be  to  me 
who  can  lay  no  claim  to  eloquence  or  even  common  Ian 
guage,  to  speak  what  I  feel.  I  cannot  talk.  Our  countn 
is  in  peril,  and  for  her  sake,  I  have  ventured  to  say  I  wa; 
ready  to  fight.  But  even  here  I  am  reminded  that  profes 
sion  is  more  becoming  him  who  putteth  off  his  armor,  thai 
he  who  putteth  it  on.  I  will  then  strive  not  to  abuse  th< 
confidence  you  have  manifested  by  these  splendid  gifts.  '. 
will  endeavor  to  use  them  manfully  in  protection  of  ou] 
country  and  her  laws,  and  for  them  so  appropriate  in  th< 
position  in  which  I  stand,  as  well  as  expressing  the  confi 
dence  of  the  Lodge  over  which  I  have  had  the  happiness 
and  honor  to  preside,  as  well  as  for  the  eloquent  and  appro 
priate  manner  in  which  they  have  been  conveyed,  my  whol< 
soul  centres  in  an  expression  of  grateful  thanks." 

In  closing  Mr.  Allen  invited  the  Rev.  T.  J.  Greenwooc 
to  speak  for  him,  which  he  did,  portraying  Mr.  Allen'; 
willingness  to  sacrifice  his  life  for  his  country  "which  al 
true  Masons  are  bound  to  love,  and  cherish,  and  defend,' 
and  as  a  personal  gift  presented  him  with  a  bible  "Th< 
Word  of  God" — "The  Great  Light  of  Freemasonry,  whid 
we  are  all  taught  to  heed."  District  Deputy  Grand  Mas 
ter  J.  K.  Hall  presented  Mr.  Allen  with  the  Diploma  of  c 
Past  Master,  in  acknowledgment  of  the  faithful  perform 
ance  of  the  duties  intrusted  to  him,  with  a  poetical  allusior 
to  Washington  for  whom  Mount  Vernon  Lodge  was 
named,  and  to  the  sabre  and  bible : — 

"And  may  its  hilt  be  blessed  by  faith  in  God 
While  you  seek  succor  from  his  holy  word : 

So  shall  you  honor  that  masonic  name 

Which  he,  our  brother,  cherished  more  than  fame." 

Reference  was  also  made  by  the  speaker  to  those  shin 
ing  lights  in  Freemasonry  the  patriots  Warren  and  La 
fayette. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  87 

LIST    OF    MEN    RECRUITED    BY    LIEUT.    GEO. 

D.  ALLEN. 

As    stated    on   the    Muster    Out    Roll,    at    Boston    and 
Readville  from  September  i6th  to  December  25th,  1861. 

Chase,  Thomas  E Boston,  Mass. 

Doherty,  Bernard   Readville,  Mass. 

Dickerman,  Joseph  C Readville,  Mass. 

Lull,    Frederick   A Boston,  Mass. 

Spear,  Joseph  E Boston,  Mass. 

Smith,  Otis  B Boston,  Mass. 

Simonds,  Harrison  O Boston,  Mass. 

Peacock,  William  H Boston,  Mass. 

Morrison,  John  W Boston,  Mass. 

Pattison,  William  B Boston,  Mass. 

Newhall,   William   B Boston,  Mass. 

Stiles,  Charles  F Boston,  Mass. 

Newton,  Geo.  L Boston,  Mass. 

Proctor,  George  O Boston,  Mass. 

Tucker,  John  C Boston,  Mass. 

Johnson,  George  H Boston,  Mass. 

Burkis,  James  M \  .  .  Boston,  Mass. 

Brown,    Warren    W Boston,  Mass. 

Blanchard,  Amos    Boston,  Mass. 

Brown,  Edward  A Readville,  Mass. 

Baxter,  William  H.    Boston,  Mass. 

Barry,    William    Boston,  Mass. 

Cox,  Henry  A Readville,  Mass. 

Estee,  William  E Boston,  Mass. 

Freeborn,  Geo.  H Boston,  Mass. 

Grows,  David  H Boston,  Mass. 

Gale,  Mortier    Boston,  Mass. 

Knox,  Joseph  L Boston,  Mass. 

Leach,  Geo.  H , Boston,  Mass. 


88  HISTORY   OF    THE 

Lapham,  Frederick  A.,  Jr Boston,  Mass. 

Mack.  John  F Boston,  Mass. 

Murray,  John   Boston,  Mass. 

Phippen,  Edward  A.,  Jr Boston,  Mass. 

Poole,  Geo.  W Boston,  Mass. 

Pattison,   Louis   E Boston,  Mass. 

Rice,  Edward  E Boston,  Mass. 

Stantial,   Thomas   B Boston,  Mass. 

Story.  Benjamin  F Boston,  Mass. 

Shaw,  Horatio  E Boston,  Mass. 

Waugh,  William  A Boston,  Mass. 

Whitcher,  Joseph  Boston,  Mass. 

Gustine,  Edward  F Boston,  Mass. 

Parsons,  Henry  C Boston,  Mass. 

Platts,  Edward  M Boston,  Mass. 

Warren,  William  G Boston,  Mass. 

Lapham,  William  H.  H Readville,  Mass. 

Morrison,  Joseph  J Boston,  Mass. 

Prescott,  Francis  A Readville,  Mass. 

Cook,  John  G.,  Jr Boston,  Mass. 

Skinner,  Charles  E Boston,  Mass. 

Simonds,  Warren  Readville,  Mass. 


Xew  Bedford  Mercury  October  29,  1861 : — 

"The  company  will  today  be  provided  with  two  12  pound  howitzers, 
two  6  pound  smooth  bore,  and  two  rifled  cannon. 

There  are  twenty  tents,  including  officers'  quarters,  those  of  the 
privates  accommodating  twelve  men  each.  Since  the  Battery  has  been 
encamped,  a  park  has  been  neatly  laid  out,  and  a  Liberty  pole  erected 
in  the  centre.  The  company  rations  are  satisfactory,  and  the  Quarter 
master  is  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms." 

McCLELLAN    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 

On  the  3  ist  of  October,  1861,  General  Winfield  Scott  re 
tired,  and  General  George  B.  McClellan  was  made  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Armies  of  the  United  States. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  89 


THANKSGIVING  PROCLAMATION. 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  BOSTON. 
General   Order  No.   28.  Nov.  5.  1861. 

The  soldiers  who  illustrate  the  fame  of  Massachusetts,  and  defend 
her  cause  with  that  of  our  Union  and  our  National  Flag,  in  military 
service  remote  from  the  homes  where  they  have  been  wont  to  celebrate 
with  their  families  the  venerable  and  joyful  New  England  Festival  of 
Thanksgiving  to  God  for  the  fruits  of  the  season,  and  the  bounty  of 
His  Providence,  ought  to  be  remembered  and  associated  so  far  as  may 
be  in  the  celebration  now  at  hand. 

.t  is  therefore  ordered  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  that  the  Adjutant 
General  cause  copies  of  the  Governor's  recent  Proclamation  for  a  dav 
of  Public  Thanksgiving  and  Praise  to  be  sent  to  the  colonels  and  chap 
lains  of  all  the  Massachusetts  Regiments  of  Volunteers  with  the  as 
surance  of  the  grateful  and  sympathetic  remembrance  of  them  by  the 
Government  and  people  of  Massachusetts,  of  their  thankfulness  for  the 
many  satisfactions  and  blessings  with  which  even  in  war  we  are  con 
stantly  attended,  and  of  our  fervent  prayers  for  the  welfare  of  our 
gallant  and  patriotic  soldiers,  and  our  undoubting  faith  in  their  fidelity 
and  honor:  and  finally,  with  the  exnression  of  the  hope  that  militarv 
duties  mav  not  be  inconsistent  with  their  observation  in  some  fitting 
manner  of  the  day  annually  set  apart  for  the  renewal  and  enlivening  of 
the  domestic  affections,  and  for  remembering  the  Giver  of  all  mercies 
by  the  united  consent  of  the  people  of  our  beloved  Commonwealth. 

commanders  of  Regiments  and  Batteries  of  the  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteers,  will  promulgate  this  Order  in  their  respective  commands. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency 

JOHN   A.   ANDREW, 
Governor   and   Commander-in-Chief. 
WILLIAM  SCHOULER, 
Adjutant  General. 

It  was  said  that  since  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant 
the  country  had  not  teemed  with  such  abundant  crops  as 
the  season  of  1861. 

NOTE  OF  SERGEANT  PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  SCHOULER. 
LYNXFIELD  Nov.  9,  '61. 

We  move  our  camp  to  Camp  Brigham.  Readville.  next 


90  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Wednesday,  where  there  are  stables  for  horses.  Here  we 
have  none.  We  expect  to  remain  there  6  weeks,  certain. 
There  has  been  any  quantity  of  rain  and  wet  weather,  but 
we  have  very  comfortable  tents,  so  we  keep  dry  and  warm. 
There  are  three  of  us  in  a  tent — the  Sergt.  Major,  the  Q. 
M.  Sergeant,  and  myself,  so  we  have  plenty  of  room." 

It  was  said  that  this  removal  was  in  order  to  concentrate 
the  forces  remaining  in  the  state,  to  the  end  that  they 
might  be  more  economically  supported. 

Nov.  nth  the  2^d  Regt.  Colonel  Kurtz,  left  for  the 
seat  of  war  and  Corporal  Chase  noted  in  his  Diary:  "5th 
Detachment  of  5th  Battery  fired  a  salute  of  6  guns  on  their 
departure." 

FIRST  MARCHING  ORDERS. 

COMMONWEALTH   OF   MASSACHUSETTS. 

HEAD   QUARTERS,    BOSTON. 
Special  Order  No.  568.  Nov.  13,  1861. 

Captain  Max  Eppendorff  commanding  Fifth  Battery  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteers  now  in  camp  at  Lynnfield,  will  proceed  with  his 
command   tomorrow   to  Readville  and  encamp  there,   under   direction 
of  the  Quartermaster  General. 
By   command   of   His   Excellency 

JOHN  A.  ANDREW, 
Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief. 
WILLIAM  BROWN, 
Ass't.  Adj.  General. 

The  Battery  marched  from  Lynnfield  to  Readville,  a 
village  then  forming  a  part  of  Dedham,  now  of  Hyde  Park, 
about  8  miles  from  Boston,  on  the  Providence  railroad. 
Here  there  were  two  camps,  "Massasoit"  and  "Brigham." 
The  Battery  moved  Nov.  I4th  and  camped  at  Camp  Massa 
soit.  Nov.  1 8th,  1 86 1,  the  following  order  was  issued:— 

Special  Order  No.  579. 

Captain  Eppendorff,  commanding  Fifth  Battery  of  the  ^Massachusetts 
Volunteers,   will   report  to  and  receive  orders   from   Major   Stevenson 
commanding  Twenty-Fourth  Regt.  in  camp  at  Readville. 
By  order  of  the   Commander-in-Chief 

WM.   SCHOULER 

Adj.  Gen. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  91 

Nov.  22d,  Lieut.  Robert  A.  Dillingham  was  presented 
with  a  full  set  of  artillery  equipments  by  Mayor  Taber  of 
New  Bedford,  on  behalf  of  the  Military  committee. 

"Nov.  25th.  (Chase's  Diary)  Three  inches  of  snow  on 
the  ground  this  morning.  Very  stormy  day.  No  drill. 

Nov.  30.  Fired  a  salute  of  three  guns  on  arrival  of  Co. 
I,  24th  Regt.  from  Fort  Warren." 

ORGANIZATION   OF   DETACHMENTS. 

From  Lieut.  Phillips'  Diary,  Nov.  27,  1861. 

42  Cannoneers,  7  in  each  Detachment. 
36  Drivers,  6  in  each  Det. 

6  Artificers,  i  in  the  ist,  3d,  5th,  &  6th  Det.    2  in  the  2d. 

6  Cooks,  i  in  each  Det. 

8  Wagoners,  i  in  the  ist,  2d,  3d  and  6th  Det.     2  in  the 
4th  and  5th. 

2  Buglers,  i  in  the  3d  Det,  i  in  the  6th. 

2  Clerks,  i  in  the  2d,  i  in  the  4th  Det. 
22  Spare  Men,  4  in  the  ist,  2d,  3d  &  4th  Det.,  3  in  the 
5th  &  6th.     Total  124. 

LETTER  FROM  ALDERMAN  LADD. 

NEW   BEDFORD,   MASS. 
'Friend  Wyde.  Dec.  13,  1861. 

Mr.  Cow  en  [Conductor  on  the  New  Bedford  and  Boston  R.  R.] 
informs  me  that  you  leave  on  Monday  next  and  that  you  would  like  to 
see  me  tomorrow.  It  would  afford  me  much  pleasure  to  come  down 
were  it  possible,  but  we  have  a  cargo  of  lumber  at  our  wharf,  which  is 
to  be  discharged  and  loaded  on  to  the  cars,  and  I  must  remain  to  attend 
to  it.  I  have  persuaded  Alderman  Lewis  to  represent  me  on  the  occa 
sion.  I  send  by  Mr.  Lewis  [Alderman  Lewis]  two  hundred  dollars 
[This  was  in  gold]  donated  by  your  friends  in  this  city,  towards  pur 
chasing  a  horse  and  equipments  which  ^rou  will  please  accept  with  their 
kind  regards  for  your  future  health,  happiness,  and  success.  We  all 
take  a  deep  interest  in  the  Fifth  (Mass.)  Battery  and  shall  watch  its 
course  with  interest  and  with  confidence  that  all,  both  officers  and 
men,  will  be  faithful  to  duty,  and  reflect  credit  and  honor  on  them 
selves  and  on  the  city  under  whose  auspices  it  was  raised. 


92  HISTORY   OF    THE 

In  relation  to  fares,  you  will  please  collect  what  you  can  of  the 
men  and  hand  it  to  Mr.  Lewis,  and  the  balance  we  will  take  care  of. 
in   conclusion,   allow  me  to  utter  an  earnest  prayer  that  yourself 
and  all  connected  with  you,  may  return,  when  this  wicked  rebellion 
shall  have  been  utterly  crushed  out,  in  health  and  vigor,  to  your  friends 
and  families. 
With  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

WARREN  LADD. 

THE   HORSE. 

The  horse  which  was  bought  in  Washington,  and  was 
called  "Black  Charley,"  was  coal  black,  with  the  exception 
of  a  white  star  in  his  forehead. 

G.  O.  No.  108 
HEAD   QUARTERS   OF   THE   ARMY. 

ADJUTANT   GENERAL'S   OFFICE, 
[Transfers]  WASHINGTON  D.  C. 

Dec.  16,  1861. 
General  Orders 

No.  108. 

[Extract]  III.  The  numerous  applications  for  transfer  of  soldiers 
from  one  regiment  or  company  to  another,  would,  if  complied  with, 
cause  confusion  in  the  records,  and  be  injurious  to  the  future  interests 
of  the  soldiers  themselves.  Such  transfers  will  not  henceforth  be  made. 

By  command  of  Major  General  McClellan. 

L.  THOMAS  Adj't  Gen'l. 


That  this  order  was  wise  in  its  intention,  and  would 
have  been  for  the  best  interests  of  the  soldiers  if  it  had  been 
carried  out,  has  been  amply  proven  by  the  confusion  of 
many  of  the  records  in  respect  to  the  membership  of  differ 
ent  organizations. 

The  two  old  guns  with  which  the  Battery  had  been 
drilling  were  sent  to  Boston  Dec.  I7th.  On  the  2Oth  the 
non-commissioned  officers  of  the  Fifth  Battery  went  to 
Point  Shirley  in  Boston  Harbor  to  practice,  and  on  the 
same  day  the  Battery  received  orders  to  march. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  93 

From  a  letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips  to  a  little  nephew  written 
at  the  camp  at  Readville,  Dec.  17,  1861 : — 

"The  whole  cavalry  regiment  rode  out  two  or  three  miles 
today.  There  were  about  700  men  on  horseback.  Col. 
Williams  and  Lieut.  Col.  Sargent  rode  in  front.  Col.  Wil 
liams  rode  a  dark  horse  and  Lt.  Col.  Sargent  rode  his  own 
horse.  .  .  .  One  company  in  the  regiment  have  all  black 
horses  and  look  very  well. 

The  paymaster  came  down  the  other  day  and  paid  off  all 
the  men.  He  had  his  money  in  tin  plates  on  the  table  in 
front  of  him.  One  plate  was  full  of  coppers,  one  of  five 
cent  pieces,  one  of  halves  and  quarters,  one  of  gold  dollars 
and  another  of  three  dollar  gold  pieces.  Besides  he  had  a 
little  pile  of  treasury  notes." 

ORDERED    TO    WASHINGTON. 

HEAD  QUARTERS, 
BOSTON  Dec.  20,  1861. 
Special  Order  No.  638. 

Captain  Max  Eppendorff  commanding  the  Fifth  Battery  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteers,  is  hereby  ordered  to  proceed  with  his  com 
mand  on  Tuesday  next,  to  Washington  D.  C.  and  report  for  duty  to 
Major  Gen.  McClellan  U.  S.  A.  Captain  Eppendorff  will  apply  to  the 
U.  S.  Quarter  Master  in  Boston,  Captain  McKim,  (W.  W.  McKim 
Ass't  Quartermaster  U.  S.  A.)  for  transportation. 

By  command  of  His  Excellency 

JOHN  A.   ANDREW, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief. 
WM.  SCHOULER, 

Adjt.  GenM. 

"Tuesday  next"  was  Dec.  25,  1861. 

In  the  Adjutant  General's  Report  for  1861,  may  be 
found  the  following  relative  to  the  equipment  of  the  Bat 
tery  : — 

"This  battery  is  the  only  one  which  has  left  the  State  without  a  full 
and  complete  equipment.  Everything  was  furnished  except  the  horses, 
which  Quartermaster  General  Meigs  U.  S.  A.  preferred  to  supply  at 
Washington.  The  company  is  well  officered,  and  is  composed  of  the 
very  best  material. 


94  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Captain  Max  Eppendorff,  New  Bedford,  Sen.  ist  Lieut.  George  D. 
Allen,  Maiden,  Jun.  ist  Lieut.  John  B.  Hyde,  New  Bedford,  Sen.  2d 
Lieut.  Robert  A.  Dillingham,  New  Bedford,  Jun.  2d  Lieut.  Charles  A. 
Phillips,  Salem." 


REPORT  OF  THE  MASTER  OF  ORDNANCE. 

Colonel  Charles  Amory,  Master  of  Ordnance,  reported : 

"Dec.  26,  1861,  there  had  been  issued  to  the  Fifth  Battery  4  Bronze 
Field  Guns,  6  pounders,  rifled,  2  Bronze  Field  Howitzers,  12  pounders, 
6  Gun  carriages,  complete  with  limbers,  6  caissons, 'complete,  with  lim 
bers,  i  forge  wagon  complete,  with  tools  and  stores  per  U.  S.  Regula 
tions,  i  Battery  wagon,  complete,  with  tools  and  stores  per  U.  S.  Regu 
lations. 

14  sets  6  Horse  Artillery  Harness,  complete,  18  tarpaulins,  large,  17 
sets  Horse  equipments,  complete,  17  non-commissioned  officers  sabres, 
17  non-commissioned  officers  Sabre  Belts  and  Plates,  44  artillery  sabres, 
44  artillery  Sabre  Belts  and  Plates,  90  artillery  Short  Swords,  92  Waist 
Belts  and  Plates  with  Shoulder  Straps  and  Frogs,  i  Guidon,  silk,  with 
staff  and  socket,  i  national  flag,  silk,  with  staff  and  socket,  4  camp 
colors  with  staves,  4  Sponges  and  Rammers  for  6  pounder  Guns,  4 
Bristle  Sponges  and  Rammers  for  6  pounder  Guns,  4  Sponges  and 
Rammers  for  12  pounder  Howitzers,  12  Sponge  Covers,  4  Worms  and 
Staves  for  6  pounder  Guns,  2  Worms  and  Staves  for  12  pounder 
Howitzers,  18  Hand  Spikes,  6  Prolongs,  6  Sponge  Buckets,  12  Tar 
Buckets,  6  Gunners'  Pincers,  18  Tow  Hooks,  24  Thumb  stalls,  12  Prim 
ing  Wires,  12  Lanyards  and  Hooks,  6  Felling  Axes  with  handles,  6 
Shovels,  long  handled,  6  Pick  Axes  with  handles,  3  Crow  Bars,  2  Ham 
mers,  2  Hatchets,  6  Tompions  and  straps,  6  Vent  Covers,  12  Tube 
Pouches  and  Belts,  12  Gunners'  Haversacks,  12  Screw  Drivers,  6  Vent 
Punches,  6  Linstocks,  50  Slow  Match — yards — ,  3  Pole  Yokes,  spare,  4 
Cannon  Sights, — pairs, — 56  Rubber  Watering  Buckets,  75  Feed  Bags,  2 
Bugles  and  Trumpets,  2  Sergeants  Sashes,  i  Picket  Rope, — coil — ,  i 
Picket  Beetle,  2  Copper  Scoops,  2  Copper  Dippers,  2  Copper  Tunnels, 
20  Revolving  Pistols  with  appurtenances,  2000  ball  cartridges  for  pis 
tols,  3000  percussion  caps  for  pistols,  300  cartridges  il/2  pounds  powder 
each,  2000  Cartridge  Bags,  2400  Friction  Cannon  Primers,  43  kegs  Gun 
Powder,  300  Shot,  6  pounder  Schenkle,  400  Shell  6  pounder  Schenkle, 
120  shell  12  pounder  for  Howitzers,  184  shell,  12  pounder  Canister, 
for  Howitzers,  4  Field  Glasses,  25  pounds  Twine,  105  pounds  Tow  in 
bags,  i  Emery  Cloth, — ream — ,  24  Chamois  Skins,  12  Sheep  Skins,  32 
Linchpin  Rings,  48  pairs  Chest  Straps." 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN  CAMP  AT  WASHINGTON,  D.  C,  AND  HALL'S 

HILL,  VIRGINIA. 
HOW  THEY  FARED.    OFFICERS  AND  MEN. 

"After  we  shall  have  made  our  last  march,  shall  have  answered 
our  last  roll  call,  then  will  some  historian  take  in  hand  the  story  of  the 
war,  and  fashion  it  into  a  goodly  tale  to  tell  our  offspring  what  we 
did  from  '61  to  '65  ...  and  what  will  his  story  be?" 

CLARENCE  F.  COBB. 
Orator  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 

Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  1898. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  C.  A.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  DUNCAN 
WASHINGTON,  Dec.  29,  '61. 

Wednesday  forenoon  we  struck  our  tents  at  Readville, 
and  packed  up.  After  standing  round  in  the  cold  for  two 
or  three  hours,  we  took  the  cars  at  125^  and  started  for 
New  York.  At  Groton  we  went  on  board  the  Common 
wealth,  the  men  occupying  the  lower  cabin,  while  we  occu 
pied  state  rooms.  Arriving  at  New  York  about  six 
in  the  morning,  we  had  some  more  waiting  to  do  while 
our  baggage  was  loading.  During  the  course  of  the  fore 
noon,  we  sent  our  baggage  to  Jersey  City;  Lieut.  Hyde 
taking  charge  of  the  baggage  train. 

At  9  or  ten  o'clock  I  marched  the  men  into  the  ferry  boat 
and  across,  and  waited  in  the  depot  for  the  train.  About 
io  we  started  for  Philadelphia,  leaving  a  squad  of  men  to 
take  care  of  our  baggage,  which  was  to  follow  In  the  next 
train.  We  got  to  Philadelphia  about  two,  and  had  a  little 
more  waiting  to  do.  Our  baggage  got  mixed  with  that  of 

95 


96  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  loth  N.  J.  Regt.,  got  delayed,  and  did  not  get  along 
till  midnight.  By  this  time  the  N.  J.  Regt.  had  arrived, 
so  that  we  had  some  fellow  travellers.  During  all  this  time 
our  men  were  kept  waiting  in  the  depot,  with  nothing  to 
do,  and  a  guard  placed  at  every  door.  The  only  redeeming 
feature  in  Philadelphia  was  the  dinner  which  we  got  at 
the  'Union  Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon,'  foot  of  Wash 
ington  street.  The  whole  Battery  marched  in  and  sat 
down, — that  is,  the  officers  sat  down  and  the  men  stood 
up, — to  a  very  good  dinner  of  cold  corned  beef,  coffee,  bread 
and  butter,  pickles,  and  cheese. 

About  midnight  we  started  for  Baltimore  and  arrived 
there  early  the  next  morning :  unloaded,  and  marched  across 
the  city  to  tne  neighborhood  of  the  Camden  St.  depot, 
where  we  found  an  imitation  of  the  Philadelphia  arrange 
ment,  and  rather  a  poor  one  at  that.  The  breakfast  was 
cold  ham  with  considerable  saltpetre,  or  something  of  the 
sort,  bread,  and  coffee  without  any  milk,  and  we  had  to 
wait  about  an  hour  to  get  this. 

Ki  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  started  in  a  special 
train  with  the,  Jerseymen  for  Washington,  and  had  a 
tedious  time  in  finishing  our  journey.  We  stopped  at  every 
turnout  to  avoid  a  regular  train,  and  succeeded  in  reaching 
Washington  at  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  without  any  acci 
dent,  except  that  one  member  of  the  Jersey  Regt.,  who  had 
got  off  the  train  during  one  of  our  stoppages,  was  left  by 
the  train,  and  in  running  to  catch  up  with  it,  refused  to  stop 
at  the  challenge  of  the  sentinel,  and  was  shot  through  the 
head.  The  sentinels  are  posted  all  along  the  road  from 
Baltimore  to  Washington. 

Arrived  there  we  marched  into  the  upper  story  of  the 
'Soldiers  Rest/ — a  large,  wooden  building, — where  we 
deposited  our  knapsacks.  We  then  marched  into  the  lower 
story,  and  had 'some  supper  of  regular  army  rations, 
meat,  and  coffee. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  97 

The  men  slept  here  all  night,  spreading  their  blankets  on 
the  floor,  while  the  officers  went  up  to  the  National.  The 
next  forenoon  we  unloaded  our  baggage  and  marched  up 
here  to  camp." 

JOURNAL   OF   PRIVATE   GROWS. 
DEC.  25  TO  DEC.  28,  1861. 

"Wednesday  morning  Dec.  25,  1861.  Camp  Massasoit. 
Pleasant  and  very  cold.  Turned  out  at  5  o'clock,  and 
begun  to  pack  our  things,  and  at  8  o'clock  'struck  tents' 
and  had  them  ready  for  packing  in  the  cars.  At  n  went 
and  drew  two  days'  rations,  then  built  a  large  fire  to  keep 
warm  by.  At  12  got  dinner.  At  half  past  i  marched  to  the 
depot,  took  the  cars  for  Groton,  stopped  at  Providence  at 
4  o'clock  for  wood  and  water,  then  started  for  Groton, 
arrived  there  at  8  o'clock,  and  went  on  board  the  Steamer 
'Commonwealth,'  and  started  10  o'clock  for  New  York. 
I  had  the  ill  fortune  to  be  put  on  guard  over  the  bar  room. 
.  .  .  Was  relieved  at  2  o'clock  next  morning.  Turned  in 
my  berth  No.  39,  turned  out  at  5  o'clock  in  New  York. 

Thursday  morning  Dec.  26,  was  detailed  for  guard  over 
the  powder  on  the  wharf.  Stood  till  half  past  8,  then 
guarded  the  team  with  the  powder  till  it  was  aboard  the 
ferry  boat  for  Jersey  City.  Left  Jersey  City  for  Philadel 
phia  on  the  Camden  and  Amboy  R.  R.,  arrived  at  Camden, 
crossed  the  river  in  the  cars  on  a  ferry  boat.  The  boatliad 
three  tracks  with  three  cars  and  an  engine.  Arrived  in 
Philadelphia  at  half  past  2,  and  marched  to  the  'Volunteer 
Refreshment  Saloon'  and  took  dinner,  and  it  was  a  big- 
thing, — home  made  bread,  coffee,  meats,  cheese,  butter  &c. 
We  were  honored  by  the  presence  of  the  Ladies  of  the 
Society.  It  is  a  great  institution. 

At  half  past  3  we  marched  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
R.  R.  and  had  to  stay  there  till  n  that  night,  under  strict 


98  HISTORY    OF    THE 

guard.  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  get  a  'pass,'  so  I  took  a 
look  around  the  city.  At  u  o'clock  in  the  evening  took 
the  cars  for  Baltimore.  It  is  of  no  use  to  try  to  sleep  in 
the  cars;  some  are  singing,  some  talking,  etc. 

Friday  morning  Dec.  27,  we  marched  through  the  street 
where  the  Massachusetts  soldiers  were  fired  upon.  There 
are  quite  a  number  of  'secesh'  here,  but  they  have  to  keep 
quiet,  because  the  city  is  under  martial  law.  We  marched 
to  a  place  called  the  'Soldiers  Relief  where  a  scant  lunch 
of  bread  and  coffee  was  given  to  us.  At  3  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  we  were  on  our  way  to  Washington,  where  we 
arrived  about  5  minutes  past  u.  That  night  at  12  o'clock 
midnight  got  some  supper,  then  went  across  from  the  depot 
to  a  large,  wooden  building  called  the  'Soldiers  Retreat,' 
to  spend  the  night. 

At  one  o'clock  Saturday  morning  we  spread  our  blankets 
on  the  floor,  and  taking  our  knapsacks  for  pillows  we  turned 
in,  and  slept  on  the  soft  side  of  a  pine  board.  I  think  I 
slept  about  9  or  10  knots  an  hour.  After  breakfast  got 
permission  to  see  the  Capitol  building.  It  is  a  splendid 
edifice.  Washington  is  not  such  a  handsome  city  as  I  ex 
pected.  At  £  past  i  'took  knapsacks,'  and  took -up  line  of 
march  for  our  camp  ground,  which  is  at  present  on  Penn 
sylvania  avenue,  about  8  or  ten  minutes  walk  from  the 
Capitol.  Arrived  on  our  ground  and  without  any  dinner, 
commenced  unloading  teams,  and  at  l/2  past  3,  to  pitch 
tents.  Had  them  all  up  and  the  park  laid  out  at  7  o'clock, 
then  had  supper  of  hard  bread  and  water. 

Since  leaving  camp  at  Readville,  we  have  passed  through 
8  different  states:  Mass.,  R.  I.,  Conn.,  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Penn.,  Maryland,  Delaware, — into  the  District  of 
Columbia.  There  are  a  great  many  pickets  thrown  out  at 
Newark,  N.  J.  There  are  guards  from  there  to  Washing 
ton  on  the  railroad,  guarding  bridges"  (see  p.  33  ). 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  99 

TO   REPORT   TO   MUSTERING   OFFICER. 

OFFICE  OF  CHIEF  OF  ARTILLERY. 

ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 
WASHINGTON  D.  C. 

Dec.  28,  1861. 
CAPTAIN  MAX  EPPENDORFF. 

Company  E,  Mass.  Art'y. 
Captain 

Major  Chas.  S.  Wainwright  ist  Regt.  N.  Y.  Artillery,  will  muster 
your  company  on  the  3ist  inst. 

You  will  see  that  the  muster  roll  of  your  company  is  properly  made 
out,  and  in  season,  and  will  have  your  company  duly  paraded  at  the 
hour  designated  by  the  mustering  officer. 

I  am,  Capt.  very  respectfully 

Yr.  Obt.  Servt. 

WILLIAM  F.  BARRY, 
Brig.    Gen'l   Chief  of  Artillery. 

FROM  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS' 
LETTER  OF  DEC.  29,  1861. 

"By  the  way,  I  forgot  to  mention  that  yesterday,  while 
we  were  pitching-  our  tents  we  were  inspected  by  General 
Barry,  under  whose  command  we  are.  The  men  were 
drawn  up  in  line  and  inspected.  He  seemed  to  think  they 
were  very  well,  only  they  wanted  their  hair  cut,  and  he  told 
each  of  us  that  our  posts  were  as  responsible  as  that  of 
a  major  of  infantry,  whereat  we  were  much  pleased,  of 
course." 

THE   FIRST   SUNDAY. 

Journal  oT  D.  H.  Grows:  "Dec.  29,  1861.  .  .  .  After 
service  I  took  a  walk  around  camp.  There  are  4  Batteries 
encamped  here  besides  ourselves.  They  are  mostly 
Germans,  and  are  attached  to  batteries  of  very  heavy 
calibre,  mostly  245  and  32cls. 


100  HISTORY    OF    THE 

This  afternoon  got  a  'pass'  to  go  to  the  city.  I  am 
disappointed  a  great  deal  about  Washington.  The  soil  is 
rather  clayey  and  of  a  reddish  color,  a  great  many  of  the 
streets  are  not  paved,  and  the  buildings  are  miserable  look 
ing,  some  of  them  would  be  a  disgrace  to  Boston. 

Returned  to  camp  at  4  o'clock.  At  ^2  past  5  had  supper 
of  raw  bacon  and  hard  bread. 

Monday  Dec.  3Oth,  dug  a  cellar  in  the  tent,  put  a  box 
down  to  keep  my  tobacco  and  loose  stuff,  such  as  shoes  &c. 
in,  then  went  to  work  on  the  tent.  Went  to  dinner.  Hard 
Bread  and  water. 

Tuesday  Dec.  31 :  At  8  o'clock  formed  in  line  and 
marched  1^/2  miles  to  a  large  building,  and  got  a  good 
breakfast  of  hot  coffee,  bread,  and  cold  tongue.  The  reason 
of  this  was,  the  delay  in  receiving  our  provisions.  Took 
up  line  of  march  to  camp  at  9,  arrived  there  about  1 1 .  Fell 
into  line  for  inspection  of  clothing  and  arms,  were  dis 
missed,  went  to  dinner.  In  the  afternoon  our  Guns  came 
on  the  field.  Went  to  work  fixing  carriages,  and  helped 
clean  Gun.  At  4  o'clock  p.  m.  heavy  firing  heard  across 
the  River  Potomac.  At  ^  past  5  roll  call.  Received  a 
large  loaf  of  bread  to  each  man  for  three  meals,  also  some 
coffee.  Made  our  own  coffee. 

7  o'clock:    Have  got  through  supper,  and  the  men  are 
having  a  smoke  and  talking  about  home. 

8  o'clock  p.  m. :     Roll  call  is  just  through  and  we  are 
talking  about  the  firing  across  the  river,  which  is  still  kept 
up.     Lights  are  seen  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  also 
signal  fires  along  the  river.     Great  excitement  in  camp. 
There  goes  the  'tattoo'  for  lights  out,  so  I  must  turn  in." 

Chase's  Diary.  "Dec.  31,  1861.  Received  our  guns: 
four  rifled  brass  6  pounders,  and  two  brass  twelve  pound 
howitzers."  (See  p.  94  Ordnance  Report.) 

Notes  of  Sergt.  Henry  D.  Scott:  "Arriving  in  Wash 
ington  we  camped  in  the  mud  on  Capitol  Hill.  Here  we 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  101 

heard  the  first  guns  in  our  experience,  from  the  Rebel 
batteries  at  Acquia  Creek,  below  Mount  Vernon,  on  the 
Potomac." 

NEW  YEAR'S  DAY,  1862. 

Journal  of  D.  H.  Grows:  "Four  o'clock  a.  m.  (Wednes 
day  Jan'y  i,  1862)  was  awakened  by  heavy  firing  across 
tHe  river.  We  had  a  good  breakfast  of  bread,  meat,  salt 
pork,  and  coffee.  Some  of  the  men  have  just  got  some  milk. 
The  men,  most  of  them,  are  speaking  of  New.  Years  gifts 
at  home. 

Thursday,  January  2 :  Some  of  our  horses  for  the 
baggage  wagons  have  arrived.  They  do  not  look  as  nice 
as  our  northern  horses,  but  they  are  very  tough. 

Friday  Jan'y  30!:  Detailed  on  the  2d  Relief  for  guard 
from  ii  a.  m.  to  i  p.  m.  Some  of  the  men  are  cleaning 
their  arms,  some  are  asleep,  some  are  writing,  and  two 
are  playing  cards.  We  detail  two  men  every  morning  out 
of  our  tent  to  keep  the  tent  supplied  with  wood  and  water 
for  the  day,  next  morning  two  other  men  take  their  places 
and  so  on.  By  doing  this  we  have  plenty  of  water  to  drink 
and  to  wash  with,  and  wood  to  keep  us  warm. 

7  o'clock  p.  m. :  Have  just  come  off  from  guard.  It  is 
hailing  quite  fast,  and  is  very  cold,  but  I  am  warm  and 
comfortable,  as  I  am  provided  with  good  and  warm  cloth 
ing.  I  had  some  hot  coffee  while  on  guard. 

Saturday  Jan'y  4th :  The  ground  is  just  covered  with 
snow,  and  it  has  frozen  and  it  is  quite  slippery. 

9  a.  m.;    It  is  snowing  quite  hard. 

3  p.  m. :  About  30  more  horses  have  just  come  in.  We 
have  now  46  horses  in  all. 

Sunday  Jan'y  5th:  Got  a  'pass'  from  J  past  10  till  4  in 
the  afternoon,  to  go  to  the  city,  the  Sergeant  and  myself. 
First  we  went  to  the  Treasury  Building,  a  very  large  build 
ing  of  granite  on  Pennsylvania  avenue.  The  celebrated 


102  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Washington  monument  is  close  to  the  building.  It  is  about 
175  or  200  feet  high  at  the  present  time.  Long  Bridge  is 
close  to  the  monument.  This  part  of  the  city  is  quite  hand 
some.  At  every  other  corner  on  this  avenue  you  will  see 
mounted  patrols,  and  on  the  sidewalks  you  will  be  stopped 
very  often  by  the  street  patrol.  If  you  have  a  'pass'  it  is 
all  right.  If  not  you  will  be  arrested  and  put  to  work 
white-washing  or  cutting  wood,  and  you  will  be  kept  in 
prison  until  relieved  by  your  Captain.  Lieutenants  have 
to  have  a  'pass'  when  they  go  out,  just  the  same  as 
privates.  In  the  rear  of  the  Treasury  Building  and  bearing 
to  the  left,  is  the  White  House,  a  very  handsome  building. 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  'Old  Abe'  (The  President)  a 
pleasant  looking  man.  In  front  of  the  White  House  about 
80  rods,  is  the  celebrated  equestrian  statue  of  General 
Jackson,  in  bronze,  as  large  as  life.  It  is  a  splendid  thing. 
I  stopped  about  half  an  hour,  looking  at  it.  The  parks  here 
are  nothing  compared  to  our  old  Boston  Common.  At  the 
upper  end  of  Pennsylvania  avenue  there  is  another  large 
statue,  of  Washington,  on  horseback.  It  is  not  so  fine  as 
that  of  Jackson.  About  every  other  person  you  meet  in  the 
streets  are  soldiers,  you  will  not  see  many  citizens.  There 
are  about  200,000  troops  encamped  around  Washington, 
and  it  would  seem  to  be  impossible  for  the  rebels  to  attempt 
to  take  the  city.  I  went  to  Arlington  Heights  where 
Follett's  (Afterwards  Martin's  Third  Mass.)  Battery  is 
encamped.  From  there  I  visited  the  camp  of  the  i8th  Mass., 
the  latter  killed  about  60  rebels  2  days  ago.  The  rebels 
are  a  lean  looking  set.  About  800  are  in  prison  here.  The 
1 8th  and  other  regiments  and  batteries  expect  to  be  home 
for  good  in  a  very  short  time.  I  hope  so.  The  war  cannot 
last  much  longer  as  the  rebels  are  giving  ij4  per  cent  on 
gold,  that  is,  they  give  $1.25  of  scrip  for  $1.00  in  gold." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  103 

LETTER  OF  SERG'T.  PELEG  W.  BLAKE. 

(The  name  of  the  Camp  had  been  changed  from 
"Duncan"  to  "Surnner.") 

"WASHINGTON  D.  C. 

CAMP  SUMNER. 
5TH  BATT.  MASS.  ART'Y. 

CAPT.  MAX  EPPENDORFF. 

January  5,  1862. 

We  are  encamped  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
Capitol  east.  There  are  20  batteries  around  us,  three  or 
four  batteries  from  Fort  Monroe,  regulars,  that  I  was 
acquainted  with  when  I  was  out  there  last  spring.  The 
city  of  Washington  is  nothing  very  alarming,  the  Capitol 
looks  very  well,  but  the  White  House  where  the  President 
lives — I  have  seen  a  good  many  better  looking  houses  than 
that  is !  I  have  seen  the  noted  'Uncle  Abe,'  and  General 
Geo.  B.  McClellan.  Last  Monday  I  went  down  to  the 
Provost  Marshal's  Office  and  got  a  'pass'  to  go  across 
the  Potomac.  I  went  through  Georgetown,  and  then  ar 
rived  at  the  river.  I  got  stopped  every  few  minutes  by  the 
patrols  who  I  had  to  show  my  'pass.'  We  went  across  the 
river  on  flat  boats,  had  to  pull  myself  across  by  lines  ex 
tended  across  the  river.  I  had  to  travel  three  miles  to  the 
river.  After  I  got  there  I  went  about  five  miles  further  and 
arrived  at  Hall's  Hill,  where  the  i8th  (Mass.)  Reg't.  was. 
The  country  was  all  lined  with  troops,  all  the  way  along. 
I  stayed  an  hour  and  then  I  started  back.  I  had  to  go  about 
17  miles.  I  think  I  sha'n't  go  again  till  we  move  over  there. 
We  have  got  a  fine  battery,  and  have  drawn  50  horses,  and 
are  receiving  horses  every  day." 


104  HISTORY    OF    THE 


FROM  A  LETTER  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE  OF  THE 

;TH  IN  RELATION  TO  SUNDAY  JAN'Y  5TH 

1862 :— 

"Last  Sunday  six  of  us  crossed  the  Potomac  and  visited 
the  Mass.  Qth,  i8th,  and  22d,  and  Follett's  Battery.  I  saw 
several  of  my  old  Boston  friends,  with  others  James 
Vaughan  Jr.  with  the  22d.  .  .  They  are  shut  in  by 
guards,  pickets,  and  patrols,  on  every  side,  and  are  just  as 
much  prisoners  as  though  within  the  walls  of  a  penitentiary. 
We  of  the  5th  are  not  very  aristocratic,  in  our  way  of  living, 
but  I  think  we  have  more  privileges  than  the  infantry  have. 

The  troops  at  Hall's  Hill  make- their  quarters  in  this  way, 
viz.,  they  drive  slabs  of  wood  down  endwise  around  a 
circle,  which  makes  a  fence  about  three  feet  high,  then  the 
crevices  are  plastered  up  with  mud,  so  that  it  is  quite  tight. 
On  top  of  this  circular  fence  the  tent  is  set  just  as  it  would 
set  on  the  ground.  By  this  arrangement  much  more  room 
is  gained,  and  instead  of  having  a  part  of  the  tent  open  all 
the  time,  they  have  a  small  wooden  door.  All  the  furniture 
of  the  tent  is  painted  as  follows : — The  ground  work  is  a 
smoke  color,  then  on  this  three  different  shades  viz. 
dirty,  more  dirty,  most  dirty.  I  do  not  say  this  of  one 
company  or  reg't.  alone  for  camp  life  is  about  the  same  with 
all  of  us,  it  cannot  be  otherwise.  .  .  I  wish  I  could  write 
some  news  to  you,  but  all  I  can  write  until  we  have  a 
fight, — an  awkward  way  of  saying  never, — are  trifling 
things  that  the  press  will  not  notice.  You  get  more  war 
news  than  we  do,  for  a  Boston  paper  is  better  for  news  than 
any  of  the  one-horse  concerns  here.  Give  my  thanks  to 
Mrs.  T.  and  Fred  for  writing  to  me,  and  for  the  mending 
materials,  which  I  find  indispensable,  especially  the  yarn." 

He  closes  his  letter  with  an  expression  which  shows  how 
little  these  very  young  men  were  inclined  to  engage,  of 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  105 

their  own  accord,  in  warlike  pursuits : — "If  this  govern 
ment  should  become  a  monarchy  and  your  humble  servant 
crowned  ICing  of  it, '  I  should  not  be  more  surprised  than 
to  have  known  a  year  and  a  half  ago,  that  I  was  to  be  in 
the  Army  this  year  of  our  Lord,  1862." 

Journal  of  D.  H.  Grows :  "Monday,  January  6th.  There 
has  been  quite  a  snow  storm  during  the  night.  When  I  went 
out  to  breakfast  there  was  about  two  inches  of  snow  on  the 
ground.  The  air  is  quite  warm.  Our  stove  broke  down  in 
the  night. 

I  am  detailed  for  Guard  on  the  2d  relief.  I  went  on  at 
1 1  o'clock  and  came  off  at  i  o'clock,  then  5  to  7,  then  1 1  to 
i  at  night,  5  to  7  in  the  morning.  The  water  we  drink  here 
makes  a  person  sick. 

Tuesday,  January  7th.  Fourteen  more  horses  have 
come  in  this  morning.  I  went  this  afternoon  with  the 
Captain's  clerk  to  fn'e  Senate  Chamber  in  the  Capitol.  Six 
teen  more  horses  have  come.  We  have  now  about  70  horses. 
This  forenoon  I,  with  five  others,  went  out  on  a  foraging 
party.  We  went  about  4  miles  from  camp.  It  was  a  splen 
did  sight  to  see  so  many  camps.  There  are  about  30  bat 
teries  around  here. 

Thursday,  Jan'y  9.  Was  awakened  this  morning  about 
5  o'clock  by  hearing  it  rain  very  hard,  got  up  and 
found  about  an  inch  of  water  all  over  the  bottom  of  the  tent. 
It  had  run  in  by  the  door.  We  dug  two  large  holes  in  the 
ground,  and  took  out  five  pails  full  of  water.  Our  beds  were 
wet.  I  got  my  blankets  dried  and  got  some  straw,  and 
spread  down  in  the  tent,  and  it  has  dried  up  the  mud  con 
siderably.  The  mud  is  from  about  3  to  5  inches  deep,  and 
the  travelling  is  very  hard  as  the  soil  is  clayey.  The  bugle 
will  soon  sound  'Lights  out.' ' 

Private  Grows  w.ent  to  Washington  to  send  some  money 
by  Adams'  Express  ,and  being  detained  four  minutes  over 
the  time,  four  o'clock,  allowed  by  his  "pass,"  he  was 
arrested  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Battery  guard  line 


106  HISTORY    OF    THE 

by  the  provost  guard,  a  beardless  youth,  and  sent  to  the 
Louisiana  Avenue  jail. 

"I  was  taken,"  he  writes,  "into  a  large  room,  where  there 
were  about  seventy  men,  some  for  desertion,  drunkenness 
&c.  I  was  immediately  saluted  with  the  cry  of  'fresh  fish, 
meaning  I  was  a  new  comer.  I  was  detained  till  morning, 
<vhen  I  was  called  into  the  office  and  given  a  'pass'  for 
twenty-four  hours,  also  a  line  to  my  Captain  not  to  have 
me  punished,  for  had  he  been  on  the  street  he  would  not 
Have  arrested  me,  when  T  was  so  near  my  camp,  and  such  a 
short  time  over  my  'pass'  viz.  four  minutes.  I  was  a  green 
and  fresh  soldier,  and  it  taught  me  a  lesson,  not  to  look 
at  the  man,  but  to  notice  the  uniform  he  wore,  and  to  respect 
that,  if  I  did  not  the  man." 

Resuming  the  Journal.  "Jan'v  10,  1862.  Word  has  just 
been  received  in  camp,  of  the  sailing  of  the  'Burnside  Secret 
Expedition.'  If  it  is  successful, — and  we  all  hope  it  will 
be, — this  war  will  be  settled  in  a  very  short  time.  (See  p. 
116). 

The  Pensacola  sailed  yesterday  to  run  the  blockade 
(of  rebel  batteries)  on  the  Potomac.  There  is  considerable 
excitement  here  at  present  in  regard  to  her  success. 

The  Roll  Call  was  called  in  the  tents  tonight,  it  was  to 
muddy  outside,  and  this  pleased  the  men  very  much." 

THE  BLOCKADE  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

Preparations  for  the  blockade  of  the  Lower  Potomac 
were  commenced  previous  to  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run, 
July  21,  1861. 

From  Alexandria  the  Potomac  runs  almost  directly  south 
to  the  mouth  of  Acquia  Creek,  a  distance  of  30  miles;  then 
it  runs  directly  east  for  15  miles  where  it  rounds  Matthias 
Point,  a  very  prominent  projection  northward  into  the 
stream,  and  almost  entirely  separated  from  the  main  land 
by  Gamble's  Creek. 

In   a  letter   addressed   to   the    Secretary   of    the   Navv, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  107 

McClellan  expressed  his  apprehension  that  the  Potomac 
might  be  rendered  impassible  to  Federal  vessels,  and 
recommended  the  strongest  possible  naval  force  to  be 
stationed  in  that  stream,  but  it  was  found  that  new  batteries 
interfering  with  the  navigation  of  the  stream  could  be  built 
as  rapidly  as  the  old  ones  were  destroyed,  and  that  nothing 
could  effectually  protect  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac 
except  the  military  occupation  of  its  entire  right  bank  by 
our  army,  and  this  did  not  form  a  part  of  the  plan  of  opera 
tions. 


Chase's  Diary.  "Jan'y  n,  1862.  Fifth  Detachment 
hitched  up  today  for  drill  for  the  first  time." 

Grows'  Journal  Jan'y  12.  "Was  called  at  I  o'clock  this 
morning.  Stationed  over  the  guns.  Relieved  at  3  o'clock 
this  morning." 

FROM  SEVERAL  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 
DATE  "CAMP  SUMNER 

Jan'y  12,   1862. 

We  have  now  86  horses, — no  being  our  full  number, — 
and  shall  get  the  rest  this  week.  I  have  taken  the  horses 
out  to  exercise  two  or  three  times,  and  so  far  we  have  got 
along  without  accident,  though  a  man  occasionally  gets 
thrown  off  and  we  have  a  loose  horse  to  chase.  We  take  our 
meals  now  in  our  tents,  using  a  box  cover  for  table.  We 
bought  a  set  of  crockery  &c.  the  other  day,  and  now  live 
in  great  style.  We  have  roast  beef,  eggs,  cranberry  sauce, 
bread,  crackers,  coffee,  with  milk  and  sugar,  cake  &c. 
Our  principal  trouble  is  that  we  have  no  floors  to  our  tents, 
and  only  a  few  loose  boards  to  stand  on,  but  then  we  have 
quite  a  field  of  grass  growing  inside,  which  is  quite  orna 
mental. 


108  HISTORY    OF    THE 

At  present  we  have  no  stables,  and  the  horses  stand  at 
the  picket  rope  out  of  doors.  .  .  We  are  living  now  in 
camp  style.  We  have  a  boy  to  look  after  our  things,  and 
we  i.  e.  the  four  lieutenants,  take  our  meals  in  our  tent. 
The  Captain  takes  his  meals  with  the  officers  of  the  Dutch 
batteries.  .  .  Our  carpenter  is  now  busy  making  us  a 
mess  chest.  .  .  encamped  .  .  south  of  East  Capitol 
street  and  east  of  North  Carolina  Avenue." 

Grows'  Journal.  "Jan'y  13,  1862.  It  is  blowing  quite 
hard,  and  the  mud  is  almost  dried  up.  At  9  o'clock  this 
forenoon  took  all  our  bedding,  carried  it  out  of  the  tent 
and  left  it  out  till  noon,  so  the  clothes  would  have  a  good 
airing.  We  always  make  it  a  practice  every  Monday  when 
it  is  pleasant  to  air  our  bedding  and  examine  our  clothes. 

Tuesday  Jan'y  14.  Two  inches  of  snow  on  the  ground. 
9  o'clock  in  the  evening:  Have  just  come  off  guard,  went 
on  at  7.  It  is  now  hailing,  a  perfect  gale.  It  is  very  hard 
for  the  horses  to  be  picketed  out  in  such  weather,  but  it 
cannot  be  helped  until  we  get  the  other  side  of  the  river. 
One  of  the  men  got  a  quart  of  oysters,  some  milk  and 
crackers,  and  I  cooked  them  in  a  stew  style,  anci  we  sat 
down  and  eat  them.  I  must  now  turn  in  for  I  will  be  called 
at  one  o'clock  tomorrow  morning  to  go  on  guard  till 
3  o'clock.  The  gale  has  not  abated  any  as  yet,  and  it  will 
be  an  awful  night. 

Wednesday  Jan'y  15.  Got  up  and  dressed  at  I  o'clock 
this  morning,  put  my  rubber  blanket  over  my  overcoat,  and 
went  out  into  the  storm.  It  is  not  blowing  quite  as  hard 
as  it  has  been,  but  it  is  hailing  very  bad.  I  am  provided 
with  tip-top  underclothing,  so  I  do  not  care  much  for  the 
storm.  Was  relieved  at  3  o'clock,  came  into  the  tent,  sat 
down  on  my  bed  and  took  a  smoke,  and  while  sitting  in 
this  way  I  fell  asleep.  It  is  cold  in  the  tent  for  the  men 
let  the  fire  go  out.  I  had  a  good  breakfast  this  morning.  I 
went  to  the  cook  house  and  asked  one  of  the  cooks  to  give 
me  some  beef.  I  cut  off  about  two  Ibs.  of  steak,  broiled  U 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  109 

and  went  into  it  with  bread  and  coffee.  Milk  is  so  high  that 
I  seldom  buy  any,  so  I  drink  my  coffee  without  it,  but  we 
have  plenty  of  sugar.  Milk  is  worth  10  cts.  a  qt.,  butter 
28  to  30  cts.  a  lb.,  so  we  give  up  these  luxuries.  Three  times 
a  week  we  get  potatoes,  twice  a  week  we  get  rice  with 
molasses. 

It  is  raining  quite  hard,  five  o'clock  p.  m.  Our  tent  is 
afloat  and  we  are  digging  holes  to  drain  the  water  off.  We 
will  have  a  wet  and  muddy  floor  to  lay  on  tonight. 

9  o'clock  p.  m. :  I  am  going  to  turn  in.  I  went  out  and 
took  some  rails  off  a  fence  and  have  laid  them  down  on  the 
ground  so  I  can  lay  my  rubber  blanket  on  them,  and  then 
rny  bedding,  and  by  this  means  keep  out  of  the  mud.  We 
have  a  good  fire  in  the  stove  and  hope  to  have  the  mud 
dried  up  by  morning.  It  does  not  look  much  like  home 
with  good  bed  and  bedding,  but  as  it  will  not  last  long  we 
make  the  best  of  it. 

Thursday  Jan'y  16,  1862.  Got  a  'pass'  this  forenoon 
to  go  down  to  the  city,  and  visited  the  Patent  Office. 
Among  the  curiosities  we  saw  General  Washington's  tent, 
his  suit  of  clothes  he  wore  when  he  resigned  his  commis 
sion  at  Annapolis  in  1783,  and  most  of  his  camp  utensils; 
also  fifteen  silk  robes  presented  by  the  Emperor  of  Japan  to 
President  Buchanan. 

The  health  of  our  camp  is  very  good.  I  was  never  in 
better  health.  We  have  heard  this  afternoon  of  the  arrival 
of  Burnside's  expedition  at  Fortress  Monroe." 

FORTRESS   MONROE. 

The  Fortress  encloses  75  acres  of  ground.  It  had  in  1861, 
two  tiers  of  guns,  casemates  and  barbettes,  and  it  was 
thought  there  were  over  three  hundred  guns  within  its 
walls. 

It  is  situated  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  mam  land, 
and  completely  commands  Hampton  Roads  and  the 


110  HISTORY    OF    THE 

entrance  to  the  James  River.  It  is  of  great  importance  in 
a  military  point  of  view.  The  peninsula  on  which  it  stands 
is  about  100  yards  in  width  and  is  commanded  by  the  guns 
of  the  Fortress.  It  is  surrounded  by  an  outside  wall  of 
granite.  Between  this  wall  and  the  walls  of  the  fort  is  a 
moat  twelve  feet  deep,  and  125  feet  in  width. 

The  garrison  of  300  men  was  increased  to  noo  by  the 
reinforcements  conveyed  from  Massachusetts  by  the 
steamers  "S.  R.  Spaulding"  and  "State  of  Maine." 

Grows'  Journal.  "January  17,  1862.  I  am  detailed  on 
the  quarter  guard  that  is  over  the  Powder  Magazine.  The 
mud  is  almost  ankle  deep.  The  horses  for  our  Detachment 
were  matched  off  this  forenoon  and  the  drivers  took  them 
out  this  afternoon  for  exercise.  I  turned  in  at  9  o'clock  and 
was  awakened  at  10  o'clock  by  the  heavy  firing  of  cannon, 
which  lasted  till  12  o'clock.  It  sounded  in  the  direction  of 
the  Potomac  and  we  have  supposed  it  was  an  engagement 
with  one  of  the  rebel  batteries.  We  shall  hear  in  the  course 
of  a  few  days  what  it  was  for. 

Word  was  received  here  by  one  of  our  men,  Mr.  Estee 
of  Maiden  Mass.,  by  his  brother  who  is  in  the  Treasurer's 
Office  in  this  city,  that  this  Battery  would  be  at  home  in  a 
few  months,  as  the  trouble  would  be  over  in  a  short  time. 

The  mud  is  awful,  owing  to  the  clay  which  is  from  two 
to  four  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  it  stops 
the  water  from  soaking  down." 

SIGNALS. 

OFFICE  OF  CHIEF  OF  ARTILLERY, 
ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

WASHINGTON  D.  C. 

January  17,  1862. 
COMMANDING  OFFICER 

BATTERY  E.  MASS.  ART'Y. 
Sir. 

I  am  instructed  by  Brig.  Gen'l  Barry,  to  direct  you  to  send  to  the 
office  of  the  Signal  Dept.  of  the'  U.  S.  Army,  No.  158  F.  st.  ^between 
iQth  and  20th  streets,  on  Monday  morning  the  2Oth  inst.  at  n  o'clock,  a 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 

commissioned  and  a  non-commissioned  officer,  for  the  purpose  of  re 
ceiving  instruction  in  day  and  night  signals. 
I  am,   sir, 

Very  respectfully  yr  obt.  serv't 

ALEX.  T.  WEBB. 
Maj.  and  ass't  to  Chief  of  Artillery. 


Grows'  Journal.  "Jan'y  20,  1862,  Monday:  On  guard 
at  7  o'clock  p.  m.  and  came  off  at  9.  While  on  guard  I  felt 
hungry,  so  I  went  to  the  quartermaster's  tent  and  got  some 
potatoes,  and  dug  a  hole  in  the  ashes  of  our  camp  fire  and 
baked  them.  They  tasted  good  although  we  eat  them  with 
out  salt  or  gravy. 

Word  was  brought  into  camp  this  morning  that  the 
army  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  had  made  an  advance 
today,  and  it  was  good  news  to  us,  for  the  sooner  we  ad 
vance  the  sooner  the  struggle  will  be  over. 

Turned  in  at  half  past  nine  but  did  not  go  to  sleep  on 
account  of  Joe  Knox  and  D.  McVey,  for  they  commenced 
snoring,  so  I  got  up  and  took  a  piece  of  twine  and  tied 
their  great  toes  together,  for  they  sleep  in  the  same  bed.  I 
then  laid  down  arid  waited  for  the  result.  In  about  half 
an  hour  Knox  went  to  turn  over,  when  the  twine  on  his  toe 
brought  him  up,  and  then — they  wanted  to  know  who  did 
it,  but  no  one  knew  anything  about  it,  for  I  had  blown  out 
the  candle,  and  it  was  as  dark  as  the  grave.  Some  way  they 
managed  to  get  at  the  candle  and  light  it  and  untie  the 
twine.  About  half  past  ten  I  went  to  sleep  to  be  called  at 
i  o'clock  tomorrow  morning." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  SUMNER  Jan'y  21,  1862. 

The  arrival  of  the  mail  has  already  come  to  be  an  event 
in  our  life.  Our  Quartermaster  Sergeant  leaves  here  every 
morning,  and  gets  back  about  two  o'clock  with  the  letters, 


112  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  the  men  are  generally  so  impatient  that  he  has  to 
deliver  the  mail  before  he  can  get  off  his  horse.  .  .  We 
were  troubled  at  first  with  the  water  running  in,  forming 
mud  puddles,  but  we  have  found  a  remedy  for  that.  We 
dug  a  hole  in  the  lowest  part  of  the  tent,  so  that  the  water 
collects  in  this  hole,  and  when  it  gets  full  we  bail  out  and 
start  again.  .  .  The  men  are  very  much  exposed,  some 
of  the  tents  are  very  wet,  the  water  standing  in  puddles  all 
over  the  floor.  Then  the  government  boots  leak  like  a 
sponge  so  that  they  have  wet  feet  constantly,  but  still  they 
keep  in  good  health  and  spirits.  Our  horses  too  are  very 
much  exposed,  only  protected  by  a  hedge  of  cedars  to  keep 
off  the  wind.  .  .  Lieut.  Dillingham  and  I  went  out  with 
them  today  and  I  had  rather  a  gay  time  of  it.  I  happened 
to  get  on  a  horse  of  rather  high  spirits,  commonly  known  as 
the  'peacock/  a  very  good  horse  in  his  way,  but  having 
some  unpleasant  peculiarities.  If  I  touched  him  with  the 
spur  he  stood  on  his  forelegs,  if  I  checked  him  with  the  rein 
he  stood  on  his  hind  legs,  if  I  did  both  together  he  went  off 
sideways  in  the  most  unaccountable  style.  I  expected  every 
five  minutes  to  take  a  seat  in  the  mud,  but  luckily  I  managed 
to  keep  on  during  the  hour's  ride  and  arrived  home  safely. 
I  made  a  mental  resolution,  however,  to  try  a  different 
horse  next  time.  Our  stable  duties  have  already  got  to  be 
a  little  burdensome.  There  are  three  feed  calls  during  the 
day,  at  each  of  which  the  officer  of  the  day  is  expected  to 
be  at  the  stable  to  oversee  the  feeding;  one  feed  call  comes 
at  six  in  the  morning, — then  the  officer  of  the  day  is  ex 
pected  to  visit  the  stable  during  the  night  after  twelve 
o'clock — .  .  .  . 

For  a  table  wejiave  a  bureau  with  two  drawers  and  an 
extension  leaf.  .  .  Milk  is  abundant  and  crowds  of  milk 
men,  women  and  boys  visit  us  every  day." 

In  this  letter  Phillips  speaks  of  "a  few  cedar  boughs  in 
front  of  the  door  to  wipe  our  feet  on." 

From  Letter  of  January  22d.— "Visiting  the  stables  is 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  113 

rather  the  worst  job,  as  the  horses  are  kicking  and  splashing 
the  mud  round  all  the  time.  .  .  The  men  have  had  great 
sport  lately  with  the  cows  round  the  camp.  Quite  a  number 
of  these  animals  are  straying  round  eating  what  they  can 
up,  and  getting  rather  a  scanty  living.  To  their  hungry 
appetites  the  hay  which  we  have  piled  up  for  the  horses 
presents  quite  an  attraction,  and  our  men  have  great  diffi 
culty  in  keeping  it  for  our  own  use.  So  they  think  they 
might  as  well  make  something  out  of  the  cows  in  return, 
and  most  of  them  manage  to  have  fresh  milk  for  breakfast. 
Besides  this  they  get  a  little  amusement.  Not  content  with 
horseback  riding,  they  have  taken  to  riding  cows,  and  the 
result  has  been  a  series  of  ludicrous  catastrophes. 

The  process  is  as  follows :  as  soon  as  a  cow  is  discovered 
in  the  vicinity,  she  is  surrounded  and  captured  by  half  a 
dozen  men,  some  holding  on  to  her  horns  and  some  on  to 
her  tail.  Then  somebody  mounts  the  animal  and  off  she 
goesj  the  length  of  time  that  her  rider  sticks  on  varying 
very  much.  The  final  result,  however,  is  the  same  in  all 
cases.  The  rider  is  pitched  into  the  mud  more  or  less 
summarily,  and  the  animal  leaves  camp  rapidly.  .  . 
Every  day  we  take  the  horses  out  and  exercise  for  an  hour 
or  so.  We  generally  go  over  to  the  parade  ground  which 
begins  a  short  distance  from  our  camp,  and  extends  to  the 
shores  of  the  East  Branch.  The  Parade  contains  40  or  50 
acres,  and  "the  troops,  mostly  artillery,  are  encamped  all 
around  it.  Eight  or  nine  batteries  of  the  ist  N.  Y.  Artillery 
are  encamped  on  our  side.  Close  to  us  are  4  German 
batteries,  then  there  are  two  or  three  regular  batteries,  and 
on  the  farther  side  near  the  cemetery  there  is  a  regiment 
of  cavalry, — regulars  I  believe, — so  you  see  we  have  quite 
a  force  in  our  vicinity,  and  besides  what  I  have  mentioned 
several  regiments  of  infantry,  57th  Penn.  and  loth  N.  ]. 
among  them,  are  encamped  on  the  hills  to  the  Northward. 
From  our  camp  we  can  see  our  large  encampment  on  the 
other  shore,  and  several  forts." 


114  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Grows'  Journal  "Jan'y  22,  1862.  In  conversation,  one 
of  the  best  informed  officers  we  have  on  the  grounds  told 
me  today  that  we  could  not  be  south  long,  for  Massachu 
setts  was  the  first  to  answer  the  call  to  arms,  and  therefore 
her  troops  wrill  be  sent  home  first.  Word  was  received 
here  today  that  as  soon  as  the  ground  hardens  up  some,  we 
will  cross"  the  river  and  go  into  winter  quarters. 

Friday  Jan'y  24.  Went  to  the  Arsenal  with  the  limber 
and  caisson  to  have  them  filled  with  shot  and  shell.  Was 
gone  about  three  hours.  It  is  now  about  n  o'clock  a.  m., 
and  I  must  stop  to  take  an  examination  of  the  powder 
boxes,  so  I  can  report  to  the  Commissary. 

After  dinner  I  was  called  into  the  Captain's  quarters,  and 
was  shown  how  to  cut  the  fuze  of  shell  and  spherical  case 
shot,  it  being  my  place  after  doing  the  carpenter's  work  of 
fitting  the  boxes  containing  the  shell  and  shot,  to  prepare 
them  ready  for  the  No.  5  man  of  the  gun  Detachment. 

It  is  performed  in  this  manner :  On  the  outside  of  the 
shell  there  is  a  small  dial  about  2  inches  in  diameter,  and 
marked  from  right  to  left  (Like  the  dial  of  a  clock)  i,  2, 
3,  4,  5,  for  a  five  second  shell.  For  instance,  if  you  wish 
the  shell  to  explode  in  three  seconds  after  it  leaves  the  gun, 
you  take  a  small  chisel  and  cut  the  thin  lead  covering  off  at 
the  figure  marked  '3'  and  then  remove  all  the  covering  to 
the  right,' fjut  never  cut  to  the  left.  Under  this  thin  cover 
ing  of  lead  is  a  deposit  of  fine  meal  powder  whicTi  is  ignited 
by  the  firing  of  the  gun. 

In  a  spherical  case  shot  it  is  filled  with  musket  balls  and 
sulphur,  and  is  used  to  fire  into  infantry  and  is  capable  of 
doing  great  execution.  In  a  shell  it  is  filled  with  powder, 
and  the  bursting  of  it  causes  the  fragments  to  do  a  great 
deal  of  hurt.  In  a  limber,  that  is  the  part  to  which  the 
gun  is  attached,  there  are  39  rounds.  In  the  left  part  are 
spherical  case,  in  the  centre  are  canister,  and  on  the  right 
are  shell.  In  the  caisson,  that  is  the  team  that  follows  each 
gun,  are  three  boxes,  each  one  containing  the  same  number 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  115 

of  rounds  as  there  are  in  the  limber.  This  kind  of  shot  and 
shell  is  used  only  on  the  howitzers,  as  they  can  fire  only 
shell  and  canister.  We  have  two  howitzers  and  four  rifled 
guns.  The  rifle  guns  can  only  use  rifle  and  solid  shot.  A 
part  of  the  solid  shot  is  composed  of  twine  and  grease  so 
to  fill  the  grooves  in  the  gun,  and  they  are  capable  of  going 
a  great  distance. 

There  has  been  a  change  in  the  War  Department  in 
regard  to  artificers.  They  now  only  allow  two  regular 
ones,  the  blacksmith  and  harnessmaker,  their  pay  is  $15  a 
month,  and  they  must  work  about  all  the  time.  The  car 
penter  and  wheelwright  receive  $13  a  month  for  their  regu 
lar  pay,  and  every  day  they  work  they  receive  extra  pay, 
so  I  shall  do  better  than  the  two  who  get  $15  a  month. 
This  month  so  far  I  have  not  had  anything  of  importance 
to  do,  but  will  soon  have  enough,  I  think. 

Saturday  Jan'y  25.  After  dinner  I  was  called  by  the 
Captain  t.o  take  charge  of  a  gun  Detachment  and  go  to  the 
Navy  Yard  and  get  the  caisson  and  limber  loaded,  but  as 
the  shot  was  not  ready  we  came  back.  Will  have  to  go 
down  Monday  again.  While  waiting  at  the  yard  I  met 
Sergt.  Wright  of  Porter's  Battery.  (First  Mass.)  After 
coming  back  to  camp  we  had  to  report  to  the  officer,  and 
then  we  commenced  digging  around  our  tent,  for  the  sun 
had  softened  the  mud  considerably,  and  we  needed  a  chan 
nel  to  drain  it  off.  After  this  we  went  to  roll  call  where 
we  were  addressed  by  General  Schouler  of  Boston,  Mass. 
He  informed  us  that  we  would  not  be  here  long." 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  MAX  EPPENDORFF. 
PERSONAL  REMEMBRANCE  FROM   OCT.   23,   '61   TO  JAN'Y 

25,  '62. 

"On  October  24th,  1861,  I  took  charge  of  the  Battery 
then  in  camp  at  Lynnfield. 

There  were  present  in  camp  2  First  Lieutenants  Geo.  D. 


11(3  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Allen  and  John  B.  Hyde,  and  i  Second  Lieutenant  Rob. 
Dillingham. 

The  2d  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Phillips  joined  the 
Battery  beginning  of  November.  Next  to  these  commis 
sioned  officers  there  was  a  full  complement  of  non-com 
missioned  ofBcers  and  men. 

Let  me  first  say  a  few  words  about  them.  I  cannot  say 
too  much  in  their  favor.  Of  course  there  were  some  'black 
sheep'  among  them,  but  they  were  soon  transferred  to  other 
Batteries  or  regiments  lacking  men.  The  great  majority 
of  the  men  hailed  from  New  England,  and  they  were  above 
the  common  standard  of  volunteers  in  regard  to  intelli 
gence  as  well  as  morals.  You  soon  could  notice  that  these 
men  had  left  their  homes,  not  for  any  selfish  purpose,  but  for 
the  high  cause  for  which  each  one  of  them  was  willing  to 
sacrifice  his  life.  It  was  a  pleasure  as  well  as  an  honor, 
to  command  them!  In  the  early  part  of  November  the 
camp  was  moved  from  Lynnfield  to  more  suitable  grounds 
at  Readville,  near  Boston,  which  afforded  plenty  of  room 
for  foot-drill,  the  then  only  possible  way  to  keep  the  men 
in  useful  activity,  their  outfit  being  limited  to  side  arms. 

Some  time  in  early  December  '61,  General  Burnside  pre 
pared  his  expedition  against  certain  forts  along  the  coasts 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia  recently  erected  by  the  rebels, 
and  which  were  opposing  the  advance  of  the  federal  army 
toward  Richmond.  To  manage  the  guns  on  board  the 
ships  attacking  these  forts  from  the  sea,  the  5th  Battery  was 
ordered  to  report  to  General  Burnside.  The  little  article 
here  annexed,  cut  from  a  New  Bedford  paper,  gives  a  cor 
rect  statement  of  my  doings  after  receiving  the  Order. 
Had  I  not  succeeded  in  persuading  Gov.  Andrew,  as  well 
as  General  Burnside  to  have  the  order  countermanded,  the 
5th  Battery,  Mass.  Light  Artillery  might  have  been  wiped 
out  of  existence." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  117 

NEWSPAPER  EXTRACT. 

"The  5th  Artillery,  Capt.  Eppendorff,  is  still  in  camp  at  Readville. 
It  is  under  orders  to  join  Burnside's  expedition,  but  has  not  been  pro 
vided  with  horses,  and  has  had  no  drill  in  artillery  movements.  Capt 
Eppendorff  is  too  much  of  an  officer  to  desire  to  take  green  men 
aboard  a  ship  with  green  horses,  to  make  an  artillery  company  of  after 
reaching  some  far  off  Southern  point,  where  immediate  action  may 
be  necessary.  He  has  laid  the  case  before  the  Governor,  and  the  Gov 
ernor  has  written  a  statement  of  the  facts  to  Gen.  McClellan,  that  he 
may  decide  upon  them.  Capt.  Eppendorff  only  asks  a  fair  chance,  and 
then  he  will  do  credit  to  the  state  and  to  the  army." 

Notes  of  Captain  Eppendorff  continued : — "My  desire  to 
obtain  the  horses  for  the  6  rifled  field  pieces  from  New  Eng 
land  remount,  could  not  be  granted  by  Governor  Andrew, 
as  he  had  been  informed  by  the  War  Department  in  Wash 
ington,  that  there  were  for  such  purposes  plenty  of  horses. 
— nearly  4000, — in  Government  stables  at  Georgetown, 
which  in  course  of  time  had  been  returned  from  the  front. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1861,  the  Battery  broke  camp 
at  Readville,  and  went  by  rail  to  Washington,  where  it  went 
into  camp  on  Capitol  Hill  to  the  East  of  the  Capitol.  Soon 
after  Gen.  Barry,  commander-in-chief  of  Artillery  in  Gen, 
McClellan's  Army  of  the  Peninsula,  sent  the  order  to  make 
out  my  requisition  for  horses  needed  for  the  Battery,  in 
forming  me  at  the  same  time  that  I  should  take  my  pick 
from  those  horses  returned  from  the  front,  as  stated  above. 
With  two  of  my  men.  whom  I  knew  to  be  good  judges  of 
horseflesh, — one  of  them  either  James  A.  or  Charles  M. 
Tripp, — I  went  to  Georgetown,  where  we  found  the  horses 
in  half-open  sheds,  tied  to  the  manger  by  leather  straps  or 
copes,  without  litter,  and  so  close  packed  together  as  to 
make  it  impossible  for  them  to  lie  down. 

At  the  end  of  a  few  days  I  had  to  report  to  Gen.  Barry 
that  I  had  not  found  a  single  horse  among  the  4000,  which 
I  could  conscientiously  consider  fit  for  artillery  service. 
Laughingly  he  ordered  me  to  make  out  my  requisition,  to 


118  HISTORY    OF    THE 

select    the  horses  from    the    Remount,   which  was    daily 
brought  in  by  the  farmers. 

It  was  rather  slow  work,  since  I  had  to  make  an  arrange 
ment  witfi  a  cavalry  officer  who  had  come  there  for  the 
same  purpose,  to  have  the  first  pick  of  the  fresh  horses  every 
other  day.  However,  after  a  time  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
having  an  excellent  collection  of  horses  on  the  picket  lines, 
—so  excellent,  indeed,  that  General  McClellan  sent  his 
adjutant  twice  to  pick  horses  for  his  private  use  from  my 
stock. 

This  duty  of  completing  the  number  of  horses  needed, 
requiring  my  chief  attention  and  time,  I  ordered  Lt.  Phil 
lips  to  draw  from  the  Arsenal  of  the  Navy  Yard  in  Wash 
ington  the  ammunition  for  the  Battery,  which  consisted  ex 
clusively  of  the  Schenkle  shell  with  Percussion  and  Time 
fuzes,  which  had  recently  been  adopted  by  the  War  De 
partment. 

Unfortunately,  before  the  Battery  was  fully  equipped,  my 
health  broke  down,  and  I  had  to  resign.  When  I  bade  the 
boys  farewell,  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  many  of  them  showed 
that  they  did  not  like  the  parting. 

Some  time  in  Winter  '62,  I  met  my  old  Q.  M.  Tim  Terry. 
iFTie  reported  to  me  correctly  that  Gen.  McClellan  had  de 
clared  the  5th  Mass.  Battery  to  be  one  of  the  best  equipped, 
best  mounted,  and  best  disciplined  in  his  Army,  I  was  fully 
rewarded  for  what  I  had  been  able  to  do  in  the  short  3 
months  of  my  activity,  to  bring  it  to  that  high  standard. 
But  I  could  not  have  accomplished  it  without  the  assistance 
of  my  men! 

I  cannot  close  my  communication  without  referring  to  a 
pleasant  incident  in  connection  with  one  of  the  privates  of 

the  Battery,  Patrick  W He  belonged  originally  to 

the  'black  sheep'  mentioned  above.  For  some  reason  or 
other  he  was  spared  the  fate  of  the  others  to  be  transferred, 
although  he  had  to  be  punished  repeatedly  and  severely  for 
not  leaving  liquor  alone. — One  evening  whilst  the  Battery 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  119 

was  in  camp  at  Washington,  the  Orderly  Johnson  with, — 
if  I  recollect  well, — Sergeant  Morgridge,  entered  my  tent 
and  said : — 

'Captain!  What  shall  we  do  with  W.  He  got  drunk 
again,  and  is  in  the  prison-tent  handcuffed.  He  sits  on  an 
empty  box,  pounding  with  his  heels  against  it,  and  laughing 
at  every  word  I  say  to  him.' 

In  spite  of  their  remonstrances,  I  went  to  see  W.  alone, 
the  sergeants  remaining  outside  the  tent.  I  found  W.  as 
Johnson  had  said,  sitting  on  a  high  box,  pounding  furiously 
against  it  and  grinning  at  me. 

After  looking  at  him  a  few  seconds  I  called  out  in  rather 
a  harsh  tone : — 

*\V !     Attention!' 

He  jumped  down  and  stood  before  me,  straight,  not  mov 
ing  a  muscle.  Then  I  began  to  speak  to  him.  What  I  said 
I  do  not  remember,  but  soon  he  was  on  his  knees  before  me, 
seizing  my  hand,  and  with  the  hot  tears  running  down  his 
cheeks,  calling  out  with  a  solemn  oath  that  he  would  change 
his  life  and  never  touch  a  drop  of  liquor  again. 

To  my  question  'Is  that  true,  W.  ?'  he  called  out,  'Cap 
tain,  as  true  as  we  both  are  living !' 

I  made  him  rise,  had  the  hand-cuffs  taken  off,  and  sent 
him  to  his  tent. 

When  I  saw  Terry  in  winter  he  told  me  that  W.  .  .  . 
was  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  Battery.  I  was  much  pleased 
to  see  by  the  'Soldiers  Memorial'  that  W.  was  promoted 
March  i,  1863  to  be  corporal. 

After  the  close  of  the  War,  during  a  visit  at  New  Bed 
ford,  in  walking  up  County  street,  I  saw  a  heavy  wagon 
with  flour  coming  towards  me,  the  driver  sitting  on  top  of 
it.  When  the  wagon  came  up  to  me,  the  driver  reined  in 
his  horses,  jumped  down,  ran  up  to  me,  and  seizing  my 
hand,  called  out:  'Captain!  I  have  kept  my  word!'  It  was 
Pat.  W.  and  we  both  of  us  felt  happy  to  have  met  again. 
If  he  is  still  living  and  should  read  this  little  incident,  he 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE 

would  be  pleased  to  see  that  his  old  Captain  is  still  kindly 
remembering  him — and  if  he  is  dead,  it  might  not  be  out  of 
the  way  to  have  the  facts  made  known  in  order  to  honor  the 
memory  of  a  brave  man. 

MAX  EPPENDORFF. 
September  i7th  1900." 

ROANOKE  ISLAND. 

Roanoke  Island  N.  C.  was  the  key  to  all  the  rear  defences 
of  Norfolk,  and  commanded  the  seaboard  from  Oregon 
Inlet  to  Cape  Henry.  It  commanded  the  only  entrance  to 
Albemarle  Sound,  which  connects  with  Pamlico  by  means 
of  Croatan  and  Roanoke  Sounds,  on  either  side  of  the 
island. 

With  relation  to  the  expedition  of  General  Ambrose  E. 
Burnside  to  the  coasts  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  referred 
to  by  Captain  EppendorfT,  official  records  show  that  on  the 
6th  of  September,  1861.  General  McClellan  had  requested 
the  Secretary  of  War  "to  organize  two  brigades  of  five  regi 
ments  each,  of  New  England  men,  for  the  general  service, 
but  particularly  adapted  to  coast  service."  The  expedition 
commanded  by  General  Burnside,  whose  destination  had 
been  changed  from  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  trie  Potomac  to 
the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  was  not  ready  until  the  new 
year,  and  on  January  7,  1862,  after  meeting  with  the  fleet 
at  Fortress  Monroe  under  Flag-officer  Louis  M.  Goldsbor- 
ough,  it  was  ordered  to  Roanoke  Island.  There  were  seven 
gunboats  connected  with  Burnside' s  Division.  The  expe 
dition  sailed  out  of  Hampton  Roads  January  n,  1862. 
(See  p.  1 06.) 

VISIT  OF  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  SCHOULER. 

The  chief  of  staff  of  His  Excellency  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  militia  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  was  Ad 
jutant  General  William  Schouler,  and  January  25th,  1862, 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  121 

he  made  an  official  visit  to  Camp  Sumner  on  Capitol  Hill. 
The  object  of  this  visit  was  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the 
troops,  and  to  verify  Descriptive  Rolls.  In  a  letter  to  the 
Governor,  he  says  : — 

"Upon  my  arrival  at  Washington  I  ascertained  that  Captain  Eppen- 
dorff  of  the  Fifth  Battery  had  resigned.  I  visited  the  camp  and  found 
the  men  in  good  health  and  anxious  to  have  their  guns. 

By  an  order  the  Battery  had  been  attached  to  General  (William  B.) 
Franklin's  Division.  For  reasons  not  necessary  to  detail,  they  desired 
to  be  placed  in  General  Fitz  John  Porter's  command.  Their  case  was 
presented  to  General  William  F.  Barry,  Chief  of  Artillery,  by  Hon. 
Messrs.  (Thomas  D.)  Eliot  (of  New  Bedford)  and  (Daniel  W.) 
Gooch  (of  Melrose)  congressmen  in  whose  districts  the  Battery  was 
raised,  and  by  myself,  and  he  consented  to  the  desired  change,  if  Gen 
eral  Fitz  John  Porter,  whose  quarters  were  near  Hall's  Hill,  Va.,  could 
find  use  for  them.  Subsequently,  I  had  an  interview  with  General 
Porter  at  his  headquarters,  and  he  asked  me  to  say  to  General  Barry, 
that  he  would  be  pleased  to  receive  as  many  Massachusetts  batteries 
as  would  be  sent  him,  although  he  did  not  wish  to  interfere  with  any 
previous  arrangements  of  the  War  Department.  The  jesult  is  that  the 
older  was  changed,  and  the  Battery  is  over  the  river  in  General  Por 
ter's  Division.  With  a  few  weeks'  drilling  it  will  be  very  efficient." 

•  There  is  no  elate  to  this  letter  and  the  closing-  lines  are  a 
little  in  advance  of  the  notes  of  the  members  of  the  Battery 
as  arranged  chronologically. 

Grows'  Journal  "Jan'y  2^  1862.  As  it  was  a  glorious 
morning  we  took  our  bedding  and  all  our  equipments,  and 
carried  them  out  into  the  park  to  give  them  an  airing.  Tt 
was  a  pretty,  but  odd  sight,  to  see  each  man's  bedding  lay 
ing  in  front  of  his  tent,  with  his  knapsack,  sword,  canteen 
and  haversack,  on  top. 

THOUGHTS  ON  GUARD. 

In  the  hours  of  the  night,  when  you  and  my  sweet  child 
are  in  sweet  slumbers,  I  am  walking  my  'beat'  while  on 
guard.  I  have  often  walked  over  my  beat  almost  an  hour 
at  a  time,  and  when  I  came  to  myself  it  would  seem  that  I 
was  just  awakened  from  a  dream. 


122  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Joseph  Hall  called  in  to  the  tent  this  evening.  He  has 
got  his  discharge.  He  was  unfit  for  service  when  he  en 
listed.  A  more  honest  man  never  walked,  but  an  oversight 
has  caused  him  all  this.  He  is  only  23  years  old. 

A  man  in  the  'Rocket  Battery'  was  killed  yesterday  by  a 
horse,  he  was  kicked  in  the  head.  His  body  will  receive  a 
military  escort  to  the  Depot,  to  then  be  sent  to  New  York 
where  he  belongs. 

Monday  Jan'y  27th.  Went  out  and  helped  clean  the 
Gun,  after  which  I  was  ordered  to  look  after  the  packing  of 
some  shot  and  shell.  Was  occupied  till  12  o'clock.  The 
escort  of  the  man  who  was  killed,  passed  by  us  this  after 
noon.  He  was  in  a  walnut  coffin,  and  it  was  placed  on  the 
carriage  of  the  Gun  to  which  he  belonged.  The  coffin  was 
covered  with  the  American  flag. 

At  the  5  o'clock  Roll  this  afternoon :  The  Captain  of  our 
Battery  goes  home  to  New  Bedford  tomorrow.  Lieut. 
Allen  takes  command  till  a  new  Captain  is  appointed.  In 
all  probability  it  will  be  Allen.  We  all  want  him  very 
much." 

Chase's  Diary  "Jan'y  27,  1862.  Capt.  Eppendorff  in 
formed  the  Battery,  that  his  resignation  had  been  accepted. 
First  Lieut.  G.  D.  Allen  left  in  command  until  a  captain  is 
appointed." 

This  was  at  that  important  period  when  General  McClel- 
lan  was  engaged  in  perfecting  the  organization  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  and  on  this  day,  January  27th,  President 
Lincoln  issued  his  General  War  Order  No.  i,  directing  a 
general  movement  of  the  land  and  naval  forces. 

Chase's  Diary  "January  28th.  "Captain  Eppendorff  left 
camp." 

Grow's  Journal  "Jan'y  28.  Tuesday.  On  account  of 
new  regulations  we  were  called  at  6  this  morning,  and  at 
a  quarter  past  6  was  Roll  Call,  and  half  past  6  was  Feed 
Call,  for  the  drivers  to  attend  to  their  horses.  At  7  was 
Water  Call  for  the  horses.  At  8  o'clock  we  had  breakfast. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  123 

I  am  very  glad  of  this  change  for  it  is  better  for  the  men. 
We  had  dinner  at  one  o'clock  instead  of  12." 

The  Officer  of  the  Day  attended  the  Roll  Call.  The 
drivers  fell  in  at  Stable  or  Feed  Call  with  "nose  bags"  to 
be  filled  with  grain.  The  Officer  of  the  Day  rode  a  horse 
bareback  at  Water  Call  to  superintend  the  driving  of  the 
horses  to  water. 

Grows'  Journal  "Jan'y  29,  1862.  Tonight  for  supper 
we  had  tea,  the  first  I  have  tasted  since  I  have  been  here. 

Friday  January  315!.  Had  a  drill  on  the  Gun  this  after 
noon. 

Saturday,  Feb.  i.  After  breakfast  went  out  to  see  the 
horses,  found  one  with  a  broken  leg.  He  was  kicked  in  the 
night  by  one  of  the  horses  and  had  his  leg  broken.  He  was 
killed  by  being  knocked  in  the  head.  One  Battery  has  been 
disbanded  near  to  us,  they  were  a  New  York  company. 
One  of  our  men  was  at  the  Capitol  today,  and  the  subject 
in  the  Senate  Chamber  was  to  have  some  of  the  batteries 
discharged.  We  will  hear  more  about  it  soon. 

Sunday,  Feb.  2d,  the  "drivers'  turned  out  at  9  to  clean 
their  horses  and  harnesses,  and  the  cannoneers  to  clean  up 
their  quarters  &c.  &c.  I  was  detailed  for  guard  at  n 
o'clock  to  be  on  till  i  o'clock  p.  m.  At  12  o'clock  we  were 
visited  by  Colonel  Amory  of  Boston, — he  is  Master  of  Ord 
nance  at  the  State  House, — and  also  Colonel  (T.  Bigelow) 
Lawrence.  The  men  were  drawn  up  in  line  and  were  ad 
dressed  bv  them.  They  were  sent  down  here  by  Governor 
Andrew  to  see  how  the  men  were  used,  and  if  they  were 
comfortable.  They  examined  our  quarters  and  our  horses 
and  guns  &c.  &c.  and  appeared  highly  pleased  with  the  de 
portment  of  the  men.  They  left  us  about  Y*  past  one 
o'clock.  At  2  o'clock  there  was  divine  service  in  the  camp, 
and  the  men's  voices  singing  did  sound  splendid  while  I  was 
lying  down  in  my  tent.  I  did  not  have  to  go  out  into  the 
line  for  I  was  on  the  guard  list.  Went  on  guard  again  at 
5  o'clock  p.  m. 


124  HISTORY    OF    THE 


BOX  FROM  HOME. 

Monday  Feb.  3,  1862.  At  12  o'clock  word  came  into 
the  tent  that  the  team  had  come  with  boxes  from  the  ex 
press  office.  Went  out  and  found  Harry  Simonds  with  the 
Detachment.  He  showed  me  the  box.  I  carried  it  to  his 
quarters  and  opened  it.  I  received  four  immense  pies,  two 
splendid  cakes,  tea,  coffee,  sugar,  pop  corn,  papers  etc. 

Wednesday  Feb.  5th.  Most  of  the  Detachments  had  a 
drill  on  their  guns.  The  order  was  in  the  morning, 
'Empty  beds !'  In  the  afternoon  the  straw  came,  but  it 
was  wet  and  damp,  so  I  could  not  fill  my  bed,  and  I  had  to 
turn  in  on  the  ground. 

Thursday  Feb.  6.  Went  out  at  1A  past  6  to  Roll  Call 
Before  wre  were  dismissed  to  our  quarters  we  were  ordered 
to  appear  at  10  o'clock  in  full  uniform  with  side  arms; 
horses  hitched  in  and  cannoneers  mounted,  but  a  hail  storm 
came  up  at  8  o'clock,  and  it  has  continued  to  rain,  snow, 
and  hail  about  all  day. 

Friday  Feb.  /.  All  of  the  men  besides  myself  except 
one,  filled  their  beds  with  the  damp  straw,  the  consequence 
was  they  all  got  cold,  while  Carsley  and  myself  are  well. 
After  breakfast  we  were  ordered  to  appear  at  10  o'clock  in 
full  uniform  with  side  arms,  for  the  Review.  The  drivers 
hitched  in  their  horses  at  10,  and  at  3^  past  the  cannoneers 
were  on  the  boxes.  It  was  a  splendid  sight.  Went  through 
the  drill  of  'Mounting  and  Dismounting,'  and  at  n 
o'clock,  the  gun  Detachments  were  dismissed  to  their  quar 
ters,  and  the  drivers  had  to  turn  out  for  Riding  drill.  They 
returned  at  l/2  past  12,  looking  muddy  enough. 

Sunday,  Feb.  9,  1862.  The  men  were  called  into  line  at 
1 1  o'clock  for  divine  service.  After  singing  two  or  three 
tunes,  and  reading  a  chapter  in  the  Bible, — Matthew  4th 
chapter, — we  were  dismissed. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  125 

Monday  Feb.  loth,  got  a  pass  to  go  to  the  city.  Went 
into  the  Capitol  to  see  the  new  painting  of  General  (Win- 
field)  Scott.  It  is  a  large  and  splendid  thing.  Saw  the 
large  paintings  in  the  gallery  viz.,  'The  Surrender  of  Lord 
Cornwallis/  'The  Resignation  of  Washington  at  Annapolis 
in  1783,'  The  Embarkation  of  the  Pilgrims/  The  Land 
ing  of  Columbus,'  The  Discovery  of  the  Mississippi  River 
by  De  Soto/  The  Baptism  of  Pocahontas/  The  Declara 
tion  of  Independence/  and  The  Surrender  of  Burgoyne.'  ' 

Chase's  Diary  "Feb.  10,  1862.  Hitched  up  and  took 
guns  from  the  park  first  time. 

Feb.  n,  1862.  5th  and  6th  Detachments  hitched  up 
and  drilled  Tn  Battery'  under  Lieut.  C.  A.  Phillips,  first 
time." 

Grows'  Journal  "Feb.  nth.  Was  called  at  i  o'clock  this 
morning  and  went  on  guard.  There  is  a  circle  around  the 
moon.  I  think  we  shall  soon  have  a  storm.  Am  feeling 
tired  and  sleepy  but  I  must  keep  my  eyes  open,  and  keep  a 
sharp  lookout.  One  of  our  horses  is  back  of  my  tent  dying 
with  the  Lung  Fever  and  Horse  Ail.  He  will  die  in  a 
short  time.  It  looks  hard  to  see  him  suffer,  and  not  be  al 
lowed  to  kill  him  and  put  him  out  of  his  misery,  but  that  is 
military  rule,  unless  a  horse  has  a  broken  leg — then  you  are 
allowed  to  kill  him." 

Chase's  Diary  "Feb.  12,  1862.  Exchanged  our  6 
pounder  guns  for  10  pounder  rifled  Rodman  guns." 

GUNS  AND  PROJECTILES. 

Our  guns  were  exchanged  for  six  three-inch  rifled  guns. 
The  three -inch  gun  adopted  in  our  field  service,  was  made 
of  wrought  iron,  having  7  grooves,  .84  in.  wide  and  .075  in. 
depth.  The  twist  was  uniform,  and  made  one  turn  in  n 
feet. 

The  Schenkle  projectile  was  used  almost  entirely;  com 
posed  of  a  cast  iron  body,  the  posterior  portion  of  which 


126  HISTORY    OF    THE 

terminated  in  a  cone.  The  expanding  portion  was  a  papier- 
mache  wad,  which  being  forced  forward  on  to  the  cone,  was 
expanded  into  the  rifling  of  the  bore.  On  issuing  from  the 
bore,  the  wad  is  blown  to  pieces,  leaving  the  projectile  en 
tirely  unincumbered  in  its  flight  through  the  air. 

Occasionally  the  Hotchkiss  projectile  was  used.  This 
was  a  compound  shot  consisting  of  two  parts  of  cast  iron, 
with  the  rear  cap  fitting  over  the  forward  portion.  Around 
the  joint  was  placed  a  band  of  lead  so  locked  into  both  parts 
of  the  shot  as  to  prevent  its  flying  off  after  it  leaves  the 
piece.  The  explosion  of  the  charge  forces  the  rear  part 
forward,  expanding  the  lead,  forcing  it  into  the  grooves, 
and  cutting  off  windage.  The  amount  of  expansion  is  lim 
ited  by  the  distance  the  cap  is  allowed  to  move,  and  the 
strain  upon  the  gun  is  thus  reduced  to  the  smallest  amount 
required  to  give  the  necessary  expansion.  The  shot  is  the 
same  as  the  shell,  but  left  solid. 

The  12  pounder  Napoleon  was  of  bronze,  smooth  bore, 
and  muzzle  loading.  It  was  officially  known  as  the  "light 
twelve"  to  distinguish  it  from  the  old  regulation  12  pounder, 
which  was  longer  and  heavier,  though  of  the  same  calibre. 
Its  principal  dimensions  were  as  follows: 

Length  over  all,  6  feet. 

Length  of  bore  5  ft.  33/2  inches. 

Diameter  at  breech  1 1  inches. 

Diameter  at  muzzle  8^  inches. 

Diameter  of  bore  4^3  inches. 

Weight  of  gun  1,220  pounds. 

The  round  solid  shot  for  this  gun  weighed  12  pounds. 
The  common  shell,  with  bursting  charge  [8  ounces]  and 
fuze,  weighed  nine  and  one-half  pounds.  The  shrapnel  or 
spherical  case,  which  was  a  thin  shell  filled  with  musket 
balls  and  a  bursting  charge,  weighed  with  its  "sabot"  12^4 
pounds.  The  canister,  which  was  a  tin  can  of  the  size  of 
the  bore  and  six  inches  long,  filled  with  cast  iron  shot  about 
an  inch  in  diameter,  weighed  14  pounds.  The  "sabot"  was 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  127 

a  piece  of  wood  turned  to  fit  the  bore,  and  was  placed  be 
tween  the  powder  and  the  projectile,  instead  of  the  wads. 
It  was  used  only  in  smooth  bore  guns  firing  spherical  pro 
jectiles. 

The  rifled  guns,  which  fired  conical  projectiles,  did  not 
use  the  "sabot." 

By  regulation  the  powder  charges  for  shot,  shell  and  case, 
were  two  and  one  half  pounds,  and  for  canister  two  pounds. 
The  fuze  at  that  time  used  for  round  shell  and  case  shot  was 
a  metal  disk  one  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter.  Its  outer 
surface  was  of  lead,  or  an  alloy  of  lead,  soft  enough  to  cut 
easily.  Underneath  this  metal  surface  was  a  ring  of  "meal 
powder"  or  igniting  composition.  The  exterior  of  the 
metal  disk  was  marked  like  the  dial  of  a  clock, — -three-puar- 
ters,  one,  one  and  one-quarter,  one  and  one-half,  one  and 
three-quarters,  two,  and  so  on  up  to  five.  These  figures 
indicated  in  seconds  and  fractions  thereof  the  time  at  which 
the  shell  would  explode  after  leaving  the  muzzle  if  the  soft 
metal  was  cut  out  immediately  over  the  desired  figure  on 
the  dial,  so  as  to  expose  the  composition  at  that  point  to  the 
flames  of  the  powder  charge  (see  p.  114.  Grows.) 

The  carriage  of  the  light  12  pounder  complete  weighed 
2,600  pounds,  which,  with  the  gun  made  a  total  weight  of 
3,800  pounds,  or  nearly  two  tons. 

The  pattern  of  caisson  remains  now  substantially  as  it 
was  then. 

The  equipment  of  the  rifle  batteries  was  in  general  the 
same  as  that  of  the  12  pounders  except  in  the  matter  of  am 
munition. 

The  10  pounder  Parrott  was  scant  three  inches  in  caliber, 
and  was  made  of  cast  iron,  with  a  wrought  iron  band 
shrunk  on  over  the  breech. 

The  thee-inch  Rodman  was  of  wrought  iron,  forged 
solid,  and  then  bored  and  rifled.  Both  these  types  of  guns 
used  conical  projectiles,  weighing,  for  solid  shot,  10 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE 

pounds;  common  shell  about  eight  pounds,  and  shrapnel 
about  ioK'  pounds. 

They  also  had  a  special  canister  made  for  them. 

The  three-inch  wrought  iron  rifle  was  generally  consid 
ered  superior  to  the  10  pounder  Parrott,  in  consequence  of 
the  liability  of  the  latter  to  blow  up  or  break  off  between  the 
fore-end  of  the  reinforce  and  the  trunnions.  But  so  long 
as  the  Parrott  gun  held  together  it  was  as  good  as  any  muz 
zle-loading  rifle. 

The  Parrott  ammunition  could  be  used  in  the  three-inch 
guns  if  necessary,  but  the  three-inch  projectile  could  not  be 
used  in  the  10  pclr.  Parrotts,  because  the  latter  were  one- 
tenth  of  an  inch  smaller  caliber. 

ARTILLERY  HORSES. 

A  letter  from  Fortress  Monroe  to  the  New  York  Com 
mercial  Advertiser  in  July,  1861,  no  name  signed,  thus  de 
scribed  the  trained  horses  of  the  Artillery : — 

"It  requires  considerable  time  to  mount  the  guns  proper  for  an 
advancing  army,  to  supply  them  with  trained  horses,  and  especially 
the  right  kind  of  harness.  The  horse  must  become  accustomed  to  the 
gleam  of  arms,  the  roll  of  drums,  the  flaunting  of  banners,  the  flash 
and  the  smoke  and  the  roll  of  cannon.  When  the  war  horse  is  drilled 
and  disciplined,  without  a  sign  from  man  he  wheels,  advances,  and 
retreats,  with  almost  miraculous  rapidity,  often  compelling  riders  and 
gunners  to  spring  to  keep  their  saddles,  or  escape  his  lightning  like 
movements.  They  are  made  familiar  with  the  guns  by  having  their 
nostrils  placed  so  close  to  their  muzzles  as  to  feel  the  heat  and  inhale 
the  powder." 

BREAKING  CAMP. 

It  was  on  February  13,  1862,  Thursday,  that  the  Fifth 
Mass.  Battery  was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Fitz  John 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  129 

Porter,  commanding  the  First  Division,  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac. 

Chase's  Diary  of  that  date  has  the  entry: — "Reveille  at 
2  a.  m.  Broke  camp  and  left  camp  at  7  a.  m.  for  Hall's 
Hill,  Va.,  and  arrived  at  our  new  camp  about  2  p.  m.  Bat 
tery  now  attached  to  General  Butterfield's  Brigade  of  Gen 
eral  Fitz  John  Porter's  Division,  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

Grows'  Journal  has  the  following : — "  'Reveille'  was 
sounded  at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at  TA  past  2  the  'As 
sembly'  was  sounded.  We  were  then  drawn  up  in  line, 
and  told  to  prepare  to  'break  camp.'  At  6  o'clock  in  the 
morning  every  tent  was  down  and  packed  away,  our  uni 
forms  on,  knapsacks  lashed  to  the  spare  wheel,  and  our 
rations  in  our  haversacks,  and  all  were  ready  to  start.  At 
|-  past  7  the  bugle  sounded  'Forward,'  and  we  took  up 
our  line  of  march.  It  was  a  most  glorious  morning,  and 
the  sun  was  very  warm.  We  went  through  the  city,  the 
baggage  and  mule  train  .bringing  up  the  rear.  We  passed 
through  Georgetown  to  the  Aqueduct.  After  passing  the 
bridge  the  order  was  'Cannoneers  Dismount.'  On  account 
of  the  mud,  in  some  places  it  was  almost  over  boots,  we 
had  to  go  this  way  for  4  miles  when  we  arrived  at  our  camp 
ground,  and  it  is  a  nice  place,  with  a  large  stream  close  by 
and  woods  in  our  rear  which  will  protect  us  from  the  winds. 
There  are  about  6000  to  8000  men  encamped  around  here. 
The  1 8th  Mass.,  the  22d  Mass.,  a  Kentucky  and  a  Michi 
gan  Regt.,  the  9th  Mass.  Regt,  and  Follett's  Battery  (Third 
Mass.).  We  arrived  on  this  ground  at  3  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  Took  a  rest  of  about  one  hour,  and  then  went 
to  work  pitcKing  our  tents,  which  we  had  up  in  good  sea 
son.  On  our  march  we  passed  several  forts  and  concealed 
batteries  built  by  our  troops. 

This  (Hall's)  hill  is  so  fortified  that  it  is  impossible  for 
the  rebels  to  get  to  Washington.  After  our  tents  were  up 


130  HISTORY    OF    THE 

I  took  a  walk  around  the  camp.  Saw  a  large  body  of  cav 
alry  coming,  bringing  "secesh'  prisoners.  They  go  out 
scouting  every  morning,  returning  at  night.  We  are  en 
camped  only  about  8  miles  from  the  rebels,  who  are  at  Fair 
fax  Court  House.  Our  pickets  are  thrown  out  for  from 
four  to  five  miles.  In  about  two  wrecks  there  will  be  a 
grand  advance  made  by  our  troops." 

FORT  CORCORAN,  ARLINGTON  HEIGHTS. 

Forts  Runyon  and  Corcoran  commanded  the  Long 
Bridge  and  the  Aqueduct.  Fort  Albany  commanded  the 
Columbia  and  the  Aqueduct  and  Alexandria  roads.  After 
General  McClellan  assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  the  interval  between  Fort  Corcoran  at  Arlington 
Heights  and  Fort  Albany  near  Alexandria  was  filled  by  a 
series  of  works  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other. 

THE    REMOVAL,    BY    LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

"The  morning  was  clear  and  bright  and  the  moon  had 
not  set.  By  seven  o'clock  everything  was  ready  and  we 
started.  Passing  through  Pennsylvania  Avenue  we  kept 
on  to  Georgetown  and  crossed  the  Aqueduct.  On  the  other 
side  of  that  the  Battery  halted  and  one  by  one  the  pieces 
prepared  to  ford  their  passage.  As  the  First  piece  went 
ahead  I  remained  in  the  rear,  and  soon  loud  shouts  of  laugh 
ter  from  the  surrounding  soldiers  informed  me  that  some 
thing  had  occurred.  At  first  I  was  afraid  the  piece  was 
stuck,  but  I  found  afterwards  that  it  was  one  of  our  men 
who  was  stuck  in  the  mud,  and  who  in  being  pulled  out  had 
left  both  his  boots  behind.  The  Second  piece  followed  the 
First,  and  as  it  disappeared  I  ordered  my  section  forward 
and  on  we  went  up  the  end  of  the  bridge,  then  to  the  left 
and  over  a  ditch  on  the  right  into  the  mud,  and  such  mud ! 
However,  the  horses  pulled  bravely,  and  on  we  went.  A 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  131 

little  ahead  came  the  hardest  tug,  up  a  little  ascent,  but  we 
got  well  over  it.  The  mules  followed  with  the  baggage 
teams,  and  though  they  stuck  a  little  we  all  got  through 
without  any  accident.  Just  after  crossing  the  Aqueduct  the 
road  passes  through  an  intrenchment  for  infantry,  and  then 
keeps  on  round  Fort  Corcoran." 

Fort  Corcoran  he  describes  as  a  square,  bastion  fort  three 
sides  mounted  with  heavy  guns,  and  the  side  toward  the 
Aqueduct  merely  a  stockade,  loop  holed  for  musketry,  and 
defended  by  small  swivel  guns.  "Bevond  Fort  Corcoran," 
he  continues,  "the  road  passes  through  another  breastwork 
for  artillery  and  infantry,  and  then  keeps  on  through  the 
mud  and  the  camp  of  the  3d  Penn.  Cavalry.  Passing 
through  this  we  turned  to  the  right  down  a  new  corduroy 
road  which  carries  us  straight  to  camp." 

The  engineers  built  the  "cordurov"  by  felling  trees  and 
laying  them  across  the  road. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"VICINITY  OF  HALL'S  HILL. 

Feb.   14,  1862. 

We  are  just  this  side  of  Hall's  Hill  proper,  on  a  little  hill 
close  by  a  large  house.  Our  camp  is  on  the  right  going  from 
Washington,  and  our  parade  ground, — an  excellent  one, — 
on  the  left.  .  .  . 

We  arrived  at  our  camp  at  noon,  and  had  everything 
fixed  before  dark.  Everything  is  as  good  as  can  be.  The 
ground  is  quite  dry  comparatively  speaking.  We  have  good 
water  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  behind  the  stables,  and  wood 
growing  in  abundance  all  round.  Two  regiments  of  cavalry 
passed  us  this  morning  on  a  scouting  expedition.  We  have 
not  yet  named  our  camp." 

In  another  letter  Lieut.  Phillips  thus  describes  scenes  in 
camp : — 


132  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"This  morning  we  had  an  inspection  of  blankets,  har 
nesses,  brushes,  curry-combs,  whips  &c.,  and  while  we  were 
at  this  Gen.  Porter  rode  up  accompanied  by  Lieut.  S.  M. 
Weld  of  his  staff.  I  went  up  to  Lieut.  Weld's  quarters  the 
other  night,  and  found  him  quite  comfortably  located.  .  .  . 
Our  camp  ground  is  now  quite  dry  ...  all  the  men  have 
built  bunks  to  sleep  in.  ...  We  are  very  lucky  in  having 
quite  a  little  forest  behind  us,  which  supplies  us  with  as 
much  wood  as  we  want.  Our  stables  are  down  in  the  woods 
and  are  floored  with  trunks  of  small  trees,  so  that  the  horses 
keep  very  dry.  Some  of  the  camps  round  here  are  placed  in 
very  exposed  situations.  The  226.  Mass,  right  on  top  of 
Hall's  Hill,  gets  all  the  wind  that  blows,  and  it  blows  pretty 
hard  here  occasionally.  Two  nights  last  week  we  had  a 
perfect  hurricane,  which  tried  the  strength  of  our  tents 
pretty  effectually.  Several  went  down,  and  for  a  time  I  was 
in  doubt  whether  ours  was  going  to  stand  up  or  not.  How 
ever,  we  managed  to  keep  the  pole  up,  and  the  pins  down, 
but  could  not  succeed  in  keepinp-  the  wind  out,  so  in  spite  of 
our  fire  we  had  to  go  to  bed  early  to  keep  warm.  Our  tent 
has  suffered  a  little  from  the  perils  of  war.  The  top  got 
burnt  a  little  one  day,  and  as  if  this  were  not^  sufficient  for 
ventilating  purposes,  Lieut.  Scott's  horse  put  his  foot 
through  it  yesterday  afternoon.  As  we  are  getting  to  look 
at  things  in  a  philosophical  light  we  do  not  trouble  our 
selves  with  small  trifles.  I  have  forgotten  how  to  take  cold 
or  get  sick." 

Grows'  Journal.  "Friday  morning  Feb.  14,  1862.  Or 
ders  were  given  that  after  breakfast  all  of  the  men  clean  up 
the  Park.  After  eating  we  all  went  at  it,  and  in  about  two 
hours  there  was  not  a  large  stone  to  be  seen  on  the  camp 
ground.  Then  we  dressed  our  pieces  and  caissons  and  cov 
ered  them,  then  went  to  our  quarters.  After  dinner  dressed 
up  and  went  out.  The  men  were  drawn  up  in  line  to  receive 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  133 

Captain  Griffin  and  Aide.  ( Captain  Charles  Griffin,  Battery 
D,  5th  U.  S.)  He  is  the  man  who  lost  a  portion  of  his  bat 
tery  at  Bull  Run.  He  is  a  stern  looking  man,  but  a  splendid 
artillerist.  He  will  be  our  drill  master.  We  were  marched 
to  our  pieces  and  had  a  slight  drill.  We  have  now  four 
three  in.  dia.  long  guns  of  iron,  and  two  brass  howitzers, 
twelve  pounders.  They  are  saucy  looking  dogs.  After  this 
we  went  to  our  tents.  About  1 1  boxes  have  come  this  after 
noon  for  men  in  the  company,  and  they  are  very  glad.  We 
are  encamped  on  the  grounds  once  occupied  by  President 
William  Henry  Harrison.  His  mansion  is  very  near  us.  It 
is  now  used  for  a  Small  Pox  Hospital.  There  are  now 
there  six  or  seven  cases.  A  slaughter  house  is  on  our  camp 
ground  where  they  kill  cattle  for  the  soldiers,  so  we  have 
fresh  beef  quite  often. 

Saturday  Feb.  15.  Snowing.  After  breakfast  I  was  de 
tailed  with  Harry  Simonds  and  others,  to  cut  down  some 
trees  for  a  stable.  Got  the  stable  built  and  went  to  dinner, 
had  fresh  beef  and  bread  and  water.  After  dinner  was  de 
tailed  with  three  others  to  get  water  for  the  cooks,  after 
which  I  went  into  my  tent  and  had  a  smoke.  Was  called  at 
4  o'clock  to  fix  some  shovels  for  the  snow  which  is  now 
about  3  in.  deep.  It  is  snowing  very  hard.  The  guard  were 
called  out  to  salute  General  Barry  and  staff  as  they  passed 
the  camp." 

FORM  OF  PASS. 

DIVISION    HEAD    QUARTERS 
HALL'S  HILL  VA.  Feb.  15,  1862. 

Pass  Lieut.  Allen  Mass.  Art'y,  to  Washington  and  return  on  im 
portant  private  business. 

By   com.    of 

BRIG.   GEN'L  PORTER 
G.  MONTEITH. 
Lt.  &  A.  D.  C. 

The  signature  "by  com.  of"  &c.  is  in  red  ink,  the  re 
mainder  in  black  ink,  plain  and  clear  after  forty  years. 


134 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE  ROLL  AT  HALL'S  HILL. 
NOTES  OF  JOSEPH  L.  KNOX,  SEPT.  25,  1899. 

''You  will  find  a  list  of  the  men  as  near  as  I  can  remem 
ber  them,  and  I  think  that  it  is  just  as  it  was  called  at  Hall's 
Hill  in  1861." 


Allen 

Agen 

Alden 

Alton  i 

Almy 

Alton  2 

Burt 

Butler 

Brown 

Barry 

Burkis 

Barnard 

Blanchard 

Clark  i 

Canty 

Cook 

Caswell 

Carsley 

Chase 

Crapo 

Clark  2 

Dunham 

Dyer 

Drew 

Dickerman 

Doherty 

Estee 

Fitzsimmons 


Flynn 

Freeborn 

Groves 

Greeley 

Grows 

Gunning 

Gale 

Gardner 

Gustine 

Gilbert 

Hart 

Hayden 

Hall 

Hewitt 

Hathaway  i 

Hathaway  2 

Jordan 

Tay 

Kay 

Knox 

Kanuse 

King 

Leach 

Lapham 

Mitchell 

Murray 

Morrison 

Mack 

McVey 


Manchester 

Nield 

Newhall 

Newton 

Olin 

Finder 

Poole 

Platt 

Parsons 

Proctor 

Rice 

Ray 

Saxon 

Shaw  i 

Stantial 

Shaw  2 

Stiles 

Shaw  3 

Tucker 

Townsend 

Terry 

Tripp  i 

Tripp  2 

Whitcher 

Washburn  i 

West  i 

Washburn  2 

West  2 


"Sunday  Feb.  16,  1862.      (Grows'  Journal.)     Got  up  at 
the  usual  time  feeling  awfully  stiff  with  the  rheumatism. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  135 

The  Qth  Mass.  Regt.  and  a  Regiment  of  Cavalry  went  to 
Fairfax  to  disperse  some  rebels.  They  marched  to  Vienna 
but  did  not  see  anything.  Five  more  'Secesh'  were  brought 
in  today.  They  were  examined  and  sent  to  the  Prison  at 
Washington.  I  must  stop  now  to  cut  up  a  chicken  for  one 
of  the  men,  also  some  pies  and  cake  which  he  had  sent  to 
him  in  a  box.  I  have  made  some  tea  and  shall  have  a  glori 
ous  supper.  So  much  like  home.  .  .  .  After  having  a  smoke 
we  told  stories,  sang  a  little,  went  to  Roll  Call  at  8,  and 
turned  in  at  >2  past  8." 

Chase's  Diary.  .  "Feb.  17,  1862,  Lieut.  Allen  announced 
to  the  Company  that  he  had  been  commissioned  as  Captain, 
and  the  other  lieutenants  were  promoted.  Serg't.  H.  D. 
Scott  promoted  to  4th  Lieut.  Company  called  in  line  and 
the  great  victory  of  Fort  Donelson  announced  by  orders 
from  Head  Quarters.  Hearty  cheers  for  the  great  victory 
and  new  officers." 

Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  were  the  centre  of  the  Con 
federate  line  in  Tennessee. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"HALL'S  HILL  Feb.  18,  1862. 

While  I  had  my  section  out  this  morning,  Captain  Griffin 
rode  up  and  drilled  us  a  little.  Our  men  do  first  rate  consid 
ering  what  opportunities  we  have  had.  Captain  Griffin  says 
we  have  'the  finest  set  of  men  that  ever  were  got  together 
on  the  face  of  the  earth' !  Lieut.  Henry  W.  Kingsbury  of 
Captain  Griffin's  Battery  has  been  assigned  to  this  Battery 
as  instructor,  as  General  Porter  wishes  to  push  us  forward 
as  fast  as  possible,  so  that  we  shall  not  be  much  behind  the 
rest  of  the  Division. 

The  following  changes  have  been  announced  to  the  Bat 
tery  :— 

Junior  2d  Lt.  Henry  D.  Scott. 

Sergeant  H.  O.  Simonds  vice  Scott  promoted. 


136  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Corporal  C.  H.  Macomber  vice  Simonds  promoted. 

Yesterday  we  received  circular  orders  from  General  Por 
ter  announcing  the  glorious  news  from  Fort  Donelson,  fol 
lowed  by  permission  to  issue  a  ration  of  wrhiskev  to  the 
men,  and  an  order  to  fire  a  national  salute.  As  we  are  a 
temperance  battery  we  did  nothing  about  the  whiskey,  and 
having  no  blank  cartridges  we  had  to  send  to  Captain  Mar 
tin's  (Third  Mass.)  Battery  to  get  them.  By  the  time  we 
got  ready  it  was  dark,  and  we  postponed  the  salute  till  this 
morning,  when  it  was  fired  in  good  style." 

Chase's  Diary.  "Feb.  18,  1862.  A  salute  of  34  guns 
fired  by  Serg'ts  Lull  and  Smith's  Detachments." 

Grows'  Journal  "Feb.  18,  1862.  Tuesday.  The  assembly 
was  sounded  at  10.  We  all  turned  out  in  line  and  were 
informed  that  my  friend  Harry  Simonds  was  to  be  the  ser 
geant  of  the  6th  Detachment.  The  men  were  very  glad,  for 
he  is  well  liked  both  by  men  and  officers.  At  n  we  went 
out  to  drill  under  the  Drill  Captain, — Griffin.  He  is  very 
strict  about  drill.  At  2  we  went  to  drill  again.  I  had  to 
take  No.  I's  place  on  account  of  his  being  on  guard.  It  is  a 
rather  hard  berth,  but  if  it  is  understood  it  is  one  of  the 
best  berths  there  is  on  the  piece.  Drill  was  over  at  3  when 
we  went  to  our  quarters. 

Wednesday  Feb.  19,  1862.  The  rain  held  up  a  little  this 
afternoon,  and  the  Detachment  went  out  to  drill  on  the  guns, 
for  word  has  come  that  we  must  move  in  fifteen  days  with 
the  Division.  We  expect  to  go  to  Manassas  Junction.  I 
want  to  go  on  with  the  Division  and  see  what  is  to  be  seen 
and  not  be  kept  up  here  in  camp  like  a  prisoner. 

Thursday  Feb.  20,  1862.  A  splendid  morning.  About 
i  o'clock  Lieut.  R.  A.  Dillingham  ordered  me  to  build  some 
feed  boxes  for  the  horses,  so  I  went  to  work  on  them.  At 
/^2  past  2  Lieut.  Kingsbury  of  the  Regulars  came  over  to 
drill  the  men,  and  he  did  'put  them  through  a  course  of 
sprouts'  they  never  saw  before.  Knocked  off  work  at  5  and 
went  to  Roll  Call,  had  8  boxes  made  16  ft.  long.  Had  sup 
per  at  l/2  past  5  of  bread  and  coffee;  the  coffee  was  fair,  but 
the  bread  was  black  and  very  hard. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  137 

A  change  has  been  made  in  the  hours  of  the  day  in  regard 
to  drill.  The  preparatory  call  is  at  10  minutes  of  6  in  the 
morning,  the  Reveille  at  6,  giving  the  men  10  minutes  to 
dress  and  be  out  in  line.  After  Roll,  breakfast  call,  at  T/4 
to  7  stable  call,  at  7  the  'Sick  Call.'  At  this  last  call  all  that 
are  sick  fall  into  line,  and  are  marched  to  the  Hospital. 

It  is  a  good  idea,  for  the  men  cannot  play  off  sick. 

Instead  of  mounting  guard  at  9  in  the  morning  as  usual,  it 
is  now  at  5  in  the  afternoon." 

FROM   A  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

"Feb.  20,  1862  :  The  officers,  commissioned  and  non-com 
missioned  have  daily  recitations  in  Artillery  Tactics,  and 
Lieut.  Kingsbury  has  the  general  oversight  of  the  drill  and 
interior  economy  of  the  Battery.  This  morning  he  took 
charge  of  the  drill  on  the  guns,  and  this  afternoon  he  intro 
duced  several  changes  in  the  working  of  the  Battery.  He  is 
a  gentleman,  and  a  well  drilled  officer,  and  a  brother-in-law 
of  General  Buckner, — lately  captured, — who  married  his 
sister.  Captain  Griffin  has  been  here  several  times.  Gen. 
McClellan  and  staff  rode  by  here  this  forenoon  on  a  tour 
of  inspection.  Our  guard  was  turned  out,  sabres  presented, 
and  the  General  touched  his  cap. 

We  exchange  our  two  howitzers  in  a  few  days  for  two 
three  inch  rifled  guns,  so  that  my  section  will  be  like  the  rest. 
Our  ammunition  will  come  in  a  few  days,  and  we  shall  com 
mence  target-shooting." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Friday  Feb.  2ist.  At  9,  went  to  see 
about  some  pickets  being  cut  for  the  feed  troughs  to  be  put 
on  for  the  horses  to  eat  out  of.  Worked  till  dinner  time. 
A  new  rule  has  been  made :  the  guard  of  one  day  will  do  the 
police  duty  of  the  camp  the  following  day.  Today  I  was 
stationed  over  the  quartermaster  store  tent,  and  I  did  not 
want  for  good  things  to  eat." 


138  HISTORY    OF    THE 

WASHINGTON'S   BIRTHDAY    1862.— A   NOTABLE 
ANNIVERSARY. 

By  General  Orders  No.  16.  Head  Quarters  of  the  Army, 
Washington,  Feb.  18,  1862,  in  compliance  with  concurrent 
resolutions  of  Congress  that  the  President  should  direct  that 
Orders  be  issued,  copious  extracts  from  the  Farewell  Ad 
dress  of  George  Washingon  were  read  to  the  troops  by  com 
mand  of  Major  General  McClellan  simultaneously  with  the 
performance  of  a  similar  ceremony  before  the  two  branches 
of  Congress  in  joint  session  assembled. 

In  these  extracts  were  emphatic  utterances  in  regard  to 
the  unity  of  government,  which  might  have  been  spoken  in 
the  light  of  actual  events  by  the  orator  had  he  been  still  at 
the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States : — 

"But  as  it  is  easy  to  foresee  that  from  different  causes,  and  from 
different  quarters,  much  pains  will  be  taken,  many  artifices  employed, 
to  weaken  in  your  minds  the  conviction  of  this  truth, — as  this  is  the 
point  in  your  political  fortress  against  which  the  batteries  of  internal 
and  external  enemies  will  be  most  constantly  and  actively, — though 
often  covertly  and  insidiously, — directed,  it  is  of  infinite  moment  that 
you  should  properly  estimate  the  immense  value  of  your  national  union 
to  your  collective  and  individual  happiness;  that  you  should  cherish  a 
cordial,  habitual,  and  immovable  attachment  to  it :  accustoming  your 
selves  to  think  and  to  speak  of  it  as  a  palladium  of  your  political  safety 
and  prosperity,  watching  for  its  preservation  with  jealous  anxiety:  dis 
countenancing  whatever  may  suggest  even  a  suspicion  that  it  can  in 
any  event  be  abandoned :  and  indignantly  frowning  upon  the  first  dawn 
ing  of  every  attempt  to  alienate  anv  portion  of  our  country  from  the 
rest,  or  to  enfeeble  the  sacred  ties  which  now  link  together  the  various 
parts." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Feb.  22,  1862.  Gun  drill  in  the  after 
noon  under  Lieut.  Kingsbury  of  the  Regular  Art'y,  in  the 
presence  of  Gen'l  Porter.  First  and  Second  Detachments 
hitched  up  and  practised  with  shells,  and  a  misdirected  one 
went  through  a  house  occupied  by  a  family;  shell  burst,  but 
no  one  hurt." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  139 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  TARGET  SHOOTING  BY 
LIEUT.  PHILLIPS,  IN  A  LETTER  DATED 

Feb.  23,  1862  : — "Lieut.  Kingsbury  has  not  yet  fairly 
commenced  operations.  He  has  drilled  us  once  or  twice. 
Tomorrow,  however,  he  will  pitch  his  tent  and  move  into 
camp.  The  terms  upon  which  we  consented  to  have  him 
come  here  were  that  he  should  act  as  instructor  'until  such 
time  as  we  were  able  to  take  the  field  alone' ;  Captain  Grif 
fin's  own  words.  But  I  do  not  know  whether  Lt.  K.  quite 
understands  this.  He  talks  of  commanding  the  Battery,  and 
of  taking  us  into  the  first  action,  but  he  can  hardly  do  this 
against  the  consent  of  Captain  Allen,  his  ranking  officer. 
The  conclusion  I  come  to  is  that  we  can  dispense  with  his 
instructions  whenever  \ve  choose.  However,  I  am  very  glad 
to  have  him  here  as  we  all  need  to  learn  a  good  deal.  He  has 
assigned  lessons  in  the  'Instruction  for  Field  Artillery'  to 
the  commissioned  and  non  commissioned  officers  and  has 
had  two  recitations.  Hyde,  Dillingham,  Scott  and  I  recited 
together,  and  I  believe  I  came  out  best,  not  having  yet  got 
out  of  my  college  practice. 

Lieut.  K.,  without  troubling  himself  about  the  lesson  as 
signed,  skipped  all  over  the  book  from  Battery  manoeuvres 
to  harnessing  a  horse,  but  did  not  succeed  in  catching  me, 
so  I  think  I  am  all  right  in  that  quarter. 

Yesterday  afternoon  Captain  Griffin  and  Lieut.  Kings- 
bury  came  here  and  ordered  out  the  Right  section  for  target 
shooting,  so  taking  40  rounds  of  ammunition,  we  started 
across  the  country,  taking  two  fences,  and  a  man's  back 
yard  on  the  way,  till  we  got  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  and  came 
into  battery. 

The  mark  was  a  stump  on  an  opposite  hill,  distance  800  or 
1,000  yards,  as  we  afterwards  ascertained.  The  day  being 
foggy  and  misty,  Captain  G.  and  Lt.  K.  who  directed  the 
firing,  put  the  pieces  at  an  elevation  of  3  and  4  degrees,  cor 
responding  to  a  range  of  1300  and  1600  yds.  With  these 


140  HISTORY    OF    THE 

elevations  changing  to  2°  and  4^2°,  we  fired  about  20  shots, 
some  percussion  fuzes  and  some  time  fuzes,  but  could  not 
see  where  any  of  them  burst. 

At  first  Captain  G.  laid  this  to  the  fuzes,  but  finally  we 
tried  an  elevation  of  i%°  and  landed  a  shell  half  way  be 
tween  the  stump  and  the  top  of  the  hill,  so  we  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  we  must  have  been  firing  over  the  top  of  the 
hill. 

Finally,  disgusted,  and  without  hitting  the  mark,  we  lim 
bered  up  and  returned.  On  our  way  to  camp  we  met  two 
men  on  horseback,  looking  rather  frightened,  who  informed 
us  that  we  had  been  shelling  their  houses.  Lt.  Scott  went 
over  with  them  to  the  scene  of  operations,  and  found  half  a 
mile  beyond  the  hill  a  bunch  of  houses  where  most  of  our 
shell  had  burst,  and  he  picked  up  quite  a  number  of  frag 
ments  lying  round.  One  shell  went  through  the  door  of  a 
house,  knocked  out  the  underpinning  on  the  other  side  and 
was  picked  up  in  the  mud.  Another  whistled  close  by  a 
woman's  head,  and  some  of  the  shrapnel  scattered  bullets 
among  some  children  playing  round.  As  soon  as  the  shells 
began  to  whistle  round  the  house  the  inhabitants  cleared  out, 
and  when  Scott  got  there  he  found  only  two  dogs  left.  Al 
together  it  was  a  pretty  narrow  escape,  and  we  feel  thankful 
that  nobody  was  hurt.  We  told  the  man  that  we  knew 
nothing  about  the  country,  but  the  shooting  was  under  the 
direction  of  Captain  Griffin,  and  General  Porter  was  present, 
and  we  supposed  that  they  knew  what  was  in  range  of  our 
guns." 

Carefully  preserved  in  Lieut.  Phillips'  desk  (see  p.  441 )  is  a 
brass  instrument  for  sighting  a  Gun,  showing  elevation  &c., 
length  9^2  inches. 

LIEUT.  SCOTT'S  VERSION. 

Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott  remarks  relative  to  the  drill  in 
tactics  at  this  time,  and  the  target  shooting  episode: — 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  141 

"Kingsbury  was  a  gentleman,  and  treated  us  very  hand 
somely.  He  was  afterwards  killed  at  Antietam  while  mak 
ing  a  charge  with  the  loth  Conn,  as  its  colonel.  While  the 
Battery  remained  here  it  was  ordered  out  for  target  practice. 
It  was  supposed  that  the  principal  object  was  to  try  the  effi 
ciency  of  the  men  with  rifled  guns.  The  Battery  was  placed 
in  position  on  a  hill  some  distance  away  from  Hall's  Hijj, 
on  our  right  towards  Chain  Bridge  up  the  Potomac,  an  open 
valley  in  front,  with  a  wooded  hill  some  12  to  15  hundred 
yards  distant. 

No  house  was  in  sight,  and  the  trunk  of  a  large,  dead  tree 
on  top  of  the  hill  was  to  be  the  target. 

All  the  general  officers  of  the  5th  Corps  with  staffs  were 
present  to  witness  the  practice.  After  several  shots  had 
been  fired  in  which  all  seemed  to  have  something  to  say,  the 
target  was  not  hit,  nor  could  any  one  tell  where  the  shots 
struck  or  went.  In  fact  no  one  of  the  Battery  had  ever  fired 
the  guns  before,  and  could  not  have  acquired  the  experience 
which  came  to  them  afterwards  in  which  some  fine  practice 
was  done. 

The  firing  was  kept  up,  slowly,  until  towards  night,  when 
a  citizen  rode  into  the  company,  his  horse  all  of  a  white 
foam,  and  said:  'Stop  firing.  You  are  shelling  the  village 
beyond  the  woods!' 

I  had  only  been  a  spectator  up  to  this  time.  Of  course  the 
practice  was  ended,  and  I  was  ordered  to  go  with  the  citizen 
and  report  the  damage,  if  any  had  been  done.  Following 
the  rider  a  roundabout  way  of  two  miles  or  more,  we  struck 
the  scene  of  the  excitement  in  the  town  of  Union.  It  was 
a  collection  of  pretty  houses,  well  kept  and  painted,  with  one 
street  running  parallel  to  the  direction  in  which  the  shots 
had  come,  and  which  had  been  well  ploughed  by  the  shots 
from  the  Battery.  I  saw  no  one  at  first,  but  the  people  soon 
came  out  of  cellars  and  other  hiding  places,  and  were  soon 
quieted.  They  were  told  that  the  commander  of  the  Bat 
tery  could  not  have  known  of  the  village  or  its  nearness,  but 


142  HISTORY    OF    THE 

he  had  sent  me  to  inquire  into  and  report  any  damage  to 
life  or  property.  It  was  found  that  several  shots  had  struck 
one  house,  one  passing  through  a  door  and  lodging  in  a 
cellar;  another  passing  through  a  kitchen.  However,  no 
great  damage  had  been  done.  They  claimed  to  be  union 
citizens,  and  I  saw  nothing  that  led  me  to  suppose  to  the 
contrary.  They  certainly  could  not  be  blamed  for  being 
frightened  out  of  their  wits.  Returning  to  camp  alone  in 
the  darkness,  I  reported  what  the  result  of  the  firing  had 
been  and  nothing  more  was  heard  about  it.  It  was  singular 
that  no  one  knew  of  the  close  proximity  of  the  village.  It 
must  have  been  outside  the  picket  line." 

THE  DAY  IN  CAMP.— ANOTHER  SHOOTING  EPI 
SODE.     THEY  KNEW  HOW  IT  WAS 
THEMSELVES. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Saturday,  Feb.  22,  1862.  Washing 
ton's  Birth  Day.  Was  called  at  i  o'clock  this  morning  to  go 
on  guard.  Went  out  to  my  post  and  found  I  had  more  duty 
to  do.  I  had  to  look  after  six  teams  loaded  with  powder  and 
fixed  ammunition.  I  had  to  see  that  there  were  no  lights  or 
smoking,  within  fifty  feet  of  them.  \Vas  relieved  at  3  this 
morning,  went  to  my  tent  and  turned  in  on  my  bed,  for  I 
now  have  a  bedstead.  Yesterday  four  of  us  cut  some  trees 
and  built  us  some  bedsteads.  They  are  tip  top,  but  they  are 
not  feather  beds  by  any  means.  After  turning  in  I  had 
some  hot  coffee,  which  one  of  the  men  made  for  me  while 
I  was  out.  It  warmed  me  up  first  rate.  Called  again  at  7  in 
the  morning.  It  began  to  rain  like  fury  but  I  did  not  mind 
that,  for  I  had  a  good  post,  where  I  could  keep  clear  of  the 
rain.  The  Quartermaster  gave  me  some  rice  and  sugar. 
Relieved  at  9  and  went  to  my  quarters.  At  12  .  .  .  cooked 
my  rice  and  had  a  tip  top  dinner.  At  I  o'clock  I  went  on 
guard.  In  a  few  minutes  after  I  was  surprised  by  seeing 
James  Tuttle  of  Boston.  He  is  in  the  22cl  Mass.  Regt.  He 
looks  well.  He  stayed  a  short  time  and  left  for  his  camp. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  143 

Shortly  after  we  were  visited  by  General  Porter,  Captain 
Griffin,  and  their  aides.  They  ordered  two  of  our  pieces  to 
be  taken  out  for  target  practice.  They  went  off  over  the 
hill,  and  were  soon  out  of  sight.  I  was  relieved  at  3,  and 
went  to  my  tent.  Stayed  in  about  one  hour,  when  I  went 
out  to  see  Harry  Simonds  and  C.  C.  Allen  take  a  ride  on 
horseback.  Harry  took  the  lead,  and  Allen  after  him  on  a 
slow  trot.  He  had  not  gone  more  than  thirty  feet,  when 
Allen's  horse  slipped  on  a  stone,  and  broke  his  nigh  hind 
leg  short  off  in  the  thigh.  Word  was  immediately  sent  to 
the  Captain : — he  was  off  with  the  pieces  on  practice,— 
about  the  horse,  for  we  are  not  allowed  to  kill  a  horse,  unless 
it  is  done  in  the  presence  of  two  commissioned  officers.  He 
did  not  come  till  most  6  o'clock,  and  that  poor  horse  lay 
there  all  that  time,  in  awful  agony.  When  Captain  Allen 
came,  the  horse  was  instantly  killed,  dragged  off,  and  buried. 
It  was  one  of  the  best  horses  we  had. 

During  the  time  the  men  were  out  on  practice  two  of  the 
shells  went  into  a  house  of  a  Union  man  and  one  exploded 
in  the  vard.  The  house  was  over  il/2  miles  from  where  the 
firing  was.  The  poor  man  thought  the  rebels  were  coming, 
and  taking  his  wife  and  six  children  he  came  into  our  camp 
almost  frightened  to  death.  They  were  informed  that  it 
was  an  accident,  and  they  went  to  their  home,  happy 
enough.  It  was  a  great  wonder  that  some  of  them  were 
not  killed. 

A  Minie  ball  passed  through  our  cook  house  close  to  the 
head  of  one  of  our  men.  Some  of  the  infantry  were  firing 
at  a  target,  when,  it  is  supposed,  some  one  carelessly 
pointed  his  gun  in  the  direction  of  our  camp.  They  are  bad 
things  to  trifle  with. 

Sunday  Feb.  23d.  At  4  this  afternoon,  we  were  all  called 
into  line,  to  have  the  Articles  of  War  read  to  us,  it  being 
the  duty  of  the  commander  of  any  Reg't.  or  Battery  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  to  read  them  to  the  men  under 


144  HISTORY    OF    THE 

their  command  once  in  three  months.     We  were  dismissed 
to  our  quarters  at  YZ  past  4." 

THE    ARTICLES    OF    WAR. 

The  Articles  of  War  were  rules  and  articles  by  which  the 
Armies  of  the  United  States  were  governed.  They  were 
established  by  Act  of  Congress,  and  were  one  hundred  in 
number.  They  embraced  every  department  of  the  service 
in  every  part  of  the  country,  and  provided  for  the  regulation 
of  the  conduct  of  officers  and  soldiers  in  every  contingency 
and  capacity,  from  the  rulings  of  courts  martial  to  the  de 
struction  of  private  property. 

THE  OATH   OF  ALLEGIANCE. 

In  Article  10  is  the  Oath  of  Allegiance: — 

"I,  A.  B.,  do  solemnly  swear  or  affirm  (as  the  case  may 
be)  that  I  will  bear  true  allegiance  to  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  that  I  will  serve  them  honestly  and  faithfully 
against  all  their  enemies  or  opposers  whatsoever;  and  ob 
serve  and  obey  the  orders  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  orders  of  the  officers  appointed  over  me, 
according  to  the  Rules  and  Articles  for  the  government  of 
the  armies  of  the  United  States." 

The  words  "So  help  me  God"  are  not  added  to  the  oath 
of  the  non-commissioned  officer  or  soldier  as  given  in  this 
Article,  but  they  appear  in  the  Articles  devoted  to  the  mem 
bers  of  -the  courts  martial,  as  part  of  the  oath.  The  Act 
which  contained  these  Articles  of  War  was  approved  April 
10,  1806. 


Grows'  Journal:  "Feb.  24,  1862,  (About  9  a.  m.)  it 
began  to  blow  a  gale.  In  a  short  time  the  next  tent  to  ours 
was  blown  down,  then  the  one  opposite.  We  jumped  up 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  145 

and  hung  on  to  our  tent  pole.  In  a  short  time  our  stove 
pipe  was  blown  down,  and  the  lashings  of  our  doors  were 
torn  off,  but  we  made  out  to  save  our  tent.  Trees  were  torn 
up,  and  chimneys  blown  down  and  there  is  considerable 
damage  done.  After  considerable  work  we  got  our  tent 
secured,  our  stove  up  again,  and  a  fire  going.  It  is  an  awful 
cold  evening  and  I  expect  it  will  be  a  howling  night.  The 
mud  has  dried  up  considerably  in  consequence  of  the  wind 
blowing  so  hard  all  day.  It  is  now  freezing  quite  hard." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Feb.  25,  1862,  the  Third  and  Fourth 
Detachments  went  to  the  Washington  Arsenal,  and  ex 
changed  the  two  Howitzers  for  two  3  inch  ten  pounder 
Rodman  guns." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Wednesday,  Feb.  26,  1862,  l/>  past  8, 
went  out  to  drill  for  one  hour.  After  drill  got  permission 
to  go  over  to  the  4th  Michigan  Regt.  to  change  some  bread 
for  tobacco,  for  I  was  getting  short  of  the  weed.  All  the 
bread  we  have  left  over  we  sell  to  them  for  five  cents  a  loaf, 
and  get  sugar,  molasses,  cheese,  butter,  and  other  articles. 
I  had  twelve  spare  loaves,  so  I  got  twelve  heads  of  tobacco, 
which  will  last  me  some  time.  At  10  o'clock  the  drivers 
were  called  out  to  drill  on  the  pieces,  and  it  was  amusing 
to  see  how  awkward  they  were,  for  they  never  handled  a 
sponge  staff  before,  and  we  could  see  by  their  actions  how 
green  we  looked  the  first  time  we  began  to  drill.  They  will 
have  to  drill,  as  well  as  the  cannoneers,  so  that  in  case  of 
action  men  should  be  killed  on  the  gun,  they  will  be  able 
to  fill  their  places. 

At  i  o'clock  I  went  out  to  work  on  the  pickets,  and 
worked  till  5.  At  3  in  the  afternoon  the  Battery  was  called 
out  for  drill,  and  stayed  out  till  l/2  past  4,  when  they  re 
turned  to  camp;  the  i8th  Mass,  and  44th  New  York  were 
also  out  on  drill.  They  made  a  splendid  sight.  A  sergeant 
from  Captain  Griffin's  battery  has  come  over  to  drill  the 
drivers  in  regard  to  harnessing  and  hitching  out  horses. 
He  will  probably  remain  with  us  for  a  week  or  ten  days." 


146  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips,  Feb.  27,  1862:— 'This  after 
noon  the  Left  section  went  off  target  shooting,  and  did 
rather  better  than  the  last  time  we  went.  The  Right  and 
Centre  sections  went  out  in  Battery  drill  under  Captain 
Martin,  and  had  a  first  rate  drill.  The  i8th  Regiment  and 
Captain  Martin's  Battery  are  expecting  marching  orders 
tonight  to  go  up  the  river  to  reinforce  General  Banks. 
Tattoo  has  just  sounded,  and  we  can  hear  a  great  cheering 
from  their  camp,  so  I  suppose  the  orders  have  come.  They 
leave  their  tents  and  carry  7  days'  rations.  I  hear  postal 
communication  is  stopped." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Feb.  27,  1862.  After  dinner  was  called 
out  to  go  with  a  piece  and  act  No  6  to  cut  the  fuze.  Took 
out  two  pieces  with  ten  rounds  of  fuze  shell  and  ten  rounds 
of  percussion  shell  in  each  limber  box.  Went  out  under 
the  charge  of  Lieut.  Kingsbury  of  Captain  Griffin's  regular 
battery,  to  Martin's  Battery  formerly  Follett's  (Third 
Mass. )  and  fired  at  a  tree  one  and  a  half  miles  off.  It  being 
the  first  time  I  ever  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  effect 
of  shell  I  took  great  interest  in  watching  it.  When  they 
struck  the  ground  they  tore  up  large  furrows  in  the  dirt. 
The  tree  was  struck  two  or  three  times,  which  stove  it  up 
considerable.  After  firing  all  our  ammunition  we  started 
for  home,  most  of  us  feeling  rather  tired,  for  the  cannoneers 
had  to  walk  both  ways.  It  was  some  six  miles  to  and  from 
our  camp.  Got  back  to  our  quarters  about  X  to  5.  After 
supper  sent  five  spare  loaves  of  bread  over  to  the  sutlers 
(He  was  eating  rice  instead  of  bread.)  and  got  sugar  for  it. 
They  charge  15  cts.  a  Ib.  for  it  so  we  got  almost  two  Ibs.  of 
sugar. 

Friday  Feb.  28.  After  breakfast  an  order  was  given  to 
be  ready  at  8  o'clock  to  go,  all  hands,  with  the  horses  har 
nessed  in,  the  guns  all  ready,  to  Captain  Griffin's  Battery,  to 
see  if  our  names  on  the  Pay  Roll  were  all  right,  so  we  can 
be  paid  off. 

We  left  camp  at  l/2  past  8,  cannoneers  dismounted,  and 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  147 

we  had  to  walk  all  the  way,  about  six  miles.  On  our  way 
we  passed  Martin's  Battery.  It  is  a  splendid  battery.  They 
have  a  new  battery  of  six  heavy  guns  of  brass.  Also  passed 
through  the  i8th  Mass.,  the  44th  New  York,  22d  Mass., 
and  the  gth  Mass.,  Col.  Cass's.  After  we  arrived  on  the 
ground  we  were  drawn  up  in  line,  and  our  names  called  off, 
upon  which  each  man  stepped  three  paces  to  the  front. 
After  the  Roll  was  through  we  formed  columns  and,  thank 
heaven,  the  order  was  given  soon,  'Cannoneers  Mount!' 
but  those  six  miles  were  rough  riding.  I  shall  remember  it 
for  some  time.  At  3  in  the  afternoon  went  out  for  a 
mounted  drill,  stayed  out  one  hour,  then  came  in  feeling 
awfully  cold.  It  blows  a  perfect  gale,  and  has  for  two  days. 
A  report  in  the  camp  that  Gen.  McClellan  has  the  telegraph 
under  his  control  so  no  news  from  the  North  can  reach  the 
South.  (It  had  been  the  report  until  corrected,  that  letters 
could  not  go  or  come  from  the  North  for  a  week.)  The 
mud  is  now  most  all  dried  up  so  in  all  probability  there  will 
be  an  advance  made  soon. 

Saturday  March  i .  After  breakfast  went  into  the  woods 
and  cut  some  poles  for  a  cook  house,  was  called  in  at  9,  and 
got  ready  for  drill.  After  getting  in  the  ranks  I  was  in 
formed  that  I  must  not  turn  out  for  I  had  been  to  work. 
This  pleased  me  very  much.  It  is  quite  cozey  inside,  but 
outside  it  blows  a  gale. 

A  news  boy  has  just  passed  through  the  camp  crying  out : 
'Another  Fight!  General  Banks'  Division  Cut  to  Pieces!' 
—It  went  through  me  like  a  shudder,  but  I  hope  it  is  not 
true.  .  .  .  Now  see  how  we  are  deceived.  One  of  our  men 
bought  a  paper,  and  in  it  was  stated  that  the  rebels  were  not 
within  twenty-five  miles  of  General  Banks's  pickets.  So  the 
boy  made  a  good  thing  out  of  his  papers,  sold  them  for  five 
cents  a  piece,  and  then  left  the  camp. 

I  saw  for  the  first  time  since  we  have  been  on  this  side,  a 
white  woman.  Lieut.  Kingsbury  with  his  wife  and  two 


148  HISTORY    OF    THE 

other  ladies,  passed  through  our  camp.  They  were  all  on 
horseback  and  looked  splendid. 

Got  through  working  on  the  pickets  about  4  in  the  after 
noon.  The  men  came  in  from  drill  about  half  an  hour  after. 
They  were  drilled  by  Captain  Martin.  We  have  lost  an 
other  horse  this  day  by  lung  fever." 

Diary  of  Lieut.  Phillips:  "March  2,  1862.  Orderly  G. 
H.  Johnson  resigned.  .  .  .  Sergt.  F.  A.  Lull  promoted 
Orderly  vice  Johnson.  W.  H.  Peacock  promoted  Chief  of 
Piece  vice  Lull.,  Geo.  H.  Johnson  appointed  wagoner  vice 
Peacock.  Corp.  M.  W.  Page  promoted  Sergt.  vice  Patti- 
son.  Corp.  J.  E.  Spear  promoted  Gunner  vice  Page.  Pri 
vate  C.  C.  Allen  promoted  Chief  of  Caissons  vice  Spear." 

The  Battery  had  four  sergeants  capable  of  handling  it, 
viz.,  Johnson,  Lull,  Wm.  B.  Pattison,  and  O.  B.  Smith;  they 
having  served  in  the  First  Mass.  Battery  see  p.  56  with 
the  three  months'  men,  and  when  the  Battery  commenced 
drilling  under  the  tutelage  of  Lieut.  Kingsbury  and  Sergt. 
Thomas  Broderick,  there  was  naturally  a  good  deal  of  ad 
verse  criticism  among  the  non-commissioned  officers  and 
pany  officers, see  p. 5 28  where  Captain  Phillips  appoints  new 
privates.  Non-commissioned  officers  are  appointed  by  corn- 
sergeants  and  corporals,  and  as  a  punishment  they  may  be 
reduced  to  the  ranks.  In  this  case,  for  criticising  the  ap 
pointment  of  drill  officers,  Sergt.  Wm.  B.  Pattison  and 
Orderly  Serg't.  Geo.  H.  Johnson  were  reduced  to  the  ranks. 

February  Qth,  1863,  Wm.  B.  Pattison  was  again  made 
sergeant  in  the  place  of  Serg't  O.  B.  Smith,  promoted  to 
Orderly  Sergeant,  and  at  Gettysburg,  see  p.  639,  was  in 
charge  of  No.  i.  gun  of  the  Right  section  commanded  by 
Lieut.  Scott. 

Grows'  Journal :  "March  2,  1862,  at  10  o'clock  turned  out 
for  inspection  of  clothing.  After  the  drivers'  articles  were 
examined  viz.  two  red  blankets,  one  curry  comb,  brush, 
sponge,  watering  bucket,  bridle  and  halter,  next  came  the 
cannoneers'  turn. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  149 

After  waiting  an  hour  General  Porter  passed  through 
the  camp.  Then  we  were  dismissed  to  our  quarters,  and  we 
were  glad,  for  it  had  commenced  to  snow.  After  dinner 
orders  came  to  clean  up  our  tents,  for  they  will  be  inspected 
tomorrow  forenoon  by  the  Captain.  I  expect  it  will  be 
rough  on  account  of  the  mud.  We  could  not  very  well  go 
out  on  account  of  the  storm,  so  we  all  sat  down  around  the 
fire,  smoking  and  talking  about  different  things,  home,  etc. 

Monday  March  3d.  It  is  raining  and  hailing  at  times, 
making  the  travelling  bad.  Our  wood  being  out  we  started 
for  the  woods  and  took  some  rails  from  a  fence,  broke  them 
up,  and  they  make  a  very  hot  fire.  For  the  first  time  for  a 
great  while  sat  down  to  a  game  of  euchre;  played  about  an 
hour  then  went  to  work  darning  stockings.  It  was  the 
first  time  I  ever  attempted  it  and  I  did  make  a  dreadful  job, 
but  there  is  the  first  time  for  everything,  so  I  took  courage 
and  on  the  second  pair  I  did  better  than  on  the  first;  still 
they  were  sorrowful  looking  stockings,  but  we  must  put  up 
with  anything  in  war  times! 

After  supper  a  box  came  for  one  of  the  men  in  the  tent. 
In  it  were  pies,  cake,  meats,  &c.,  and,  my  goodness,  how  we 
put  into  them,  and  had  a  most  glorious  time.  The  pies 
were  immense,  and  the  cakes  huge. 

It  is  raining  outside  in  torrents  and  it  will  be  an  awful 
night. 

At  Roll  Call  this  afternoon  at  5  o'clock,  we  were  in 
formed  that  our  gunner  Mason  W.  Page  is  appointed  ser 
geant  of  the  3d.  Detachment,  Corporal  Spear  will  take  the 
place  of  Page,  and  C.  C.  Allen  standard  bearer  of  the  6th^ 
will  take  the  place  of  Spear.  On  account  of  its  being  so 
stormy  there  was  no  8  o'clock  Roll  Call,  and  we  were  glad 
enough,  for  our  tent  began  to  leak  awfully :  so  we  pinned  up 
our  rubber  blankets  over  our  heads  to  keep  from  getting 
wet,  and  then  we  turned  in.  There  is  about  an  inch  of 
water  in  our  tent,  but  as  most  of  our  beds  are  built  up  from 
the  ground  we  shall  get  along  very  well.  Those  who  lie  on 


150  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  ground  will  have  rather  wet  quarters.  There  is  a  great 
difference  between  having  a  good  roof  over  our  heads  as  we 
have  at  home,  and  the  thin  covering  of  canvas  which  we 
have  here.  After  all  there  is  no  place  like  home,  no  matter 
how  humble." 

Letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips,  March  4,  1862:  "My  section 
went  out  target  shooting  today.  The  guns  were  placed  on 
the  top  of  Hall's  Hill,  right  in  front  of  Captain  Martin's 
camp,  and  we  shot  a  little  to  the  right  of  Falls  Church. 

This  village  consists  of  8  or  ten  houses,  and  a  little  white 
meeting-house.  We  fired  77  shots  at  trees  and  stumps,  at 
distances  of  500,  700,  1700,  and  2000  yards.  Most  of  the 
shots  were  very  good." 

Grows'  Journal :  "Tuesday  March  4th.  Splendid  morn 
ing.  Ground  frozen  solid.  Nice  travelling.  Called  out  at 
T/2  past  9  for  drill  on  gun.  Stayed  out  one  hour.  Orders 
came  after  dinner  for  the  drivers  and  cannoneers  to  turn  out 
for  a  mounted  drill.  Went  out  and  drilled  one  hour,  and 
came  in.  The  sun  is  out  quite  powerful  and  has  started  the 
mud  so  the  travelling  is  quite  bad,  as  the  mud  is  about  three 
inches  deep  and  in  some  places  it  is  a  great  deal  worse. 

We  received  orders  this  afternoon  to  prepare  ourselves 
for  a  start  inside  of  five  days. 

Wednesday  March  5th.  After  breakfast  I  got  a  box  and 
packed  all  my  loose  things  that  I  did  not  need,  and  gave  the 
box  to  the  teamster  to  carry  into  the  city,  to  be  sent  by 
Harnden's  Express.  We  have  had  orders  to  have  all  the 
stuff  that  we  cannot  carry  in  our  knapsacks  sent  home.  We 
expect  to  make  an  advance  to  Budd's  ferry  to  shell  out  two 
rebel  batteries  that  are  there. 

A  portion  of  the  cannoneers  were  detailed  to  pack  their 
ammunition  chests,  to  be  prepared  so  to  turn  out  for  drill. 
Was  visited  by  John  Mann  the  Hospital  Warden  of  the 
Mass.  Qth  Regt.  Had  a  pleasant  time  talking  over  our 
school-boy  days.  He  stopped  and  took  dinner  with  us  of 
fresh  beef  and  soup. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  151 

We  were  ordered  out  for  drill  at  £  past  3,  with  10  rounds 
of  blank  cartridges  in  our  chests.  After  we  were  mounted 
it  began  to  blow  and  snow  like  fury  and  continued  for  about 
half  an  hour,  then  the  clouds  broke  away,  and  the  air  began 
to  be  quite  sharp.  Went  out  on  to  the  field  and  began  to  fire. 
Had  considerable  trouble  with  the  horses  on  account  of 
most  of  them  never  having  been  under  fire  before,  but  be 
fore  we  had  fired  all  our  rounds  they  began  to  cool  down 
to  their  work  considerable. 

Came  in  at  4  o'clock.  Helped  the  drivers  unhitch,  and 
then  went  to  quarters.  Sent  ten  loaves  of  spare  bread  over 
to  the  sutler,  and  received  one  pound  of  butter  and  five 
heads  of  tobacco.  Had  a  good  supper  of  bread  and  butter 
and  coffee. 

Two  of  the  Detachments  will  go  on  to  Vienna  tomorrow 
or  next  day,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  Rail  Road, 
which  is  being  built.  The  rebels  ripped  up  the  track  and 
built  a  large  fire,  and  then  heated  the  rails  and  bent  them 
out  of  shape.  The  9th  Mass.  Reg't.  are  out  there  on  the 
same  errand." 

Letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips,  March  6,  1862:— 
"We  had  a  drill  with  the  horses  in  the  forenoon  and  after 
noon,  making  considerable  progress  in  artillery  tactics. 
This  afternoon  while  we  were  out  drilling,  General  (John 
H.)  Martindale's  Brigade  were  drilling  in  the  next  field, 
making  quite  a  show.  They  finally  formed  each  regiment 
in  a  square  with  two  guns, — Captain  Martin's  12  pdrs. — in 
the  intervals,  and  began  shooting  with  blank  cartridges  in 
our  direction.  It  struck  me  at  the  time  that  they  looked 
very  much  as  the  enemy  will  when  they  begin  shooting  at 
that  distance — 1200  yards. 

We  fire  with  blank  cartridges  nearly  every  day,  and  the 
horses  are  getting  used  to  the  sound,  though  they  jumped 
and  kicked  a  great  deal,  when  they  first  had  to  face  the 
music.  We  have  a  few  balky  horses,  that  give  us  a  little 
trouble  once  in  a  while,  but  they  are  gradually  breaking  in, 


152  HISTORY    OF    THE 

as  they  have  to  go  along  with  four  horses  ahead  of  them, 
and  it  is  of  no  use  trying  to  break  an  artillery  harness  by 
kicking  round.  We  get  the  news  here  in  a  very  irregular 
manner.  Some  days  we  buy  the  New  York  papers  at  5  cts. 
of  some  persevering  newsman  who  makes  a  tour  through 
the  camp,  but  most  of  the  time  we  have  to  trust  to  what  is 
sent  to  us." 

Grows'  Journal :  'Thursday  March  6,  1862.  Went  to 
Roll  Call  at  the  usual  hour.  Am  detailed  for  Rider  on  the 
Caissons,  the  swing  team.  Fed  and  watered  the  horses 
soon  after.  Went  out  to  drill  at  9,  on  the  gun.  After 
drilling  one  hour  we  were  ordered  to  grease  up  and  be  ready 
for  a  start  out.  At  ^  past  10  we  were  all  harnessed,  the 
cannoneers  mounted,  and  the  drivers  standing  'To  horse.' 
The  order  was  given  'Mount' !  and  I  did,  and  out  we  went 
for  drill.  As  it  has  been  some  time  since  I  was  in  a  saddle, 
it  seemed  quite  odd.  Came  in  at  12.  After  dinner  order 
was  turn  out  for  drill  at  2  o'clock,  so  I  got  ready  to  turn 
out  again.  At  2  we  started,  and  instead  of  being  the  swing 
team  I  was  put  on  the  lead  of  the  caisson. 

The  off  horse  being  a  dangerous  one  I  had  to  look  out  for 
him.  After  drilling  about  an  hour,  we  began  to  fire  blank 
cartridges.  My  team  stood  well.  We  limbered  up,  and  in 
a  short  time  the  off  horse  began  his  airs,  which  means  rear 
ing  up  and  throwing  himself  on  the  rear  horse  and  by  this 
means  he  can  throw  the  Rider  out  of  the  saddle.  On  ac 
count  of  his  actions  I  changed  then  into  the  swing  team, 
in  which  he  worked  a  great  deal  better.  We  then  stayed 
out  till  4,  when  we  came  in.  On  carrying  our  horses  into 
the  quarters,  we  found  one  of  our  horses  dead.  Had  him 
opened,  and  found  it  was  disease  of  the  heart. 

Harry  Simonds  was  detailed  to  take  some  men  and  bury 
him. 

Went  to  supper,  and  found  that  I  was  detailed  for  guard 
on  the  first  relief,  to  go  on  immediately  after  the  5  o'clock 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  153 

Roll.  Went  on  my  post,  came  off  at  7,  and  turned  in  to 
sleep  till  ii  when  I  shall  be  called  again. 

Friday  March  7th.  Was  called  this  morning  at  5  to  go 
on  guard.  At  6  the  bugle  sounded  for  the  men  to  dress  and 
come  out  for  Roll.  The  time  slipped  away  quite  rapidly 
till  7  when  I  was  relieved.  By  the  new  order  that  has  been 
made,  those  that  are  detailed  for  guard  are  clear  from  all 
drill  or  other  duty.  So  I  pulled  down  my  bed  and  turned  in. 

Saturday  March  8th.  The  Battery  went  out  for  drill  this 
forenoon,  and  came  in  at  half  past  eleven.  The  men  are 
rapidly  improving  in  drill  and  the  horses  are  becoming 
more  used  to  the  firing.  Our  pickets  were  driven  in  last 
night,  and  the  iSth  Mass,  have  gone  out  today.  They  ex 
pect  to  have  a  brush.  We  have  heard  today  that  we  will 
have  to  move  from  here  in  a  few  days,  but  we  cannot  put 
much  dependence  on  what  we  hear  in  camp." 

Letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips : — 

"March  9,  1862  :  This  has  been  the  pleasantest  day  we 
have  seen  so  far,  warm  and  bright  like  a  May  day  in  Mas 
sachusetts.  Under  foot  there  is  a  little  mud,  though  this 
is  slowly  drying  up.  In  the  forenoon  we  had  an  inspection 
of  the  Battery  teams  hitched,  knapsacks  packed,  &c.  The 
whole  of  General  Martindale's  Brigade  are  encamped  on  the 
top  of  Hall's  Hill,  in  the  following  order:— 

22cl  Mass,  on  the  right,  2d  Maine  in  the  centre;  i8th 
Mass,  on  the  left,  3d  Mass.  Battery  on  the  left  of  the 
1 8th."  .  .  . 

A  RIDE  TO  FALLS  CHURCH. 

"After  this  visit  [a  call  on  Captain  Lewis  E.  Wentworth 
of  the  Sharpshooters  attached  to  the  22d  Reg't]  Hyde, 
Dillingham,  and  I  started  off  on  a  ride  to  Falls  Church, 
striking  into  a  cart  path  in  front  of  Captain  Martin's  Bat 
tery.  After  a  long  and  crooked  journey  we  struck  into  the 
Alexandria  and  Leesburg  turnpike,  just  beyond  the  village 


154  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Falls  Church.  This  road  we  found  in  excellent  condi 
tion,  so  we  indulged  our  horses  with  a  gallop  through  the- 
village. 

Falls  Church,  on  our  right,  is  a  large  square  brick  church, 
without  steeple  or  anything  to  denote  its  character.  There 
is  also  a  little  white  church  built  just  as  they  build  them  in 
New  England.  The  village  itself  is  quite  a  pleasant  little 
place,  particularly  from  its  contrast  with  the  fenceless,  tree 
less,  desolate  region  round  our  camp,  and  is  the  nearest 
approach  to  civilization  we  have  seen  for  some  time.  After 
leaving  the  village  we  kept  on  over  Upton's  Hill,  passing 
Mr.  Upton's  house  on  our  left :  on  our  right  was  a  redoubt 
armed  with  some  heavy  siege  guns,  and  some  field  pieces. 

The  2Oth  N.  Y.  S.  M.  are  encamped  around  Mr.  Upton's 
house. 

From  here  wre  struck  across  country  and  soon  came  to 
what  had  once  been  a  house  but  now  nothing  was  left  but 
the  cellar.  From  appearances  there  must  have  been  quite 
a  place  here  once.  We  could  still  trace  the  bounds  of  the 
orchard  and  garden  with  walks  and  borders,  flowers  still 
growing,  but  all  tangled  and  overgrown  with  weeds. 

The  well  was  choked  with  stumps  as  if  somebody  had 
played  the  part  of  the  dog  in  the  manger.  After  moralizing 
a  little  while  on  this,  we  kept  on  our  way  towards  Hall's 
Hill,  where  we  arrived  in  time  to  witness  the  Dress  Parade 
of  the  1 8th  Mass." 

Grows'  Journal :  "March  Qth.  A  glorious  morning. 
After  breakfast  took  a  walk  around  the  stables.  Found  one 
of  the  horses  dead,  this  making  six  we  have  lost  since  we 
have  been  here.  Had  'inspection  drill'  with  our  knap 
sacks,  canteens,  and  haversacks,  and  we  got  enough  of  it 
for  about  two  hours.  When  we  went  into  park  we  were 
dismissed  for  service.  Had  some  singing  and  reading 
from  the  8th  chapter  of  Matthew. 

When  we  were  dismissed  I  immediately  got  a  'pass'  to 
leave  camp,  and  went  to  the  i8th  Mass.,  the  22d  Mass.^ 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  155 

and  the  Irish  Reg't.  the  Qth.  Visited  the  spot  where  some 
soldiers  were  buried,  took  portions  of  the  head  stones  and 
brought  them  along  with  me  to  camp. 

Turned  in  at  the  usual  hour,  was  called  at  10  o'clock,  and 
we  were  informed  that  we  must  get  ready  to  make  an  ad 
vance  in  the  morning.  So  we  began  to  pack  our  knapsacks, 
fill  our  canteens,  and  clean  up  our  'boarding  knives.'  The 
cooks  began  to  cook  our  rations  for  three  days.  The  men 
all  seemed  anxious  to  go." 


CHAPTER  VI. 
THE  ADVANCE  UPON  RICHMOND. 

"The  despatches  of  a  general  .  .  .  the  safest  sources  from  which  the 
historian  of  a  campaign  can  draw." 

— GEORGE  MEREDITH. 

"Military  despatches  are  often  excellent  reading — their  very  dry- 
ness  and  literalness  in  dealing  with  life  and  death,  give  them  a  special 
nlace  in  our  literature." 

— Illustrated  London  News. 

It  was  expected  that  when  the  Division  made  a  forward 
movement  the  Battery  would  go  with  it,  but  instead  of 
that,  Captain  Allen  received  the  following  order : — 

HEAD  QUARTERS  PORTER'S  DIVISION 
HALL'S  HILL  VA. 

March  10,  1862. 
CAPT.   ALLEN 

Comd'g  Battery  E. 

Mass.  Artillery. 
Captain. 

The  commanding  General  directs  me  to  inform  you  that  'your  Bat 
tery  will  not  move  with  the  Division,  but  will  be  held  in  readiness  to 
move  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Very  respectfully 

Yr  Obt.  Serv't 

FRED  T.   LOCKE 
ass't  adj.  Gen'l. 

Notes  of  Lieut.  Scott: — "About  the  gth  of  March  the 
Army  moved  on  to  Manassas.  The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
was  not  ordered  out  on  this  movement.  The  men  of  the 
Battery  were  in  an  excited  condition.  The  Battery  was  of 
no  account,  would  never  see  any  fighting,  might  as  well  go 

156 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  157 

home.  The  commander,  Captain  Geo.  D.  Allen  called  the 
men  into  line,  and  said  he  would  show  them  what  to 
do,  and  they  would  get  all  the  fighting  they  wanted  before 
they  were  out  of  it." 

Grows'  Journal: — "Monday  morning  March  10,  1862, 
a  report  came  into  camp  for  us  to  unpack  our  things,  for 
we  would  not  go  with  this  advance.  Oh  how  mad  the  men 
were!  There  were  our  horses  all  ready,  bedding  done  up, 
and  tents  ready  to  strike  the  first  thing  in  the  morning.  So, 
we  unpacked  our  things  and  made  up  our  beds  again.  I 
laid  down,  but  could  not  sleep  on  account  of  the  passing  of 
baggage  teams,  cavalry,  and  regiments  of  infantry  by  our 
camp ;  gathering  together  so  as  to  start  early  in  the  morning. 
There  will  be  a  smart  fight  when  they  meet  the  rebels. 
After  breakfast  went  on  to  the  hill  to  see  the  regiments  and 
batteries  start.  It  soon  began  to  rain  like  fury,  but  the 
brave  men  did  not  heed  it  and  cheer  after  cheer  went  up,  as 
they  passed. 

Poor  fellows !  all  of  them  will  not  return. 

In  a  short  time  John  Mann  of  the  gib.  came  on  horseback 
through  our  camp,  on  his  way  to  Arlington  for  some  ambu 
lances  for  the  wounded  and  sick.  It  now  rains  in  torrents, 
the  boys  will  have  a  hard  day  to  march  in,  and  when  they 
get  to  their  destination,  which  is  supposed  to  be  Manassas, 
if  the  rebels  stand  they  will  have  a  hard  time  there. 

After  dinner  took  rations  in  our  haversacks,  packed  our 
knapsacks  with  one  shirt,  i  pair  drawers,  i  pair  socks,  a 
blanket — on  the  outside  my  rubber  and  other  woolen 
blanket. 

At  precisely  2  o'clock  the  'Assembly'  sounded,  and  we 
turned  out  with  knapsacks  and  equipments,  marched  to  our 
pieces  and  lashed  them  on.  The  drivers  hitched  in  and 
we  stood  'cannoneers  to  posts,'  and  the  drivers  'to  horse,' 
and  in  this  way  we  waited  for  three  long  hours  for  the  order 


158  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  advance  on  Manassas,  but  the  order  did  not  come,  so 
we  were  all  dismissed  to  our  quarters. 

After  supper  went  to  the  ammunition  chests  to  see  if  they 
were  packed  right.  Found  everything  in  its  place.  Was 
told  to  get  all  the  sleep  I  could,  not  knowing  at  what  time  I 
might  be  called,  and  to  sleep  with  my  arms,  and  what  I  had 
to  carry,  handy.  The  men  all  feel  anxious  to  start. 

Thursday,  March  1 1 .  Found  out  that  we  would  not  be 
wanted  to-day.  At  8  o'clock  we  were  called  out  for  one 
hour's  drill  on  the  piece.  Came  in  at  half  past  9.  At  J 
o'clock  we  hitched  out  and  started  out  for  drill.  Stayed  out 
till  5  o'clock,  and  the  men  were  "put  through  a  course  of 
sprouts"  that  was  astonishing  to  some  of  them,  but  it 
showed  the  men  and  officers  that  they  had  a  great  deal  to 
learn.  Artillery  drill  cannot  be  learnt  in  a  month,  or  three 
months.  The  drivers  have  to  understand  their  horses,  the 
men  on  the  piece  their  part,  and  the  horses  have  to  get 
accustomed  to  the  firing,  which  some  never  get  used  to. 

After  supper  news  came  into  camp  that  our  troops  found 
Manassas  evacuated.  If  this  is  true  we  will  all  be  home  in 
about  a  month." 

THE   PRESIDENT'S    ORDER: 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION 
WASHINGTON,  March  n,  1862. 
PRESIDENT'S  WAR  ORDER 

No  3. 

Major  General"  McClellan  having  personally  taken  the  field  at  the 
head  of  the  Armv  of  the  Potomac  until  otherwise  ordered,  he  is  re 
lieved  from  the  command  of  the  other  military  departments,  he  retain 
ing  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Potomac. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  commanders  of  Departments,  after  the  receipt 
of  this  order  by  them,  respectively  report  severally  and  directly  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and  that  nrompt,  full,  and  frequent  reports  will  be 

expected   of  all   and  each  of  them. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

L.   THOMAS 
Adjutant  General. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  159 

The  next  day  General  Porter  telegraphed  the  following 
advice  :— 

UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH 

Received  March  12,  1862. 
FROM    F    (FAIRFAX)    COURT   HOUSE. 
To   Capt.   Allen. 

Improve  every  moment  for  instruction  of  your  company.  I  expect 
soon  to  call  for  it.  Get  your  supplies  of  Capt.  Cole,  at  Ft.  Corcoran, 
who  is  ordered  to  provide  you. 

F.  J.   PORTER 
B.  G. 

LETTER   FROM    LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

"HALL'S  HILL  March  12,  1862. 

Last  Monday  morning  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  com 
menced  its  grand  progress  to  Richmond,  and  at  last 
accounts  has  passed  over  25  miles  or  so  of  its  journey.  For 
some  unexplained  reason,  but  in  obedience  to  orders,  the 
Fifth  (Mass.)  Battery  remained  behind  and  are  now 
supreme  on  Hall's  Hill.  The  tents  are  all  left  standing, 
and  but  for  the  unusual  quiet  we  would  suppose  the  army 
still  here.  The  stillness  which  pervaded  the  air  after  the 
first  bustle  of  departure,  was  quite  startling,  but  at  the 
same  time  quite  pleasant.  Yesterday  was  very  warm  and 
pleasant,  the  frogs  and  bluebirds  have  commenced  to  sing, 
and  it  looks  as  if  spring  had  come  at  last. 

Porter's  Division  are  now  occupying  Fairfax  Court 
House,  and  expect, — so  the  postmaster  of  the  2d  Maine 
told  me, — to  be  ordered  back. 

The  first  to  occupy  Manassas,  as  I  hear,  were  the  3d  and 
5th  Penn.  Cavalry  who  have  been  encamped  between  us  and 
Fort  Corcoran. 

The  latest  rumor  is  that  General  Porter's  Division  is  to 
join  General  Burnside.  Our  Ouartermaster  reports  a  num 
ber  of  gunboats  and  passenger  steamboats  at  the  Arsenal  in 
the  City,  so  that  it  looks  as  if  this  were  the  case.  The  reb 
els  have  done  pretty  well  at  Norfolk.  The  attack  of  the 


160  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Merrimac  shows  more  dash  than  I  had  given  them  credit 
for,  though  I  do  not  see  why  they  did  not  make  a  dash  for 
the  open  sea  where  they  could  have  done  so  much  more 
'harm." 


Grows'  Journal:  "March  12,  1862.  After  breakfast  I  re 
packed  the  shot  and  shell  in  the  ammunition  chests,  and 
found  that  everything  about  the  Gun  was  all  right,  then 
went  to  quarters.  In  about  an  hour  went  out  to  drill  on 
the  piece.  Came  in  about  n  o'clock.  Laid  back  for  a 
smoke  and  a  read.  At  2  o'clock  the  call  for  the  Battery  to 
turn  out  was  sounded,  and  as  I  thought  a  horse-back  ride 
would  do  me  good,  I  took  a  pair  and  went  out,  but  I  had 
to  dismount  and  take  my  place  on  the  Gun  on  account  of 
the  off  horse  being  ugly.  He  is  a  condemned  one  and  will 
be  changed  soon.  Came  into  camp  at  5  o'clock.  After 
supper  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready  at  a  minute's  notice 
to  go  on  to  Fairfax  to  guard  it,  as  it  has  been  taken  from 
the  rebels.  Five  prisoners  passed  through  our  camp  today 
on  the  way  to  Washington.  They  were  taken  yesterday. 
They  were  a  sorrowful  looking  set.  Our  men  are  all  in  good 
spirits  and  first  rate  health.  Two  of  the  men  were  put  on 
guard  for  three  days  for  disobeying  orders  by  laughing  and 
talking  after  lights  were  out,  it  being  the  rule  of  the  camp 
to  have  no  noise  in  camp  after  the  'Taps.' 

Thursday  March  13,  1862:  After  dinner  all  the  men 
turned  out  and  cleaned  up  the  Park.  Had  a  good  time 
collecting  the  brush  and  loose  stuff  together  in  large  piles 
and  setting  fire  to  them.  Stayed  out  about  two  hours." 


The  first  formation  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  by 
"Divisions,"  under  an  order  of  October  15,  1861,  but  before 
active  movements  began  in  the  spring  of  1862,  it  was  di 
vided  into  Army  Corps  in  accordance  with  the  following 
General  Order : — 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  161 

HEADQUARTERS  &.RMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

FAIRFAX  C.  H.  VA.  March  13,  1862. 
General  Order 
No.  101 

In  compliance  with  the  President's  War  Order  No  2  of  March  8, 
1862,  the  active  portion  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  formed  into 
Army  Corps  as  follows: 

ist  Corps.     Major  General  Irvin  McDowell  to  consist  for  the  present, 

of  the  Divisions  of  Franklin,  McCall  and  King. 
2d  Corps.     Brig.  Gen.  E.  V.  Sumner,  Divisions  Richardson,  Blenker 

and    Sedgwick. 
3d  Corps.     Brig.    Gen.    S.   P.   neintzelman,    Divisions    F.    J.    Porter, 

Hooker,  and  Hamilton. 

4th  Corps.     Brig.  Gen.  E.  D.  jxeyes,  divisions  Couch,  Smith  and  Casey. 
5th  Corps.     Maj.  Gen.  N.  P.  Banks,  Divisions  Williams  and  Shields. 
By  command  of 

MAJOR  GEN.  MCCLELLAN. 
A.  V.   COLBURN, 
A.  A.  G. 

March  13,  1862,  a  council  composed  of  Corps  Com 
manders  McDowell,  Sumner,  Heintzelman  and  Keyes,  de 
termined  upon  adopting  Fortress  Monroe  as  the  base  of  op 
erations  for  the  movement  upon  Richmond.  General  Fitz 
John  Porter's  command  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Army 
Corps,  and  placed  first  in  the  order  of  Divisions. 

The  artillery  attached  to  this  Division  was  Battery  D, 
5th  U.  S.  Captain  Charles  Griffin,  Third  Mass.  Battery, 
Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin,  Battery  C,  ist  R.  I.  Captain 
William  B.  Weeden,  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  Geo.  D. 
Allen. 

Lt.  Col.  Wm.  H.  Powell  says  in  his  history  of  the  Fifth 
Corps  -.—"Captains  Weeden,  Martin  and  Allen  were  able 
pupils  and  co-workers  under  such  a  chief  as  Griffin,"  and 
2d  Lt.  Charles  A.  Phillips  said  at  the  time  that  Rhode 
Island  shared  with  Massachusetts  pre-eminence  in  Volun 
teer  Artillery. 


162  HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE  GUNS. 

Captain  Griffin  had  six  10  pdr.  Parrotts. 

Captain  Martin  had  six  Light  12  pdrs. 

Captain  Weeden  had  six  3  in.  Rifled  Iron  Guns. 

Captain  Allen  had  six  3  in.  Rifled  Iron  Guns. 

Each  Division  had  the  same  artillery. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  the 
Regiment  was  the  unit.  Four  Regiments  constituted  a 
Brigade,  and  three  Brigades  a  Division.  Each  Division 
had  four  batteries,  three  served  by  volunteers  and  one  by 
regulars;  the  captain  of  the  latter  commanding  the  entire 
artillery  of  the  Division.  The  regulars  were  not  distributed, 
but  were  kept  together  in  Divisions  by  themselves. 

It  has  been  said  that  in  the  constitution  of  this  Army 
McClellan's  intimate  acquaintance  with  European  tactics 
became  of  very  great  value  and  assistance.  General  Wm.  F. 
Barry  in  his  report  states  that  the  whole  of  the  field  artillery 
of  the  Division  of  the  Potomac  July  25th,  1861,  when 
General  McClellan  was  appointed  to  the  command,  was 
comprised  in  nine  imperfectly  equipped  batteries  of  30  guns, 
650  men,  and  400  horses.  In  March  1862,  after  an  interval 
of  seven  months  it  consisted  of  92  batteries,  520  guns, 
12,500  men  and  10,000  horses.  Of  the  whole  force  62  bat 
teries  belonged  to  the  Volunteer  service. 

McCLELLAN'S    ADDRESS    TO    THE    ARMY. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

FAIRFAX   COURT  HOUSE,  VA. 

March  14,  1862. 
Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac: 

For  a  long  time  I  have  kept  you  inactive,  but  not  without  a  purpose. 
You  were  to  be  disciplined,  armed,  and  instructed.  The  formidable 
artillery  you  now  have  had  to  be  created.  Other  armies  were  to  move 
and  accomplish  certain  results.  I  have  held  you  back  that  you  might 
give  the  death-blow  to  the  rebellion  that  has  distracted  our  once  happy 
country.  The  patience  you  have  shown,  and  your  confidence  in  your 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  163 

General,  are  worth  a  dozen  victories.  These  preliminary  results  are 
now  accomplished.  I  feel  that  the  patient  labors  of  many  months  have 
produced  their  fruits.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  now  a  real  Army, 
— magnificent  in  materiel,  admirable  in  discipline  and  instruction,  ex 
cellently  equipped  and  armed.  Your  commanders  are  all  that  I  could 
wish.  The  moment  for  action  has  arrived,  and  I  know  that  I  can  trust 
in  you  to  save  our  country.  As  I  ride  through  your  ranks  I  see  in 
your  faces  the  sure  presage  of  victory :  I  feel  that  you  will  do  whatever 
I  ask  of  you.  The  period  of  inaction  is  passed.  I  will  bring  you  now 
face  to  face  with  the  rebels  and  only  pray  that  God  may  defend  the 
right.  In  whatever  direction  you  may  move,  however  strange  my  ac 
tions  may  appear  to  you,  ever  bear  in  mind  that  my  fate  is  linked  with 
yours  and  that  all  I  do,  is  to  bring  you  where  I  know  you  wish  to  be, 
— on  the  decisive  battle  field.  It  is  my  business  to  place  you  there. 
I  am  to  watch  over  you  as  a  parent  over  his  children,  and  you  know 
that  your  General  loves  you  from  the  depths  of  his  heart.  It  shall  be 
my  care,  as  it  has  ever  been,  to  gain  success  with  the  least  possible 
loss,  but  I  know  that  if  it  is  necessary,  you  will  willingly  follow  me  to 
our  graves,  for  our  righteous  cause. 

God  smiles  upon  us,  victory  attends  us.  Yet  I  would  not  have  you 
think  that  our  aim  is  to  be  attained  without  a  manly  struggle.  I  will 
not  disguise  it  from  you.  You  have  brave  foes  to  encounter,  foemen 
well  worthy  of  the  steel  that  you  will  use  so  well.  I  shall  demand  of 
you  great,  heroic  exertions,  rapid  and  long  marches,  desperate  com 
bats,  privations,  perhaps.  We  will  share  all  these  together;  and  when 
this  sad  war  is  over,  we  will  all  return  to  our  homes,  and  feel  that  we 
can  ask  no  higher  honor  than  the  proud  consciousness  that  we  belonged 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

CEO.     B.     McCLELLAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

THE  PENINSULA  OF  VIRGINIA. 

The  Peninsula  of  Virginia  lies  between  the  James  and 
York  Rivers;  which,  running  nearly  parallel  from  the 
northwest,  empty  into  Chesapeake  Bay. 

Fortress  Monroe  occupies  the  extremity  of  the  Peninsula, 
and  is  connected  with  the  main  portion  only  by  a  narrow 
sand  beach.  See  p.  109.  The  extreme  length,  from  the  fort 
to  a  line  drawn  between  Richmond  and  West  Point,  is  about 
60  miles,  the  average  breadth  about  12.  At  Yorktown, 
twenty  miles  up  the  river  it  is  narrowed  to  8  miles,  which 
width  remains  the  same  as  far  as  Williamsburg  where  the 


164  HISTORY    OF    THE 

rivers  begin  to  diverge.  The  land  is  flat  and  low,  covered 
with  swampy  forests. 

Yorktown  was  a  dilapidated  village  of  about  50  houses. 
The  only  tavern  in  the  place,  situated  on  a  bluff,  the  high 
est  point  of  land  on  the  Peninsula  below  Richmond,  was 
called  the  Nelson  House  and  was  originally  owned  by  Gov 
ernor  Thomas  Nelson.  The  bulk  of  the  Confederate  force 
lay  at  and  near  Centreville  and  Manassas,  drawing  its  sup 
plies  mainly  from  Richmond  by  way  of  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad.  On  hearing  of  the  order  for  the  Fed 
eral  forces  to  move  upon  Richmond  by  the  way  of  the 
Peninsula,  the  Confederate  general  Beauregard  called  back 
his  corps  of  observation,  who  occupied  the  works  at  Cen 
treville,  destroyed  the  bridges  over  Bull  Run,  and  falling 
back  on  Manassas  which  he  evacuated  on  the  loth  of  March, 
burned  everything  which  he  could  not  carry  away. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  commenced  its  march  on  the 
loth  as  stated,  but  they  went  no  farther  than  Centreville, 
General  McClellan  with  his  escort  fording  Bull  Run  and 
riding  on  to  Manassas,  found  it  as  anticipated  an  abandoned 
ruin. 

THE   PLAN   OF   CAMPAIGN. 

In  the  plan  of  the  Peninsula  campaign,  Richmond  was 
to  be  reached  by  the  way  of  Yorktown  and  West  Point. 
The  first  object  was  to  capture  Yorktown  by  a  combined 
naval  and  military  attack,  then  to  establish  West  Point, 
about  25  miles  from  Richmond,  as  the  new  base. 

Centreville  was  a  village  of  a  few  straggling  houses  built 
along  a  ridge  at  the  confluence  of  -the  Warrenton  turnpike,, 
which  runs  west  and  crosses  Bull  Run  at  the  Stone  Bridge, 
and  another  southwest  crossing  Bull  Run  at  Blackburn's 
Ford,  leading  direct  to  Manassas  Junction  three  miles  be 
yond  Bull  Run,  and  connecting-  by  cross-roads  with  the 
different  fords  above  and  below. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  165 

The  works  at  Centreville  and  Manassas  were  laid  out  by 
the  Confederate  general  Beauregard.  At  Centreville  they 
consisted  of  two  lines.  One  faced  east,  a  mile  and  three- 
quarters  long,  the  other,  two  miles  long,  faced  north.  In 
both  were  13  distinct  forts  connected  by  "infantry  para 
pets,"  double  caponnieres  (covered  lodgements)  and  "re 
dans"  (portions  of  the  fortification  included  in  single  salient 
angles).  There  were  embrasures  for  71  guns.  On  a  high 
hill  commanding  the  rear  of  both  lines,  was  a  large  "re 
doubt"  (an  isolated  fort  defensible  on  all  sides)  with  10 
embrasures.  Manassas  was  defended  in  all  directions  by  a 
system  of  detached  works,  with  platforms  for  heavy  guns, 
arranged  for  massive  carriages  and  connected  by  "infantry 
parapets";  the  system  being  rendered  complete  by  a  very 
large  work  with  16  embrasures  commanding  the  highest  of 
the  other  works  by  about  50  feet.  The  works  at  Manassas 
had  been  mounted  with  guns.  Those  at  Centreville  had 
been  merely  laid  out ;  but  no  heavy  artillery  had  been  placed 
in  them,  and  for  weeks  they  had  been  occupied  only  by  a 
corps  of  observation  ready  to  fall  back  upon  any  alarm. 


MANASSAS   JUNCTION. 

The  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad  runs  southwest 
through  the  flat  Potomac  region  for  27  miles,  when  it  meets 
the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad  which  runs  west  for  50  miles  to 
Strasburg  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah  River,  then  south 
for  20  miles  down  the  valley.  The  place  where  these  two 
roads,  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  and  the  Manassas  Gap 
Railroad  meet  is  high  ground,  and  is  called  Manassas  Junc 
tion.  There  was  a  station,  merely,  with  a  few  scattering 
houses.  From  Manassas  which  was  considered  the  key  of 
the  direct  route  to  the  south,  the  distance  to  Washington 
was  about  30  miles. 

Southwest  of  Manassas  Junction  at  Warrenton  Junction 


166  HISTORY    OF    THE 

a  branch  road  run  to  Warrenton.  At  Rappahannock  Sta 
tion  the  train  crossed  the  Rappahannock  River  on  the  way 
to  Culpeper  Court  House,  passed  over  the  Rapidan  River 
to  Orange  Court  House  and  still  farther  southwest  to 
Lynchburg  via  Gordonsville  and  Charlottesville. 


Grows'  Journal:  "Friday  March  14,  1862.  At  l/2  past 
8  went  out  for  drill.  Came  in  at  10,  and  then  went  to  work 
packing  ammunition  chests,  so  if  we  are  called  we  will  be 
all  ready  to  start.  I  do  not  think  we  will  go  until  we  are 
better  drilled.  If  we  do  it  will  be  to  guard  the  place.  Had 
dinner  of  'Duff'  and  molasses  with  water  to  drink.  It  tasted 
first  rate,  but  there  was  not  enough  of  it,  so  we  have  been 
promised  some  for  dinner  tomorrow.  At  2  o'clock  we  went 
out  for  drill,  the  men  on  the  guns  dismounted.  Had  a  good 
drill.  A  slight  accident  happened  to  Harry  Simonds. 
While  we  were  firing  his  horse  reared  up  and  fell  over  on 
him,  jamming  his  side,  but  in  a  short  time  he  was  able  to 
mount  his  horse  again,  and  take  care  of  his  Detachment. 

Came  in  after  drilling  about  two  hours.  We  fired  17 
rounds  of  blank  cartridges.  The  men  are  improving  in  drill 
very  fast.  Am  detailed  for  guard  tonight  on  the  3d  relief 
the  worst  one  there  is  to  be  on.  Laid  down  to  get  some  rest 
but  could  not  sleep  there  was  so  much  noise.  Was  called 
at  9  o'clock  to  go  on  guard.  It  began  to  rain.  It  is  a  rough 
night.  While  on  guard  about  8000  cavalry  passed  our 
camp.  It  was  a  splendid  sight.  They  were  returning  from 
Manassas  and  Centreville.  The  rebels  have  left  the  place 
in  a  hurry.  They  had  wooden  guns  mounted  in  place  of 
cannon,  to  deceive  our  troops.  Came  in  at  1 1  from  guard, 
made  a  fire  in  the  tent  and  turned  in." 

MARCHING  ORDERS. 

Friday  night  at  12  o'clock  March  14,  1862,  the  Fifth 
Mass.  Battery  received  their  orders. 

"We  are  ordered  to  move  on  Sunday,  tomorrow,"  wrote 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  167 

Lieut.  Phillips  on  the  i5th,  "to  Cloud's  Mills,  near  Alex 
andria,  with  three  days'  cooked  rations.  We  shall  have  two 
wagons  and  as  little  baggage  as  possible.  One  tent  is  al 
lowed  for  the  officers,  the  men  sleeping  under  the  tarpau 
lins  which  cover  the  ^uns  and  caissons.  I  saw  Adjutant 
Sherwin  [Thomas  Sherwin  Jr.]  of  the  22d  Mass,  last  night, 
and  he  said  that  they  were  breaking  up  camp  and  expecting 
to  move  this  morning.  Part  of  their  baggage  is  on  the 
steamboat  at  Alexandria.  Sherwin  reports  that  the  whole 
of  Porter's  Division  embark  at  Alexandria  for  some  un 
known  destination  perhaps  to  reinforce  Burnside.  A  long 
train  of  wagons  went  by  here  last  night  bound  to  Washing 
ton.  All  the  sick  have  been  sent  to  Washington.  The  two 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry  regiments  which  were  the  first  to 
enter  Manassas  returned  to  their  camp  last  night,  and  ex 
pect  to  leave  soon  in  some  other  direction.  After  receiving 
our  marching  orders  it  set  in  for  the  hardest  rain  storm 
of  the  season,  and  we  have  been  making  our  preparations 
with  a  most  dismal  prospect  ahead.  Rations  were  cooked, 
knapsacks  packed,  tents,  camp  equipage  &c.  invoiced  and 
turned  over  to  the  U.  S.  Quartermaster  at  Fort  Corcoran. 

I  sent  my  trunk  home,  packed  my  knapsack  and  saddle 
bags,  hung  my  feed  bag  on  my  saddle,  and  made  all  my 
preparations. 

In  the  mean  time  the  rain  continued,  the  park  was  all 
afloat,  and  our  tent  nearly  so.  Somehow  the  water,  found 
an  entrance  at  our  front  door,  and  soon  we  had  a  small 
brook  running  across  the  floor,  and  out  at  the  back  door. 
To  prevent  this  making  it  too  muddy,  we  confined  it  to  a 
narrow  channel,  and  Scott  and  I  by  way  of  variety  whittled 
out  some  water  wheels  which  were  soon  running  merrily. 
Meanwhile  both  night  and  rain  were  falling,  and  the  rations 
were  all  cooked,  and  their  delivery  commenced.  Before 
this  was  completed,  however,  up  rode  an  orderly  with  new 
orders  to  delay  our  departure  till  further  orders,  as  the 
roads  were  impassable."  At  the  close  of  this  letter  Phillips 


168  HISTORY    OF    THE 

refers  to  being  "the  other  day  out  target  shooting"  with  his 
"revolver." 


Grows'  Journal:  "Saturday  March  15,  1862.    Was  called 
at  3  this  morning  to  go  on  guard.    Made  out  after  a  fashion 
to  worry  out  the  two  hours  till  5  o'clock  when  I  was  relieved 
and  went  to  my  quarters  and  laid  down,  but  could  not  sleep, 
as  the  Bugle  sounded  at  6  the  'Reveille.'    Went  on  again  at 
9,  was  relieved  at  n  o'clock.     At  3,  was  called  to  go  on 
my  beat.  I  stayed  on  about  an  hour,  and  then  I  had  to  knock 
under  and  go  to  my  tent.     Stayed  in  and  packed  my  knap 
sack,  for  we  have  been  ordered  to  break  camp  at  4  tomor 
row  morning,  to  start  for  Alexandria.  .  .  .  The  men  were 
called  into  line  soon  after  and  told  to  have  their  knapsacks 
ready  and  fill  our  haversacks  with  two  days'  rations,  and 
fill  our  canteens  with  water.    We  had  just  got  all  our  things 
ready  when  word  came  that  we  would  not  start  tomorrow 
on 'account  of  the  rain.     We  were  pleased,  for  it  would  be 
a  rather  disagreeable  march  in  the  rain,  but  we  expect  to  go 
Monday  or  Tuesday.     After  putting  our  things  away,  we 
began  to  see  how  we  could  fix  our  beds  so  that  we  could 
sleep.    About  three  inches  of  water  in  our  tent  and  the  can 
vas  leaks  like  fury.    We  pinned  our  rubber  blankets  up  over 
the  beds,  made  them  up,  turned  in,  and  then  laid  rubber 
blankets  over  them,  and  in  this  way  we  went  to  bed,  the 
rain  pouring  in  torrents  on  our  beds. 

Sunday  March  16.  We  now  think  we  will  not  start 
before  Tuesday.  We  expect  to  go  to  Sewall's  Point  off 
Fortress  Monroe.  About  ^  past  4  a  message  came,  in 
forming  us  that  we  will  not  start  tomorrow.  About  5  the 
Battery  were  called  together  for  Sunday  services.  The 
singing  sounded  splendid.  The  Captain  (Allen)  read  the 
9th  chapter  of  Matthew  and  then  closed  the  service. 

Monday,  March  i/th.  Our  Orderly  Sergeant  went  at  4 
o'clock  this  morning  to  Fairfax  Court  House  to  receive 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  169 

some  orders,  but  as  yet  we  do  not  know  what  they  are.  At 
Roll  Call  at  5  o'clock  we  were  informed  that  we  would 
break  camp  in  the  morning  to  proceed  to  Alexandria  and 
there  take  boats  to  go  somewhere,  but  where  we  do  not 
know." 

THE   EMBARKATION. 

On  March  i/th,  1862,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  com 
menced  the  embarkation,  leaving  70,000  men  for  the  de 
fense  of  Washington. 

On  the  1 8th,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  left  camp  at  Hall's 
Hill,  and  marched  to  join  Porter's  Division  which  after 
making  its  advance  on  Manassas  had  turned  back  to  Alex 
andria  Heights. 

They  marched  via  Ball's  and  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  and 
arrived  about  2  p.  m.  at  "Camp  California,"  near  Alexan 
dria,  Va.,  and  midway  between  Fairfax  Seminary  and  Fort 
Ellsworth.  Here  they  pitched  their  camp  with  only  one 
tent,  all  outside  of  that  depending  for  shelter  upon  rubber 
blankets,  and  prepared  for  embarking,  destination  unknown. 
Troops  were  all  around  them  and  Griffin's  and  Martin's  Bat 
teries  were  close  by.  The  83d.  Penn.,  which  was  next  to 
them  at  Hall's  Hill  was  next  them  there. 

Grows'  Journal :  "Tuesday  March  18,  1862.  A  fine  feel 
ing  morning.  Had  a  light  breakfast  of  coffee  and  bread, 
then  lashed  our  knapsacks  on  the  pieces,  leaving  our  tents, 
and  other  articles  such  as  stoves,  behind,  for  we  cannot 
carry  them. 

At  9  o'clock  this  morning  the  order  was  given,  Tor- 
ward  !'  and  the  first  step  was  taken  in  the  march,  for  we  had 
to  walk  all  the  way,  9  miles.  We  took  the  road  to  Alexan 
dria,  and  by  mistake  went  some  four  miles  out  of  the  way. 
...  On  the  way  we  had  in  some  places  to  build  up  parts  of 
the  road  where  it  had  been  washed  away.  The  roads  here 
are  in  a  very  bad  state,  but  are  a  great  deal  better  than  they 


170  HISTORY   OF    THE 

have  been.  At  3  in  the  afternoon  we  struck  the  ground 
where  we  are  to  stop  tonight,  about  i^  miles  from  the  city 
of  Alexandria. 

After  eating  a  little,  and  getting  cleaned  up,  for  we  were 
very  dusty,  we  began  to  make  some  preparations  for  sleep 
ing,  but  as  we  have  no  tents,  we  stuck  one  covering  of  the 
gun  up  on  poles,  crawled  in  under,  laid  on  the  ground,  and 
soon  got  to  sleep. 

Wednesday,  March  19.  Got  up  feeling  quite  sore  and 
stiff.  As  we  had  nothing  to  eat,  I  went  over  to  Martin's 
Battery  and  got  some  fried  potatoes,  some  good  white  bread 
and  about  a  quart  of  nice,  hot  coffee.  About  ^  past  9  our 
quartermaster  got  some  coffee  for  the  men.  Soon  after  we 
were  called  out  to  drill.  Stayed  out  about  an  hour,  and 
then  we  had  to  wash  the  carriages  and  pieces,  which  took 
us  till  dinner  time.  Had  dinner  of  hard  bread  and  water. 
This  afternoon  began  fixing  for  a  place  to  sleep;  arranged 
a  bed  for  a  fellow  named  Joe  Knox  and  myself.  Had  sup 
per  of  hot  coffee  and  hard  bread.  Was  put  on  guard  to  take 
care  of  one  of  our  drivers'  horses." 

FROM   LETTERS    OF   LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

"The  hills  and  valleys  are  covered  with  camps,  most  of 
them,  like  our  own,  supplied  with  very  scant  equipage.  We 
have  one  tent  for  the  officers,  which  at  the  present  moment 
contains  all  five,  getting  along  very  comfortably.  Scott  is 
writing  a  letter  on  the  same  box  as  I,  and  the  Captain 
(Allen)  is  cutting  a  quill  preparatory  to  doing  the  same 
thing.  The  men  have  pitched  the  tarpaulins  between  the 
carriages,  making  three  tents  to  hold  fifty  apiece,  so  that 
they  get  along  as  well  as  we  do.  We  expect  to  embark 
within  two  days  for  some  great  expedition.  General  Sum- 
ner's  Division  went  down  today,  and  several  more  are  wait 
ing  to  go.  Where  we  shall  bring  up  I  do  not  know,  but 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  171 

from  the  preparations  going  on  the  expedition  must  be  in 
tended  to  finish  the  Rebellion. 

Large  quantities  of  provisions  have  been  sent  lately  to 
Fortress  Monroe,  which  would  look  like  an  attack  upon 
Richmond  up  the  James  or  York  River,  or  we  may  be  going 
to  join  Burnside. 

Last  night  we  went  on  a  serenading  excursion.  The  44th 
N.  Y.  [Ellsworth  Avengers]  to  which  we  have  been  as 
signed  for  hospital  purposes,  have  taken  great  interest  in 
our  Battery.  The  hospital  is  in  a  house  close  to  our  camp 
owned  by  a  Mr.  Osborne.  In  the  evening  we  got  together 
the  musical  crowd,  and  went  up  to  the  house  with  a  band  of 
an  accordeon  and  a  banjo.  We  were  invited  in  and  got 
some  apples  and  cakes.  Then  we  had  a  little  music  and 
adjourned  to  the  kitchen  for  a  clog  dance  by  Mr.  Joseph 
Clark,  banjo  player  and  clog  dancer  for  the  Battery. 

After  a  few  jigs  and  breakdowns  we  went  home  and 
went  to  bed. 

Mr.  Osborne  is  quite  a  brick,  a  very  strong  union  man. 
At  one  time  the  rebel  pickets  occupied  the  bushes  across 
the  road  in  front  of  his  house,  and  used  to  blaze  away  at  him 
at  every  opportunity.  He  offered  to  sell  his  hay  to  the  gov 
ernment,  but  they  thought  it  too  dangerous  to  send  wagons 
after  it,  so  he  carted  it  himself,  exposed  all  the  while  to  the 
rebel  fire.  His  wagon  was  hit  several  times  but  he  escaped. 

Thursday  evening  March  20,  1862,  Alexandria  Heights: 
The  3d  Michigan  moved  up  close  by  us  yesterday  being 
ordered  to  get  as  near  Alexandria  as  possible.  Fort  Ells 
worth,  as  near  as  I  can  make  out,  is  a  square  bastioned  fort 
like  Fort  Corcoran,  rather  larger,  constructed  strictly  ac 
cording  to  theoretical  rules. 

We  are  encamped  on  a  little  hill,  the  one  tent  being 
pitched  on  the  summit.  For  this  purpose  we  picked  out  the 
tightest  tent  in  camp,  the  one  which  I  have  always  had,  and 
inside  of  this  are  the  jolliest  crowd  of  officers  that  can  be 
found.  Our  baggage  is  limited,  but  we  get  on  without. 


172  HISTORY   OF    THE 

Captain  Allen  occupies  the  back  of  the  tent  on  a  bedstead 
which  we  have  managed  to  bring  so  far,  Hyde  and  Dilling- 
ham  make  up  their  bed  on  one  side,  while  Scott  and  I  make 
up  ours  on  the  other. 

Two  rubber  blankets  constitute  the  foundations,  then 
come  our  bed  sacks  filled  with  hay,  and  our  blankets  finish 
off.  We  get  along  first  rate  though  we  pull  off  the  blankets 
a  great  deal.  The  principal  article  of  furniture  is  the  com 
pany  desk  which  was  put  in  here  as  there  was  no  other  tent 
to  put  it  in :  coats,  sabres,  haversacks,  canteens,  dishes, 
valises,  knapsacks,  boxes,  saddles,  opera  glasses,  &c  &c.  On 
the  whole  we  are  pretty  full.  The  men  have  quite  a  variety 
of  substitutes  for  tents.  Some  take  the  tarpaulins  which 
cover  the  guns :  each  of  which  is  large  enough  to  accommo 
date  10  or  15  men;  some  use  their  rubber  ponchos  [rubber 
blankets  with  holes  in  the  middle]  which  make  a  very  good 
pleasant  weather  tent.  Each  poncho  is  about  5  ft.  by  4,  and 
four  of  them  make  a  tent  large  enough  to  hold  four  men 
lying  or  sitting.  This  is  the  prevalent  style  of  tent  round 
here :  the  83d  Penn.  between  us  and  the  Fort,  are  quartered 
in  them,  also  the  3d  Michigan  on  the  other  side  of  us.  The 
1 7th  New  York  are  encamped  just  beyond  the  83d  Penn., 
with  the  same  accommodations.  We  received  yesterday 
the  news  of  the  capture  of  Newberne. 

Lt.  Kingsbury  seems  to  have  left  us.  When  the  advance 
was  made  last  week  he  was  ordered  to  join  his  Battery  and 
has  been  with  them  ever  since.  When  we  came  here  he  was 
over  here  for  about  five  minutes  and  that  is  all.  It  rained 
all  last  night  and  all  today,  and  the  General  Commanding 
has  authorized  us  to  issue  a  ration  of  whiskey  to  the  men, 
which  has  accordingly  been  done,  without  any  bad  effects 
as  far  as  I  have  seen. 

Martin's  Battery  have  been  encamped  with  Martindale's 
brigade,  Weeden's  with  Morell's,  and  we  have  had  most  to 
do  with  the  44th  N.  Y.  (Ellsworth's  Avengers)  a  fine  regi 
ment  who  led  the  advance  at  Manassas. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  173 

Captain  Griffin  has  been  appointed  Chief  of  Artillery  for 
the  Division.  I  hear  that  Porter's  Battery  [First  Mass.  Lt. 
Art'y]  in  Franklin's  Division,  and  McDowell's  Corps  (ist) 
are  to  embark  today,  and  the  General  Order  No.  101,  or 
dered  the  whole  of  a  corps  to  be  kept  together,  so  at  least 
two  corps  are  going  on  the  proposed  expedition.  The  num 
ber  of  troops  right  round  here  is  estimated  anywhere  from 
20,000  to  150,000. 

At  present  we  are  living  not  very  luxuriously,  making 
up  our  beds  on  the  ground,  and  eating  hard  tack  and  salt 
pork." 


Grows'  Journal :  'Thursday,  March  20,  1862.  Was 
awakened  by  the  rain  this  morning.  Found  my  hair  quite 
wet  from  the  rain  falling  on  my  head  during  the  night. 
Some  of  the  men  had  to  sit  up  all  night  on  account  of  the 
rain,  for  all  the  tents  we  have  is  a  piece  of  canvas  laid  upon 
two  poles,  and  the  water  runs  under  like  a  sluiceway.  Had 
dinner  of  fresh  beef  and  potatoes,  after  which  I  went  to 
Porter's  Battery." 

About  8  a.  m.  of  Friday,  March  2ist  they  marched  to 
Alexandria  Va.,  and  waited  in  the  street  until  3  p.  m.  for 
the  Fourth  R.  I.  Battery  to  embark,  then  commenced  put 
ting  their  guns  on  board  the  same  propeller,  the  "A.  H. 
Bowman."  About  six  p.  m.  they  were  ready  to  load  the 
horses  on  the  schooners  "Louisa  Reed"  and  "Ida  De  la 
Torre."  This  was  accomplished  about  10  o'clock  and  after 
taking  on  some  of  the  horses  they  were  to  have  from  the 
1 8th  Mass.  Regt.  to  complete  their  number,  they  found 
quarters  for  themselves  on  board  a  canal  boat  which  was 
loaded  with  the  baggage  of  the  two  batteries. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Friday  March  21,  1862.  Were  called 
at  6  and  ordered  to  pack  our  knapsacks  and  be  ready  to 
start  at  8  o'clock.  Went  to  work  on  empty  stomachs.  Got 
two  days'  rations  in  our  haversacks.  Marched  on  foot  9 


174  HISTORY    OF    THE 

miles  to  that  nest  of  secession  Alexandria.  Waited  till  2 
in  the  afternoon  before  we  got  aboard.  While  here  I  vis 
ited  the  Marshall  House,  where  Ellsworth  was  killed  by 
Jackson.  This  is  a  hard  looking  place.  Our  Battery  was 
joined  by  Griffin's,  Martin's  and  the  Rhode  Island  Fourth. 
We  all  got  aboard  and  I  turned  in  under  one  of  the  guns, 
using  the  sponge  staff  for  a  pillow,  and  the  deck  for  a  bed. 
Was  called  at  1 1  o'clock  to  go  on  guard  on  the  barge  which 
had  all  our  stores  on.  How  it  did  rain!  Stood  up  against 
the  mast.  On  account  of  the  corporal  being  sick  I  called 
my  man  at  i  o'clock." 

THE    SAILING   OF   THE    FLEET. 
NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"March  22,  1862,  at  4  a.  m.,  Scott  and  I  had  to  get  up 
and  look  after  some  new  horses  which  we  have  received 
from  the  i8th  Mass.  Regt.  By  daylight  we  got  them  all 
on  board,  and  with  the  rest  of  the  fleet  dropped  into  the 
stream. 

Captain  Allen  and  Lt.  Hyde  went  on  the  propeller,  Lt. 
Dillingham  on  the  'Ida  De  la  Torre/  Scott  on  the  canal 
boat,  and  I  on  the  'Louisa  Reed/ 

After  a  good  deal  of  backing  and  filling  the  fleet  got 
ready  to  start.  There  are  some  96  vessels  in  all.  About  12 
o'clock  we  started,  the  flagship  'Daniel  Webster'  leading 
the  way. 

We  had  been  assigned  a  place  near  the  head  of  the  col 
umn,  but  the  'A.  H.  Bowman'  being  unable  to  keep  it,  soon 
fell  behind.  The  'Bowman'  towed  the  two  schooners,  the 
'Ida  De  la  Torre'  on  the  starboard,  the  'Louisa  Reed'  on  the 
larboard  side.  The  'Hero'  took  the  canal  boat,  with  out- 
baggage,  and  went  out  of  sight  in  a  very  short  time.  Dil 
lingham  has  charge  of  one  schooner  and  I  of  the  other, 
Captain  Allen  and  Lt.  Hyde  look  after  the  steamer,  and 
Scott  has  gone  off  in  the  canal  boat.  The  'Bowman'  is  so 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  175 

slow  that  we  have  dropped  behind  everything.  I  quarter  in 
the  captain's  state  room  and  the  men  sleep  on  the  hay  in  the 
hold.  The  fare  on  board  is  good  and  we  have  a  jolly  time. 

At  night  we  anchored  in  the  Potomac  river.  The  next 
day  all  went  well,  beautiful  weather  and  the  whole  fleet 
ahead  of  us. 

Before  daylight  on  the  24th  we  anchored  off  Fortress 
Monroe.  While  waiting  to  disembark  I  took  the  schooner's 
boat  and  rowed  round  the  Monitor.  As  soon  as  we  came  in 
sight  of  the  fort  I  commenced  looking  for  the  Monitor,  and 
pretty  soon  I  espied  a  puff  of  smoke,  and  a  box  on  a  raft, 
lying  up  in  the  Roads  among  the  fleet. 

We  rowed  round  close  to  her  and  I  counted  some  20  shot 
marks  all  over  her,  five  or  six  in  the  turret,  some  of  them 
very  near  the  portholes,  and  the  rest  along  her  sides.  The 
one  which  had  made  the  most  impression  struck  about  three 
feet  from  the  bows  near  the  upper  edge  of  the  side,  and 
dented  in  the  side  plate  about  two  inches,  started  the  rivets 
and  knocked  up  the  deck  plate.  The  other  shots  had  made 
more  or  less  impression :  those  which  struck  the  middle  of 
the  plates  merely  denting  them  an  inch  or  so,  and  those 
which  struck  near  the  edges,  driving  in  the  plates  and  start 
ing  the  rivets,  breaking  the  heads  off.  However,  no  seri 
ous  damage  was  done. 

About  noon  we  had  our  Battery  landed  and  took  up  our 
line  of  march.  Passing  by  Fortress  Monroe  we  kept  on 
over  the  bridge  to  the  main  land,  and  on  through  what  was 
once  the  main  street  of  Hampton,  but  now  only  a  road 
between  ruined  houses.  For  half  a  mile  the  road  was  lined 
with  walls  and  chimneys,  but  only  two  whole  houses  were 
in  sight.  Just  beyond  the  village  we  came  to  General  Por 
ter's  Head  Quarters;  then  we  passed  the  camp  of  General 
Porter's  and  Hamilton's  Divisions.  Still  on  we  kept,  till 
we  came  to  Captain  Martin's  battery  encamped  in  a  large 
field  on  the  right  of  the  road.  Here  we  turned  in  and 
pitched  our  camp.  A  deserted  and  ruined  house  furnished 


176  HISTORY    OF    THE 

us  with  firewood  and  flooring  and  soon  our  camp  fires  were 
blazing  merrily. 

Xims  Battery,  (Ormand  F.  Nims)  Mass.  Art'y,  is  two 
miles  back,  but  nobody  is  in  front  of  us,  save  a  few  pickets. 
\Ye  start  again  tomorrow,  to  fight  or  not,  who  knows? 

Captain  Griffin's  Battery  arrived  soon  after  we  did,  and 
Captain  \Yeedeirs  has  just  come.  We  have  a  pleasant 
camping  ground,  level  as  a  barn  floor.  The  camp  fires  and 
the  variety  of  tents  give  quite  a  picturesque  appearance  to 
the  scene.  The  rest  of  the  Division  is  a  mile  back  of  us." 

The  little  village  of  Hampton  referred  to  by  Lieut.  Phil 
lips,  was  burned  by  Magruder,  on  seeing  in  a  northern  news 
paper  that  the  Federal  forces  contemplated  occupying  the 
town  as  winter  quarters,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the 
hands  of  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler. 

From  his  Head  Quarters  on  the  Back  River  road  he 
designated  four  companies,  two  of  infantry  and  two  of  cav 
alry,  to  proceed  there  at  night.  Each  company  fired  one- 
quarter  of  the  town  as  divided  at  the  cross  streets,  and  it 
soon  became  one  mass  of  flames. 

The  Monitor  was  launched  on  the  3Oth  of  January  1862, 
and  was  lost  in  a  gale  off  Cape  Hatteras  the  3<Dth  day  of 
December,  just  eleven  months  after  she  was  launched. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Saturday  March  22,  1862.  \Yent  into 
the  wheel  house  and  tried  to  get  a  little  sleep  but  could  not, 
the  roof  leaked  like  a  sieve.  I  was  about  wet  through.  At 
last  daylight  came  and  I  was  very  hungry.  I  went  aboard 
a  barge  alongside  and  got  the  cook  to  give  me  a  cup  cf 
coffee,  which  put  new  life  into  me.  At  9  in  the  forenoon 
we  were  under  way.  The  men  were  on  the  steamer  'A.  H. 
Bowman'  having  two  schooners  with  the  horses  aboard  in 
tow.  They  lead  the  way.  Myself  and  8  others  were  left 
to  guard  the  barge  as  all  the  provisions  are  on  this  boat. 
So  I  shall  live  well  enough. 

It  was  a  sight  to  see.  Thirty-thousand  men  embarked 
and  sailed  down  the  river  together.  The  'Nellie  Baker'  of 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  177 

Boston,  is  one  of  the  boats  carrying  troops.  As  soon  as  we 
got  well  under  way  we  began  to  look  around  for  something 
to  eat.  I  got  some  sugar,  bread,  coffee,  and  beans,  and  we 
had  a  glorious  time,  8  of  us,  sitting  down  to  a  breakfast  of 
stewed  beans,  hot  coffee,  bread  and  butter. 

I  went  down  between  decks,  and  made  up  a  splendid 
place  to  sleep  when  night  came. 

On  the  trip  down  the  river  we  passed  several  old  rebel 
batteries,  also  Mount  Vernon  the  home  of  Washington. 
The  view  on  the  Potomac  is  splendid.  Also  passed  Fort 
Washington  and  were  loudly  cheered  by  the  men.  .  .  .  The 
freight  boats  were  the  'Herald'  one  barge  and  schooner  in 
tow,  'Savage'  one  schooner,  'Hero,'  one  boat,  one  barge, 
'Propeller'  two  schooners,  'Curlew'  one  schooner  and  one 
barge.  'A.  H.  Bowman'  two  schooners  in  tow.  Four  U.  S. 
gunboats  and  one  tug  accompanied  the  expedition. 

Sunday,  March  23d.  We  are  anchored  in  Hampton 
Roads  in  sight  of  Fortress  Monroe.  The  celebrated  iron 
steamer  'Monitor'  is  near  us.  She  is  being  repaired.  She 
was  some  hurt  in  the  conflict  with  the  'Merrimac.'  Had 
hot  coffee  and  hard  bread  and  'scouse'  for  breakfast.  We 
can  see  with  a  glass  the  rebel  flag  on  the  other  side.  Had 
hot  biscuit,  flap-jacks,  and  hot  coffee  for  supper. 

Monday,  March  24th.  About  9  this  morning,  our  men 
in  the  steamer  began  to  land.  Some  of  them  came  aboard, 
and  they  told  us  that  they  were  about  starved.  Made  some 
coffee  for  them,  and  got  some  raw  salt  pork,  and,  my  lord ! 
how  they  did  eat.  Three  more  boat  loads  came  alongside 
and  we  fed  them. 

Some  of  us  took  a  boat  and  went  alongside  of  the  'Mon 
itor.'  She  is  a  very  peculiar  looking  craft  being  only  15 
inches  out  of  water  but  drawing  9  feet  of  water.  She  is 
cased  with  steel  plates  five  inches  thick.  She  carries  two 
guns.  184  pounders,  in  a  revolving  tower  on  deck.  There 
are  several  more  vessels  of  the  same  kind  under  way  and  will 
soon  be  completed. 


178  HISTORY   OF    THE 

At  half  past  one  I  landed  on  the  wharf  at  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  and  began  to  help  unload  the  guns.  At  3  o'clock  the 
Bugle  sounded  'Forward !'  and  we  began  our  march  for  our 
camp  ground  for  the  night.  Passed  through  the  once  flour 
ishing  place  of  Hampton.  There  is  nothing  left  now  but 
blackened  walls  and  ruins.  .  .  .  Some  of  the  ruins  left 
show  marks  of  once  being  splendid  buildings.  We  are 
quite  near  the  enemy,  and  our  orders  are  to  advance  to 
Yorktown.  The  Division  I  am  in  consists  of  125,000  men. 
Arrived  at  our  camp  ground  about  sundown,  and  began  to 
make  and  pitch  our  tents  for  the  night.  We  take  two 
'poncho'  rubber  blankets  and  put  them  together,  and  make 
a  tent  large  enough  for  two  to  sleep  in;  Joe  Knox  and  my 
self  sleeping  together. 

Tuesday  morning  March  25th.  About  ^  past  8  the  order 
came  to  advance.  Struck  our  little  tents,  and  at  9  were 
ready  to  start,  but  had  to  wait  for  5,000  infantry  to  pass. 
At  half  past  10  we  began  our  march  forward,  and  arrived 
at  our  destination  in  about  an  hour.  We  are  now  stationed 
to  guard  the  bridge  connecting  Hampton  and  Newmarket. 
This  bridge  has  been  the  bone  of  contention  between  the 
rebels  and  our  troops  for  some  time.  In  case  our  troops  are 
driven  back  we  can  shell  the  enemy  back.  There  are  now 
five  rebel  Regiments  within  2^  miles  of  us.  We  have  re 
ceived  orders  not  to  leave  our  camp  ground,  but  be  on  the 
lookout  all  the  time,  for  on  the  sight  of  any  armed  men 
coming  down  the  road,  we  are  to  fire  on  them.  Our  pieces 
are  all  loaded,  and  when  we  turn  in  at  night,  we  are  al 
lowed  to  take  off  only  our  jackets  and  boots,  so  we  can  be 
ready,  in  case  of  an  alarm  in  the  night.  One  of  our  men 
left  camp  this  afternoon,  and  was  fired  upon  by  one  of  our 
pickets  for  crossing  the  line;  the  way  he  came  into  camp 
was  a  caution.  Have  heard  considerable  firing  during  the 
day.  It  has  been  a  glorious  day.  Have  had  to  throw  off 
jackets  and  go  around  in  our  shirt  sleeves,  it  has  been  so 
warm.  Went  to  Roll  Call  at  8,  and  a  more  splendid  sight 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  179 

I  never  saw  than  the  camp  was,  lit  up  with  large  fires.  We 
have  plenty  of  wood  and  water.  There  was  a  large  'Secesh' 
house  near  by  when  we  arrived  here  this  morning,  but  to 
night  there  is  nothing  left  but  the  chimney.  The  men  and 
officers  have  used  the  lumber  for  tent  floors  and  fuel." 

LETTERS  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE. 

Of  the  fleet  and  the  march  Chase  wrote  at  Hampton,  Va., 
in  letters  of  March  25th  and  26th  1862 : 

"The  scene  on  the  river  on  Saturday  morning  was  a 
grand  spectacle;  to  see  such  a  monstrous  fleet  of  steamers 
and  transports,  all  laden  with  troops  and  munitions  of  war 
is  a  rare  sight.  Guns  of  every  calibre  were  snugly  stowed 
on  board,  whole  deck  loads  of  horses  packed  together  as 
snug  as  they  could  stand,  and  thousands  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  were  crowded  together  on  the  decks,^  and  in  every 
nook  and  corner  of  the  vessels.  When  I  used  to  go  down 
to  the  end  of  Liverpool  wharf  to  see  the  trim  little  'Nelly 
Baker/  and  the  'Nantasket/  crowded  with  passengers  on  a 
pleasant  excursion,  little  did  I  think  that  I  should  ever  see 
them  steaming  down  the  Potomac  loaded  with  soldiers 
bound  for  active  service,  and  your  humble  servant  Tom  in 
the  same  fix,  but  it  was  so,  and  she  looked  as  gay  and  trim 
as  ever.  We  passed  the  deserted  fortifications  of  the  rebels 
on  the  Potomac,  but  saw  no  one  except  a  few  men  from 
Hooker's  Division  who  now  occupy  the  forts.  On  our  way 
to  camp,  we  passed  through  the  town  of  Hampton,  which 
was  burned  by  the  rebels  last  summer,  and  truly  it  is  a  sad 
sight,  to  see  nothing  but  the  chimneys  and  charred  ruins  of 
a  large  and  well  built  town.  All,  or  nearly  all,  the  houses 
were  built  of  brick,  and  the  town  has  the  appearance  of  a 
small  city,  I  should  think  nearly  as  large  as  Haverhill, 
Mass.  I  have  read  and  heard  of  the  destruction  of  property 
that  this  war  has  caused,  but  never  realized  it  before.  Here 
we  see  it.  This  morning  we  were  ordered  to  pack  up  and 


180  HISTORY    OF    THE 

prepare  for  a  march  with  the  Division.  We  all  packed  up 
and  wrote  home,  and  expected  to  meet  the  rebels.  We  did 
not  go  more  than  half  a  mile,  when  we  were  ordered  'in 
Battery'  near  a  turn  in  the  road,  and  but  a  few  rods  from 
the  Newmarket  Bridge.  Our  guns  command  the  road  and 
bridge,  and  we  are  to  guard  it  until  further  orders.  Cap 
tain  Allen  told  us  that  we  might  remain  here  only  three 
hours,  or  we  might  stop  here  three  days,  and  possibly  three 
weeks.  We  are  to  await  further  orders  whether  sooner  or 
later.  The  weather  is  delightful  here.  Some  of  the  plants 
and  the  peach  trees  are  in  bloom,  and  the  trees  and  shrubbery 
are  fast  leafing  out,  the  spring  birds  have  come,  and  'the 
voice  of  the  turtle  is  heard  in  the  land.'  Every  move  that 
we  now  make  gains  new  comforts  for  us.  There  are  a  num 
ber  of  secesh  houses  which  we  have  kindly  volunteered  to 
'clean  out,'  and  all  our  tents  have  good  board  floors.  We 
have  this  day  torn  down  and  carried  away  a  whole  house. 
Of  course  it  had  been  deserted,  and  it  did  not  take  us  but  a 
few  hours  to  confiscate  it;  150  soldiers  make  short  work  of 
tearing  down  a  secesh  house.  A  part  of  our  supper  was 
cooked  tonight  over  the  burning  remains  of  the  house  that 
we  commenced  on  in  the  morning,  and  every  tent  has  a  sep 
arate  fire-place  made  of  the  brick  thereof.  .  .  .  They  are 
putting  up  a  new  line  of  telegraph  as  fast  as  the  Army 
moves.  (26th)  We  are  ordered  to  pack  up  again  this 
morning.  .  .  .  What  a  way  to  live!  not  to  know  one  day 
where  we  are  to  'board'  the  next,  and  only  'take  rooms'  for 
one  night,  but  when  the  weather  is  fine  I  rather  like  it,  it  is 
not  so  monotonous  as  lying  in  camp  in  a  mud  hole,  with 
nothing  to  do.  Now  we  have  to  build  and  furnish  a  new 
house  every  day.  ...  I  hope  you  will  excuse  my  bad  writ 
ing  and  paper,  for  I  have  been  in  every  position,  while  writ 
ing,  except  standing  on  my  head,  but  I  am  going  to  practice 
at  that." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  '  181 


FROM  THE  DIARY  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

'Tuesday  March  25th,  1862:  In  front  of  the  enemy  at 
last.  About  nine  o'clock  Captain  Weeden's  Battery  and 
ours  advanced  half  a  mile  to  the  edge  of  the  river.  Butter- 
field's  and  Martindale's  brigades  are  encamped  close  around 
us. 

Our  guns  are  'in  Battery'  commanding  Newmarket 
Bridge.  I  went  over  the  bridge  this  forenoon.  Our  outside 
pickets  are  between  our  Battery  and  the  river,  about  30 
yards  in  front  of  our  guns." 

PICKET  DUTY. 

It  was  one  of  the  prescribed  rules  to  be  strictly  observed, 
that  an  army  in  camp  or  on  the  march  should  always  throw 
between  itself  and  the  supposed  position  of  the  enemy  an 
advanced  guard  for  the  purpose  of  observing  his  move 
ments  and  position,  as  well  as  keeping  him  in  ignorance  of 
the  state  of  our  own  forces. 

General  Order  No.  69,  Head  Quarters  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  dated  Washington  Feb.  25,  1862,  has  the  follow 
ing  sketch  of  duties  in  camp : 

"Each  Brigade  will  furnish  daily  the  guard  for  its  own  front,  con 
necting  with  the  guards  of  the  Brigades  on  its  right  and  left.  Each 
guard  will  be  under  the  direction  of  a  Field  Officer  of  the  Day,  to  be 
detailed  at  Brigade  Headquarters.  Senior  Captains  may  be  added  to 
the  roster  of  field  officers  for  field  officers  of  the  day  when  necessity 
requires. 

The  guards  of  each  Division  will  be  under  the  direction  of  a  General 
Officer  of  the  Day,  who  shall  receive  his  orders  directly  from  the 
Division  Commander.  Colonels  will  be  added  to  the  roster  of  General 
Officers  for  this  duty. 

Brigade  commanders  may  be  excused  from  serving  on  this  detail. 

SUPPORTS    AND    RESERVES. 

Each  guard  shall  consist  of  a  line  of  sentinels  called  Pickets,  of  a 
line  of  Supports,  from  which  the  sentinels  are  furnished  for  the  front 


182  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  the  Brigade,  and  of  a  Reserve,  posted  in  the  following  manner:— 
The  Reserve  will  occupy  a  commanding  position,  and  be  stationed 
about  a  mile  or  a  mile  and  a  half  in  front  of  the  main  body  of  the 
Brigade. 

The  Supports,  two  or  more,  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the 
length  of  the  lines  may  require,  will  be  thrown  about  one  mile  further 
to  the  front.  They  will  be  placed  in  such  positions  as  easily  to  com 
municate  with  each  other  and  with  the  Reserves,  and  as  near  the 
avenues  of  approach  from  the  front  as  practicable. 

From  these  Supports  the  line  of  Pickets  is  thrown  out  about  two 
hundred  yards  to  the  front. 

As,  upon  the  position  of  this  line,  and  the  manner  in  which  the 
Pickets  perform  their  duty,  the  safety  of  the  entire  Army  depends,  no 
pains  must  be  spared  to  ensure  their  being  properly  posted  and  in 
structed  in  their  duties :  and  the  utmost  vigilance  must  be  observed 
to  enforce  a  proper  performance  of  them. 

The  line  will  be  formed  by  posting  groups  of  three  men  each:  these 
groups  to  be  not  more  than  150  yards  apart,  and  much  closer  when  the 
nature  of  the  ground  or  the  attitude  of  the  enemy  requires.  These 
groups  will  keep  up  constant  communication  with  each  other:  which 
will  be  readily  accomplished  by  one  man  of  each  group  walking  half 
way  to  the  group  on  his  left:  another  half  way  to  the  group  on  his 
right,  thus  always  leaving  one  of  the  three  at  the  original  station.  None 
of  the  men  stationed  on  this  line  will  be  allowed  to  sit  or  lie  down 
on  their  post,  nor  will  they  quit  their  arms,  or  relax  the  vigilance  of 
faithful  sentinels,  by  day  or  night.  These  Pickets  will  be  relieved  every 
two  hours,  and  being  furnished  by  the  Supports,  the  latter  will  be 
divided  into  three  reliefs  for  this  purpose.  The  Supports  will  be  re 
lieved  from  the  Reserve  every  six  hours. 

The  Reserve  will  also  furnish  a  line  of  sentinels  to  communicate 
with  the  Supports,  as  well  as  a  line  communicating  with  the  Headquar 
ters  of  the  Brigade.  The  sentinels  on  these  lines  will  be  posted  within 
easy  call  of  each  other,  so  that  intelligence  may  be  passed  from  the 
Pickets  to  the  Camp  with  the  utmost  celerity.  They  are  to  be  relieved 
every  two  hours,  and  while  on  post  must  keep  constantly  on  the  alert, 
never  being  allowed  to  sit  or  lie  down. 

The  duties  of  the  Pickets  are  to  keep  a  vigilant  watch  over  the 
country  in  front,  and  over  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  if  in  sight: 
to  prevent  all  unauthorized  persons  from  passing  in  or  out  of  the  lines, 
and  to  arrest  all  suspicious  individuals.  In  case  of  an  attack,  they  will 
act  as  a  line  of  skirmishers,  and  hold  their  ground  to  the  last  moment. 
If  forced  to  retire,  they  will  slowly  close  their  intervals,  and  fall  back 
upon  their  Supports. 

The  Supports,  being  placed  in  strong  positions,  will  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  receive  the  Pickets,  and  repel  an  attack,  retiring  in  good 
order  upon  the  Reserve,  when  unable  any  longer  to  hold  their  ground. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  183 

One  relief  of  the  Supports  will  be  allowed  to  sleep.  One  must  con 
stantly  be  on  the  alert.  One  commissioned  officer  must  also  be  up  and 
awake  at  all  hours. 

No  fires  will  be  allowed  on  the  line  of  Supports,  or  outside  the  line 
of  Reserves.  Any  fires  found  burning  will  be  promptly  extinguished. 

The  Reserves,  stationed  in  a  strong  position,  and  one  which  com 
mands,  as  far  as  practicable,  all  approaches  to  the  camp,  shall  be  of 
sufficient  strength  to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  thus  affording 
the  main  body  of  the  Army  ample  time  to  form  and  orepare  for  attack. 
It  will  give  a  rallying  point  for  the  Pickets  and  their  Supports,  if  driven 
in,  and,  being  reinforced  by  them,  will  hold  its  ground  until  ordered 
bv  the  Division  Commander  to  retire.  At  least  one  commissioned  offi 
cer  and  one-third  of  the  men  of  the  Reserve  must  be  on  the  alert  at 
all  hours.  Fires  may  be  built  on  this  line  in  such  places  as  are  screened 
from  the  view  in  front  by  the  nature  of  the  ground.  The  position  of 
the  Reserve  should  be  strengthened  by  the  use  of  all  such  defences  as 
the  country  affords.  When  near  the  enemy  abattis  should  be  con 
structed  whenever  practicable.  The  Reserve  shall,  in  addition  to  the 
lines  of  sentinels  already  mentioned,  send  out  patrols  between  the  lines 
and  a  short  distance  to  the  front  of  the  line  of  Pickets,  to  examine  such 
portions  of  the  country  as  are  not  fully  in  view  of  the  Pickets. 

A  detachment  of  Cavalry  shall  be  attached  to  each  Reserve,  which 
shall  send  several  mounted  men  to  remain  with  each  of  the  Supports, 
to  act  as  messengers  in  case  of  necessity.  These  men  shall  be  relieved 
every  six  hours,  and  while  on  duty  with. the  Support  shall  keep  their 
horses  saddled  and  bridled.  The  detachment  with  the  Reserve  shall 
keep  one  half  of  their  horses  saddled  and  bridled,  prepared  to  mount 
at  the  command.  This  Cavalry  is  to  be  used  for  mounted  patrols,  and 
such  other  duty  in  connection  with  the  guard  as  the  Field  Officer  of 
the  Day  may  direct. 

Field  Artillery  may  sometimes  be  used  to  strengthen  the  position  of 
the  Reserves  whenever  the  nature  of  the  ground  gives  it  an  effective 
range.  In  all  cases  when  artillery  forms  a  portion  of  the  guard,  it  will 
be  constantly  in  readiness  for  immediate  use.  The  horses  will  never 
be  unhitched,  and  their  drivers  will  remain  within  reach  of  them. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  Advanced  Guard  will  consist  of  about  one- 
tenth  of  the  effective  strength  of  the  command.  But  this,  of  course, 
varies  with  circumstances.  The  Reserve, — with  the  sentinels  and  pa 
trols  it  furnishes, — will  comprise  two-thirds  of  the  entire  guard.  The 
other  third  being  subdivided  for  the'  Supports  and  their  Pickets.  The 
positions  of  Pickets,  Supports,  and  Reserves,  will  be  designated  by  the 
Field  Officers  of  the  Day  for  each  Brigade,  under  the  supervision  and 
control  of  the  General  Officer  of  the  Day  for  the  Division. 

Each  Commander  of  Division  will  have  an  understanding  with  the 
Commander  on  his  right  and  left,  as  to  where  they  are  to  unite  with 
the  adjoining  Guards. 


184  HISTORY    OF    THE 

On  arriving  at  the  position  to  be  occupied  by  the  Reserve,  the  Com 
mander  of  the  Guard  will  advance  with  and  station  the  Supports  and 
point  out  the  position  of  the  line  of  Pickets.  The  Commander  of  the 
Supports  will,  accompanied  by  the  non-commissioned  officers  of  the 
reliefs,  post  the  Pickets  of  the  first  relief,  and  explain  to  them  their 
duties.  They  will  be  careful  to  observe  that  the  whole  ground  is  cov 
ered  ;  and  that  perfect  connection  is  made  with  the  lines  on  their  right 
and  left.  After  the  Pickets  are  posted,  the  Commander  of  the  Guard, 
will  himself  visit  them,  see  that  they  understand  their  duties  and  occupy 
proper  positions,  and  connect  with  the  lines  to  the  right  and  left. 
Should  the  position  of  the  Pickets  be  changed,  the  order  must  pass 
through  the  Commander  of  the  Supports  to  which  they  belong. 

The  Commander  of  the  Guard  will  make  himself  thoroughly  ac 
quainted  with  the  ground  which  his  Guard  occupies,  with  the  ap 
proaches  and  communications.  He  will  keep  up  constant  communica 
tion  from  front  to  rear  and  from  right  to  left  by  means  of  lines  of  sen 
tinels  and  patrols.  In  case  of  alarm  he  will  promptly  investigate  the 
cause,  and  be  careful  not  to  exaggerate  the  danger.  Should  the  enemy 
advance,  he  will,  by  personal  observation,  endeavor  to  discover  whether 
they  are  in  force,  and  beware  of  causing  unnecessary  alarm.  He  will 
communicate  all  important  intelligence  to  the  Field  Officer  of  the  Day, 
who  will  report  the  same  to  the  General  Officer  of  the  Day,  and  if  the 
case  be  urgent,  directly  to  Division  and  Brigade  Headquarters.  He 
will  see  that  all  the  duties  of  his  Guard  are  performed  in  a  prompt  and 
soldierly  manner,  and  enforce  the  strictest  discipline.  The  Field  Offi 
cer  of  the  Day  will  visit  the  Reserves,  Supports  and  Pickets  soon  after 
they  are  posted,  and  at  least  once  during  the  night.  ...  At  nightfall 
the  line  should  be  drawn  somewhat  closer  to  the  Supports,  and  should 
pass  through  the  lower  ground,  and  just  within  the  front  of  any  timber 
or  brush.  .  .  . 

All  sentinels  of  Advanced  Guards  must  be  given  the  countersign 
[see  p.  797  April  2,  1864]  before  sunset,  and  commence  challenging 
immediately  thereafter.  At  night  care  and  vigilance  must  be  redoubled 
by  officers  and  men  of  the  Guard." 

GREAT    BETHEL. 

The  bridge  having  been  repaired  on  March  26,  1862,  the 
22d  Mass.,  Infantry,  went  over  on  a  reconnoissance  march 
ing  to  within  a  mile  of  Great  Bethel  After  a  seven  mile 
inarch  they  only  saw  a  few  pickets. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  were  ordered  to  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  support  the  22d  if  attacked.  During  the 
night  the  lieutenant  of  the  picket  was  shot  at.  It  was  pro 
posed  to  take  possession  of  Great  Bethel  on  the  27th  and 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  185 

about  seven  o'clock  our  troops  began  to  march  past  in  the 
following  order : 

Griffin's  Battery,  Hancock's  Brigade,  Smith's  Division. 

ist  N.  Y.  Battery,  Butterfield's  Brigade,  Porter's  Divi 
sion. 

Martin's  Battery,  Ayres'  Battery,  Brooks'  Brigade, 
Smith's  Division. 

Morell's  Brigade,  Porter's  Division. 

3d  N.  Y.  Battery,  Davidson's  Brigade,  Smith's  Division. 

In  all  about  15,000  men;  30  guns. 

Martindale's  Brigade  was  held  in  reserve. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Wednesday  March  26,  1862.  Turned 
out  for  drill.  Came  in,  in  about  an  hour.  About  10  o'clock 
we  hitched  up,  and  were  ordered  to  cover  the  rear  of  the 
22d.  Mass.  Remained  kin  Battery'  about  an  hour,  and  seeing 
no  signs  of  the  rebels  we  went  to  our  quarters.  Was  much 
pleased  by  seeing  a  number  of  men  from  Nims'  (Second 
Mass.)  Battery.  They  are  ordered  to  leave  tomorrow  for 
Ship  Island  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River.  We  are 
waiting  for  an  advance  to  be  made.  There  is  a  rebel  for 
whose  capture  $300  will  be  paid  at  the  Fort.  He  is  a  great 
shot,  and  has  killed  off  several  of  the  infantry  pickets. 
There  is  a  house  near  by  and  we  have  received  orders  to 
shell  it  out  this  afternoon.  Spies  have  been  lurking  around 
our  camp  today.  Arrested  one  of  them  and  sent  him  to  the 
Fort.  It  has  been  a  glorious  day  and  as  warm  as  it  is  at 
home  in  the  summer,  but  the  nights  are  heavy  with  dew, 
and  if  we  are  out  we  have  to  wear  our  overcoats. 

Thursday,  March  27th.  The  same  old  drill  and  such 
like." 

Lt.  Phillips  in  his  letter  of  March  2/th  1862,  Thursday 
evening,  wrote: — "We  were  ordered  to  report  to  General 
Martindale  as  soon  as  we  heard  firing,  so  we  waited  with 
horses  harnessed  ready  to  start  at  a  moment's  notice,  but  as 
the  day  passed  on  we  gave  up  all  hopes  of  an  engagement. 


186  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Once  or  twice  we  heard  the  report  of  a  field  piece,  but  no 
orders  came  and  we  unharnessed. 

Pretty  soon  a  cloud  of  dust  appeared  on  the  road,  and 
back  came  Griffin's  Battery  all  covered  with  dust  and  dirt, 
but  his  sponges  as  clean  as  if  they  had  never  sponged  a  gun. 
Then  came  infantry,  General  Porter  and  his  staff  and  Mar 
tin's  Battery.  They  had  been  5  miles  beyond  Great  Bethel 
and  seen  hardly  a  rebel. 

Smith's  Division  remained  behind,  and  it  is  very  likely 
that  we  shall  push  on  tomorrow. 

The  remainder  of  the  Division  was  encamped  along  the 
left  hand  road.  Until  today  the  pickets  were  on  outside 
picket,  and  as  the  brook  is  not  more  than  100  yards  in  front 
of  our  guns,  we  were  pretty  well  up  to  the  front.  Last 
night  the  officer  of  the  picket  was  fired  at  while  at  the  fire 
in  front  of  our  park  30  yards  off.  The  bullet  whistled  near 
enough  to  be  uncomfortable.  The  first  day  we  came  there 
was  quite  an  excitement  firing  at  somebody  in  the  old 
house  900  yards  off.  After  he  disappeared  a  lot  of  pigs 
made  their  appearance,  and  the  pickets  kept  popping  at 
them  all  day.  They  did  not  hit  any  and  strict  orders  had 
been  given  to  allow  no  one  near  the  old  house.  Today,  how 
ever,  as  the  advance  of  our  forces  had  removed  all  risk, 
Hyde  and  Scott  took  their  revolvers  and  went  foraging 
round  the  house,  and  succeeded  after  an  exciting  chase  in 
bringing  home  two  pigs.  Martin's  Battery  brought  home 
six  pigs,  one  on  each  caisson.  We  have  also  gained  a  colt, — 
secesh  of  course, — which  by  some  means  or  other  strayed 
into  our  camp,  and  was  forthwith  caught  and  appropriated. 
We  fare  rather  better  than  most  of  the  troops  round  us,  ow 
ing  to  the  superior  cuteness  of  our  quartermaster.  Our 
Battery  is  in  first  rate  order;  good  horses,  guns  and  car 
riages  well  kept,  and  men  in  good  health.  We  have  re 
ceived  a  good  many  compliments  on  our  appearance,  and 
venture  to  hope  that  it  is  not  entirely  undeserved.  Our 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  187 

drill  is  now  quite  good   and  I  think  we  shall  do  pretty  well 
in  a  fight. 

The  'Vanderbilt'  and  another  large  steamer  are  now  in 
the  Roads,  and  it  is  proposed  to  run  them  full  tilt  at  the 
rebel  steamer.  Probably  it  would  settle  the  Vanderbilt,  but 
the  Merrimac  would  be  likely  to  go  down  too. 

Friday  morning  March  28.  I  see  the  campaign  is  open 
ing  as  I  expected;  General  (Nathaniel  P.)  Banks  advancing 
up  the  Shenandoah,  and  the  rebels  falling  back  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock.  Is  Burnside  going  to  take  Weldon?" 

Grows'  Journal:  "Friday,  March  28,  1862.  After 
breakfast  went  and  sat  down  by  the  side  of  the  road,  which 
is  very  near  my  tent,  and  stayed  there  till  -J  past  10,  looking 
at  the  regiments  of  infantry,  batteries  of  artillery,  and 
squadrons  of  cavalry  pass  by  on  their  way  to  capture  Great 
Bethel.  There  was  a  vast  number  of  men  and  horses  with 
teams,  and  in  the  rear  the  mournful  looking  ambulances 
for  the  wounded  if  there  should  be  any.  We  soon  received 
orders  in  case  we  heard  heavy  firing,  to  advance  as  soon  as 
we  could,  but  we  did  not  hear  any,  so  we  still  remain  in  the 
same  place.  .  .  . 

About  4  this  afternoon  a  large  portion  of  the  troops  that 
went  out  this  morning,  came  back,  and  will  make  a  still 
farther  advance  in  a  few  days.  They  told  us  that  the  rebels 
left  in  a  great  hurry  when  they  saw  our  troops  coming  on 
to  them  at  Great  Bethel,  in  some  cases  leaving  their  dinner 
on  the  table,  and  leaving  all  their  goods  behind.  Only  four 
'Secesh'  were  killed.  Our  troops  came  back  well  laden  with 
hams,  eggs,  dead  hogs  and  live  turkeys.  I  do  not  blame 
them,  poor  fellows.  Had  some  'Secesh'  curiosities  given 
me,  such  as  a  fan,  some  buttons  &c." 

March  2Qth  the  rebels  held  Great  Bethel  and  our  pickets 
extended  only  half  a  mile  beyond  Newmarket  Bridge.  Mr. 
Whittemore  of  the  New  York  Times  dined  with  the  officers 
of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  on  fried  pork,  bread,  and  tea. 
General  Porter  had  been  heard  to  say  that  they  would  have 


188  HISTORY    OF    THE 

some  fighting  soon,  that  the  Battery  would  be  in  the  front, 
and  he  hoped  it  would  be  the  first  to  open  fire  on  the  enemy. 
Sunday  March  3Oth  the  men  had  a  good  dinner  of  baked 
beans  which  were  cooked  in  an  oven  that  they  built  them 
selves. 

LETTER  OF  LT.  PHILLIPS. 

"NEWMARKET  BRIDGE, 
Sunday  Morning,  March  30,  1862. 

If  marching  20,000  men  ten  miles^  and  back  again  con 
stitutes  a  great  general,  we  have  talented  commanders 
round  here.  Twenty  thousand  men  marched  out  to  Great 
Bethel  with  flying  colors,  and,  as  I  supposed,  left  some  few 
behind  to  occupy  the  place,  but  in  this  I  was  mistaken,  for 
I  have  since  ascertained  that  all  returned.  Why  on  earth 
a  reconnoissance  in  such  force  could  not  have  ended  in  a 
real  advance  I  do  not  know.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac 
waits  till  the  rebels  have  evacuated  Manassas,  and  then  ad 
vances  with  a  grand  huljabulloo  to  occupy  deserted  in- 
trenchments,  and  this  is  military  strategy! 

The  army  at  Fortress  Monroe  advances  to  Great  Bethel 
to  find  it  deserted  and  march  back  again,  and  this  is  military 
strategy ! 

Dillingham  and  I  rode  down  to  Newport  News  Friday 
afternoon,  and  passed  through  Smith's  Division  on  our 
way.  The  regiments  wrere  camped  close  together,  and  the 
camp  fires  cast  a  brilliant  light  on  the  road.  Fences  and 
woods  are  rapidly  disappearing  before  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  the  country  will  soon  be  stripped  as  bare  as 
the  hills  round  Alexandria. 

At  Newport  News  I  found  a  redoubt  on  a  hill  armed 
with  heavy  guns,  and  outside  of  this  an  intrenchment  de 
fended  by  two  or  three  field  and  siege  guns.  The  space 
inside  of  the  intrenchment  is  filled  with  barracks,  offices, 
and  all  sorts  of  log  and  frame  houses. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  189 

Dillingham  found  a  friend  of  his  in  the  commissary  de 
partment,  who  showed  us  round. 

The  'Cumberland'  was  lying  close  in  shore,  her  hull 
below  water,  but  her  masts  and  rigging  all  standing. 

A  few  burnt  sticks  farther  down  was  all  that  was  left  of 
the  'Congress.'  Holes  in  the  buildings  showed  where  the 
Merrimac's  shot  had  struck,  and  the  only  wonder  is  that  a 
single  building  was  left  standing.  The  Merrimac  lay  with 
in  point  blank  range,  and  either  her  practice  was  very  bad 
or  her  ammunition  poor.  Most  of  her  shells  did  not  burst, 
which  looks  as  if  the  trouble  was  in  the  ammunition.  .  .  . 

Having  the  countersign  and  parole  we  had  no  difficulty 
in  getting  outside  of  the  lines :  but  in  the  darkness  took  a 
different  road  from  the  one  we  came,  but  as  luck  would 
have  it,  a  shorter  one. 

Pretty  soon  rang  out  in  front  of  us — 'Halt!  who  comes 
there?'  'Friends  with  the  countersign.' 

'Advance!  one  with  the  countersign.' 

So  Dillingham  trotted  ahead,  and  I  could  hear  a  short 
conversation  with  the  sentry.  Pretty  soon  Dillingham  told 
me  to  come  on,  and  I  found  we  had  arrived  at  a  place 
where  the  countersign  was  different.  (See  p.  797  Counter 
sign.)  So  the  sentry  passed  us -on  to  the  next,  and  so  on 
till  we  came  to  the  officer  of  the  day  on  his  rounds. 

It  seems  we  had  come  to  Couch's  Division,  which  had 
just  landed  and  had  the  countersign  which  was  put  on  by 
General  McClellan  on  the  Potomac.  So  he  took  us  in 
charge  and  passed  us  along  for  about  two  miles,  till  we 
reached  the  last  picket.  We  could  not  understand  this 
great  display  of  caution  till  the  officer  told  us  that  his  Divi 
sion  lay  outside  of  everything.  We  concluded  that  he  was 
laboring  under  a  slight  mistake,  as  some  30,000  men  lay 
between  him  and  Great  Bethel. 

March  31,  1862.  Our  Battery  is  at  present  in  position 
commanding  Newmarket  Bridge.  .  .  .  Hamilton's  Divi 
sion  3d  Corps  and  Casey's  Division  Keyes's  Corps,  are  here. 


190  HISTORY   OF    THE 

The  Naval  Brigade  Colonel  (David  W.)  Wardrop,  the 
Dutch  Brigade  our  neighbors  on  Capitol  Hill,  and  others 
of  the  Artillery  Reserve,  are  strung  along  between  Hamp 
ton  and  Fortress  Monroe.  On  the  whole  I  think  you  may 
set  the  effective  force  here  at  75,000  infantry,  150  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  a  lot  of  cavalry;  enough  to  do  something 
when  they  get  started.  It  is  said  that  General  McClellan 
arrived  here  yesterday.  A  salute  of  13  guns  was  fired  from 
trie  Fort  yesterday.  Two  squadrons  of  cavalry  and  400  or 
500  infantry,  rode  by  here  today  over  the  bridge  on  a  re- 
connoissance. 

Our  cat,  imported  from  Massachusetts,  has  taken  up  her 
quarters  with  us,  (in  the  tent)  as  being  the  warmest  to  be 
found.  The  country  here  is  quite  different  from  the  banks 
of  the  Potomac,  the  soil  is  sandy  so  that  we  are  not  troubled 
with  mud,  and  the  ground  is  very  level,  with  here  and  there 
a  brook  and  wood.  A  better  field  for  infantry  to  manoeuvre 
in  could  not  be  found.  The  Division  parades  are  all  large 
enough  to  review  the  whole  Division,  and  100,000  men  can 
be  handled  here  easier  than  25,000  on  the  Potomac.  Our 
artillery  is  splendid,  and  Porter's  Division  is  equal  to  any 
in  this  respect.  Griffin's  Battery  (D,  5th  U.  S.)  is  equal 
to  any  regular  battery;  Martin's  (Third  Mass.)  is  as  good 
a  battery  as  Massachusetts  has  sent. 

We  also  come  from  Massachusetts,  and  Weeden's 
(Fourth  R.  I.)  is  a  Rhode  Island  battery,  which  state  shares 
with  Massachusetts  the  pre-eminence  in  volunteer  artillery. 
Captain  (Stephen)  Thomas  of  the  Mass.  i8th  dined  here 
yesterday  on  fried  pork  and  tea.  Colonel  Wardrop  was  up 
here  when  we  were  lucky  enough  to  have  fresh  meat.  To 
day  we  have  made  a  ten  strike  and  got  hold  of  some  fresh 
meat,  potatoes,  dried  apples,  and  sugar.  Milk  we  have 
given  up  for  a  long  time." 

Lieut.  Phillips  thus  describes  a  shell  thrown  from  the 
Merrimac: — "6  inches  diam.,  12  inches  long,  weighing 
filled  about  60  Ibs.  The  packing,  of  some  soft  metal,  was 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  191 

all  stripped  off,  and  it  looked  as  if  there  had  been  a  cap  on 
the  rear  end.     The  fuze  was  percussion." 


Tuesday,  April  i,  1862,  was  observed  as  April  Fool's 
Day.  Grows  notes  in  his  journal  being  awakened  by  one 
of  the  men  informing  him  that  an  acquaintance  from  Bos 
ton  was  on  the  ground  from  the  2Oth  Regt.  and  wished  to 
see  him.  Grows  began  dressing,  but  before  he  went  out 
thought  what  day  it  was,  and  told  him  to  tell  the  man  to 
come  into  the  tent.  He  did  not  come.  At  'Reveille'  many 
were  the  jokes  played  upon  both  officers  and  men. 

Grows'  Journal  of  the  ist:  "After  dinner  about  fifty  of 
us  went  into  the  woods  near  by  to  catch  some  rabbits. 
They  are  very  plentiful  here.  Came  in  about  an  hour  after 
with  live  large  ones.  If  we  had  had  guns  we  could  have 
had  more,  all  we  had  were  clubs  and  stones.  Cooked  them 
for  our  supper.  Went  this  afternoon  with  the  team  about 
two  miles  from  camp  to  help  get  a  load  of  rails  for  our  fires. 
Got  back  into  camp  about  5  this  afternoon,  feeling  tiptop. 
Went  to  Roll,  then  had  supper  and  a  small  piece  of  rabbit. 
The  air  is  quite  cool  this  evening,  so  we  all  sit  around  our 
fires  with  overcoats  on." 

That  the  men  made  the  best  of  what  they  had  is  shown 
by  Grows'  Journal  where  he  refers  to  making  rice  cakes  for 
his  supper.  He  says,  "Soon  after  breakfast  I  got  some  rice 
and  cooked  it,  also  got  some  hominy  and  cooked  that,  then 
mixed  them  together  and  let  them  cook  awhile,  took  some 
hard  crackers  and  pounded  them  fine  and  put  them  in  to 
thicken  the  rice,  and  then  put  the  stuff  away  to  make  cakes 
for  my  supper,  to  be  fried  in  pork  fat." 

He  thus  describes  the  building  of  the  oven  for  his  De 
tachment  : — "We  went  to  work  and  built  an  oven  and  it  is 
a  nice  one.  We  have  plenty  of  bricks  and  water,  and  dirt 
for  mortar,  after  which  we  covered  the  whole  over  with 
dirt,  except  the  door." 


192  HISTORY    OF    THE 


LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"April  2,  1862.  Newmarket  Bridge:  The  roads  are  get 
ting  so  bad  that  we  shall  have  a  repetition  of  the  immobility 
on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  unless  we  move  soon. 

We  have  rumors  of  moving  every  day,  but  we  are  as 
much  in  the  dark  about  things  here  as  we  are  about  things 
at  home. 

The  first  night  we  camped  here  all  our  pickets  were  on 
this  side  of  the  creek,  one  being  posted  at  the  bridge. 
Since  the  reconnoissance  to  Great  Bethel  they  have  been 
extended  about  half  a  mile  up  the  road.  Still  as  the  enemy 
is  not  in  force  anywhere  near  us  we  have  not  much  to  fear. 

Our  fare  so  far  has  been  the  toughest  we  have  seen,  hard 
bread  such  as  Uncle  Sam  furnishes  to  his  troops  Being  the 
only  thing  attainable.  Most  of  the  sutlers  got  left  behind, 
and  it  is  almost  impossible  -to  buy  anything  round  here. 
Everything  has  to  come  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Fort,  the 
"city"  as  we  call  it,  and  waiting  for  orders  that  may  come 
at  any  moment  we  can  hardly  communicate  with  this.  Still 
we  get  along  without  any  detriment  to  our  health,  and  keep 
cheerful.  The  Division  mail  arrived  at  the  Fort  but  by 
some  mistake  was  given  to  the  wrong  person,  which  makes 
it  rather  doubtful  how  soon  we  shall  get  our  letters. 

P.  S.  Evening.  Just  received.  P.  P.  S.  The  Post 
master  General  desires  that  all  letters  for  the  Division  be 
directed  to  Washington.  The  weather  is  chilly,  with  a 
northeast  wind.  Professor  Low  has  arrived  with  his  bal 
loon." 

THE  SITUATION. 

General  McClellan  on  April  2d,  1862,  had  made  his  head 
quarters  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

Two  new  departments :  those  of  the  Shenandoah  and  the 
Rappahannock  had  been  created.  April  3d  an  order  was 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  193 

issued  by  the  Secretary  of  War  discontinuing  the  recruiting 
service.  Troops  offered  by  Massachusetts  were  peremp 
torily  declined.  General  McClellan  had  no  control  of  the 
naval  forces  upon  which  he  depended  for  co-operation  in 
the  reduction  of  Yorktown,  and  his  command  of  forces  in 
the  field  was  restricted  to  the  limits  bounded  on  the  west  by 
the  Fredericksburg  and  Richmond  R.  R.  and  on  the  east  by 
the  line  defining  the  sixty-mile  limit  from  Fort  Monroe,  and 
lying  between  the  Potomac  and  James  Rivers.  His  de 
partment  included  the  states  of  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  Maryland,  the  District  of  Columbia  and  Virginia 
east  of  the  Alleghanies  and  north  of  the  James  River,  with 
the  exception  of  Fortress  Monroe  and  the  country  sur 
rounding  it,  within  a  distance  of  sixty  miles.  The  rebels 
had  constructed  several  lines  of  fortifications  between  For 
tress  Monroe  and  Yorktown,  the  first  of  which  was  at  Big 
Bethel.  At  Big  Bethel  there  was  a  very  crooked  little 
brook  about  20  feet  wide.  On  the  southern  side  there  was 
a  level  plain,  about  large  enough  to  hold  a  Brigade.  The 
northern  bank  was  very  steep  and  rolling,  and  was  defended 
by  rifle  pits  and  artillery  "epaulements."  (Demi-bastions 
in  fortifications.  A  "bastion"  is  a  bulwark.) 

The  rebels  on  the  advance  of  our  reconnoissance  of  March 
27th,  retreated  beyond  this  line,  to  their  second  fortified  line 
at  Howard's  Mills,  where  our  scouts  reported  a  large  force 
of  cavalry  and  infantry  drawn  up  behind  the  ramparts. 

The  third  line  of  defense  was  right  around  Yorktown. 

General  Order  No.  33,  dated  War  Department  Adjutant 
General's  Office,  Washington,  April  3,  1862,  contained  the 
following  paragraphs : — 

"II  In  order  to  secure,  as  far  as  possible,  the  decent  interment  of 
those  who  have  fallen,  or  may  fall,  in  battle,  it  is  made  the  duty  of 
Commanding  Generals  to  lay  off  lots  of  ground  in  some  suitable  spot 
near  every  battlefield,  so  soon  as  it  may  be  in  their  power,  and  to  cause 
the  remains  of  those  killed  to  be  interred,  with  head-boards  to  the 


194  HISTORY    OF    THE 

graves  bearing  numbers,  and,  where  practicable,  the  names  of  the  per 
sons  buried  in  them.  A  register  of  each  burial  ground  will  be  pre 
served,  in  which  will  be  noted  the  marks  corresponding  with  the  head 
boards." 

It  was  a  wise  forethought  which  dictated  this,  but  what 
of  the  next? 

"III.  The  Recruiting  service  for  volunteers  will  be  discontinued 
in  every  state  from  this  date.  The  officers  detached  on  Volunteer  Re 
cruiting  Service,  will  join  their  Regiments  without  delay,  taking  with 
them  the  parties  and  recruits  at  their  respective  stations.  The  Super 
intendents  of  Volunteer  Recruiting  Service  will  disband  their  parties 
and  close  their  offices,  after  having  taken  the  necessary  steps  to  carry 
out  these  orders.  The  public  property  belonging  to  the  Volunteer 
Recruiting  Service,  will  be  sold  to  the  best  advantage  possible,  and  the 
proceeds  credited  to  the  fund  for  collecting,  drilling,  and  organizing 
volunteers. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Official:  L.  THOMAS, 

Adjutant  General." 


COMPANY  ORDERS. 

On  this  day  Company  Orders  were  "Three  days'  cooked 
rations :  three  days'  uncooked."  The  Battery  was  to  march 
the  next  morning  at  daybreak. 

Grows'  Journal:  "April  3,  1862.  Had  cannoneer's  drill 
one  hour  this  forenoon.  Had  dinner  of  our  baked  beans. 
They  were  done  just  right.  We  were  informed  this  after 
noon  that  we  would  break  camp  at  2  in  the  morning,  so  I 
began  to  pack  the  loose  things  I  had,  so  I  could  be  on  hand 
early.  Had  quite  a  good  supper  of  coffee  and  hard  bread, 
after  which  we  drew  three  days'  rations,  consisting  of  thirty 
hard  bread  and  three  or  four  Ibs.  of  meat,  then  filled  our 
canteens  with  water.  Our  destination  is  to  be  Richmond, 
having  to  pass  through  Bethel  and  Yorktown." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  195 


BANKS'  FIFTH  CORPS. 

April  4,  1862,  the  Corps  designated  as  the  ''Fifth  Corps," 
under  General  N.  P.  Banks,  was  discontinued  by  general 
orders  from  the  War  Department. 

HOWARD'S  MILLS.— THE  FIRST  GUN  FIRED. 

The  historian  of  Martin's  Third  Mass.  Battery  says  of 
the  incident  at  Howard's  Mills : — 

"Friday  April  4,  1862,  reached  Big  Bethel.  At  about 
twelve  o'clock  resumed  our  march.  About  three  miles  far 
ther  on  we  reached  the  Halfway  House,  once  a  hotel  of 
some  importance.  Two  companies  of  rebel  cavalry  had  left 
there  only  an  hour  before.  While  we  were  at  the  Halfway 
House,  cannonading  was  heard  in  advance,  and  a  march  of 
a  mile  brought  us  to  two  rebel  intrenchments.  Berdan's 
Sharpshooters,  at  the  head  of  the  column,  had  been  fired  on 
by  the  enemy,  but  one  of  our  batteries,  the  Fifth  Massachu 
setts,  coming  up,  the  rebels  were  shelled  out  and  our  troops 
occupied  the  works  when  we  reached  them.  .  .  .  Our  ad 
vance  secured  two  guns  in  the  fort,  and  some  commissary 
stores.  Another  fort  near  the  first  had  been  previously 
abandoned." 

HYDE'S  NOTES.     NEW  YORK,  MAY  23,  1900. 
REVISED  JUNE  26,  1901. 

"We  landed  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and,  working  our  way 
with  Butterfield's  Brigade  up  the  peninsula,  through  Hamp 
ton  which  had  recently  been  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  we 
encountered  formidable  earthworks  thrown  up  by  them. 

Several  batteries  were  ahead  of  us,  but  General  Griffin 
sent  back  for  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  The  troops  opened 
to  the  right  and  left,  and  we  passed  through  to  the  front. 


196  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Captain  Griffin,  chief  of  artillery,  ordered  Captain  Allen 
to  send  a  section  of  his  battery  into  the  field  to  attack  the 
enemy  behind  the  earthworks. 

Accordingly  my  section  [the  Right]  was  ordered  to  take 
position  in  the  field  and  open  on  the  enemy.  This  order 
was  immediately  carried  into  effect  by  taking  my  section 
out  of  the  road  and  across  the  field,  and  we  commenced  fir 
ing  into  the  fortifications,  receiving  the  fire  of  the  enemy  in 
return. 

During  this  engagement  the  first  piece  that  was  dis 
charged  was  my  right  piece  in  charge  of  Serg't.  O.  B. 
Smith. 

My  second  piece  was  in  charge  of  Serg't.  Wm.  H.  Pea 
cock. 

We  had  only  fired  a  few  rounds  when  my  second  piece 
(Peacock's)  became  disabled  by  the  trail  being  broken  in 
two  directly  where  the  elevating  screw  goes  through,  and 
notwithstanding  the  shot  and  shell  were  flying  about  us 
promiscuously,  the  butt  of  the  gun  having  gone  down  and 
the  muzzle  up  in  the  air,  Serg't.  Peacock  jumped  up  and 
down,  and  says — 'For  God's  sake  look  at  my  piece!'  As 
we  were  thus  disabled  parts  of  other  batteries  were  sent  in 
to  finish  the  work,  the  enemy  was  driven  out,  and  our  troops 
took  possession,  capturing  several  guns. 

After  we  were  all  through,  Captain  Allen  asked  Captain 
Griffin  if  it  would  be  best  for  us  to  sling  our  piece  and  take 
it  into  the  fortification,  as  he  thought  we  could  make  a  new 
trail  during  the  night.  His  reply  \vas  that  he  did  not  think 
we  could  do  it,  and  it  would  have  to  be  sent  back  to  Wash 
ington.  I  then  spoke  to  Captain  Griffin,  and  said  I  enlisted 
those  artificers,  and  I  knew  that  I  had  men  competent  to  do 
it.  He  said, — 'Well,  if  you  wish,  you  can  try  it.' 

We  accordingly  slung  the  piece,  took  it  into  the  fortifica 
tion,  and  during  the  night  made  a  new  trail  out  of  a  tree 
which  had  been  cut  down;  many  of  us  taking  part  in  the 
work,  using  the  axe,  holding  the  light  &e.  &c. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  197 

We  completed  it:  and  in  the  morning  Captain  Allen  re 
ported  to  Captain  Griffin  that  we  were  ready  for  action  with 
our  six  pieces,  and  were  ready  for  his  inspection.  He  came 
to  look  at  it  and  laughed  a  little,  saying  it  was  not  so  ele 
gant,  or  words  to  that  effect,  but  it  would  do  for  service. 

This  was  one  of  the  pieces  that  was  lost  at  Gaines  Mills, 
and  retaken  by  Union  forces  at  Chancellorsville  three  years 
later." 


FROM  CAPT.  GEO.  D.  ALLEN'S  NOTES. 
APRIL  19,  1900. 

"When  our  forces  halted  within  the  fortification,  Captain 
Allen,  after  consulting  with  the  artificers,  concluded  to  re 
mount  the  gun  that  night,  and  directed  the  broken  trail  to 
be  replaced. 

The  artificers  found  a  tree  of  solid  live  oak,  which  had 
been  cut  clown  by  the  rebels,  and  made  a  new  trail  with  the 
old  one  for  a  pattern.  This  was  done  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  while  Captain  Allen  and  other  officers  held  the 
tallow  candles  for  them  to  see  to  work  by. 

Just  after  daylight  next  morning,  when  General  Fitz 
John  Porter  sent  his  aide  to  see  if  they  could  get  the  gun 
along  on  the  march  that  day  to  Yorktown,  Captain  Allen 
invited  the  aide  to  look  at  the  gun  which  had  been  mounted 
the  night  before  and  was  all  ready.  He  seemed  not  a  little 
surprised  to  find  the  gun  mounted  and  ready  for  action,  and 
Captain  Allen  remarked  to  him  that  he  did  not  believe  there 
was  a  better  gun  trail  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  to 
^ive  his  compliments  to  General  Porter,  and  invite  him  if 
be  passed  us  that  day  to  look  particularly  at  the  gun  trail. 
He  did  pass  us,  and  paid  the  Battery  a  high  compliment  for 
its  Yankee  ingenuity  in  cutting  out  a  new  gun  trail  from 
solid  live  oak  wood,  and  mounting  the  gun  in  so  short  a 


198  HISTORY    OF    THE 

D.  Henry  Grows  who  helped  make  the  new  trail,  said 
Sept.  3,  1900,  that  in  it  "there  were  27  pieces  of  iron,  taken 
off  the  old  one.  It  was  broken  off  at  the  cap  squares,  just 
where  you  elevate  the  gun."  See  p.  204  "Crows'  Journal." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 
APRIL  4,  1862. 

"On  this  morning  agreeably  to  orders  'reveille'  was 
sounded  at  2  o'clock,  and  the  Battery  marched  between  five 
and  six,  near  the  head  of  the  column,  preceded  by  Morell's 
Brigade.  After  a  short  halt  at  Big  Bethel  to  build  a  bridge, 
we  kept  on  and  again  halted  about  two.  After  stopping 
about  15  minutes  the  bugle  sounded  'Forward,'  and  the 
regiment  ahead  opened  to  give  us  a  passage. 

Things  began  to  look  a  little  suspicious,  and  we  soon 
came  in  sight  of  two  regiments  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  a 
field  by  the  road  side,  head  of  column  to  the  right. 

'Forward  into  Line!'  'Left  Oblique!'  Tn  Battery!' 
came  in  quick  succession,  but  soon  our  guns  were  in  posi 
tion  pointing  rebelwards. 

One  regiment  deployed  in  front  as  skirmishers,  and  an 
other  on  our  right  supported  them.  Slowly  the  skir 
mishers  advanced,  and  in  five  minutes  we  heard  quite  a 
lively  fusillade.  Then  we  advanced  through  the  fence  into 
the  next  field,  and  the  Right  section  (Commanded  by  Lt. 
Hyde)  went  forward  to  shell  out  a  rebel  battery  (2  guns) 
distance  2000  yards.  Bang!  went  the  first  gun  and  a  shell 
burst  directly  over  the  fort.  Half  a  dozen  more  times  and 
the  rebels  'skedaddled'  in  a  hurry,  but  one  piece,  just  as 
the  order  was  given  'Cease  Firing,'  tumbled  over  in  the 
most  extraordinary  manner  with  a  broken  trail.  So  Grif 
fin  (Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.)  brought  up  his  Right  section  and 
finished  the  job.  In  half  an  hour  the  stars  and  stripes 
waved  in  the  fort  at  Howard's  Mills.  Then  we  advanced 
over  a  crooked  road,  across  a  swamp,  up  a  hill,  into  these 
intrenchments.  We  quartered  in  a  log  house, — rebel's 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  199 

guard  house  or  something  of  the  sort.  A  camp  bedstead 
was  in  the  room  and  a  fire  blazing.  Dr.  Rawlings  corre 
spondent  of  the  New  York  Times,  will  quarter  with  us." 

From  Phillips'  Letters :  "The  creek  at  Howard's  Mills 
lies  at  the  bottom  of  a  deep  ravine,  and  the  rebel  lines  ex 
tended  along  the  brow  of  the  hill  on  the  North.  The  de 
fences  consisted  of  a  parapet  for  infantry  following  the  lay 
of  the  land  with  irregular  projections  on  the  spurs  of  the 
hill,  pierced  with  embrasures  for  field  pieces. 

When  we  made  the  advance  we  expected  a  fight,  and 
made  our  calculations  accordingly.  As  soon  as  we  came 
in  sight  the  rebels  opened  with  two  field  pieces  from  the 
fort,  but  our  Right  section  soon  shelled  them  out  of  that 
and  we  took  up  our  quarters  in  the  lines,  the  officers  of  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery  occupying  a  log  house." 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  HENRY  D.   SCOTT. 
REVISED  JAN'Y  24,  1901. 

"As  Junior  Lieutenant,  Chief  of  Caissons,  I  was  not  with 
the  Sections  much.  The  weather  was  intolerable.  When 
we  passed  through  Big  Bethel  the  advance  found  a  rebel 
battery  at  Howard's  Mills,  behind  earthworks.  The  col 
umn  came  to  a  halt,  and  as  the  5th  Battery  had  the  lead  it 
was  ordered  up  to  brush  them  away.  The  Battery  found 
the  troops  resting  on  the  ground  on  each  side  of  the  road. 
They  cheered  us  and  sang  out  'Go  in,  Boys.  Give  'em  fits !' 

As  Chief  of  Caissons  I  halted  them  short  of  the  position 
of  the  Battery,  which  after  a  short  duel  the  battery  in  front 
left,  and  the  column  wTent  on  its  way.  As  I  passed  with 
the  caissons  after  the  5th,  I  saw  one  of  their  Guns  on  the 
ground.  After  reaching  the  ground  where  the  rebel  bat 
tery  had  been,  the  Army  parked  for  the  night,  and  I  was 
sent  back  with  men  and  horses,  to  sling  the  Gun  and  bring 
it  to  camp.  It  wras  dark  when  we  returned.  I  said  as  the 
trail  had  been  broken,  we  could  make  a  new  one.  Finding 


200  HISTORY    OF    THE 

a  timber  of  suitable  size,  with  the  artificers  we  worked  all 
night,  and  in  the  morning  the  Gun  moved  with  the  rest  of 
the  Battery.  The  same  Gun  was  lost  at  Gaines  Mills,  June 
27th,  and  was  not  seen  after,  until,  the  war  over,  it  was 
found  parked  at  Richmond,  Va." 

NOTES  OF  SERGT.  WM.  H.  PEACOCK. 
JULY  18,  1901. 

"Before  we  came  into  Battery  one  of  my  men  had  taken  a 
shell  and  cartridge  out  from  the  chest,  getting  ready  for  a 
quick  shot.  I  recollect  quite  well  that  seventeen  rounds 
were  fired  by  the  two  guns,  and  none  were  fired  by  either 
after  our  trail  broke,  as  the  400  or  500  Rebel  Cavalry  on 
the  opposite  bank  from  us,  had  run  before  we  quit  firing. 
They  fired  some  shell  at  us,  but  it  seemed  to  go  to  the  left 
of  us,  striking  in  the  bank  of  the  hill.  I  have  always  said 
that  our  Gun  of  the  Second  Detachment  fired  the  first  shot 
at  Howard's  Mills.  Comrade  Chase  also  wrote  to  this  ef 
fect  in  his  Diary  at  the  time  it  occurred.  On  firing  the 
ninth  round  the  trail  of  my  gun  broke  at  the  elevating  box, 
dropping  to  the  ground,  while  the  gun  pointed  skyward. 
We  slung  the  gun  under  the  limber  with  the  prolonge  rope, 
and  hauled  off  the  broken  parts  by  hand  that  night.  Our 
position  was  in  a  cornfield.  The  corn  rows  prevented  our 
gun  Trom  getting  the  proper  recoil,  and  this  caused  the  trail 
to  break  at  the  elevating  box.  That  night  our  artificers 
made  a  new  trail  for  the  gun,  and  had  it  completed  before 
morning  so  it  was  as  useful  as  ever,  and  I  was  with  it  until 
its  capture  at  Gaines  Mills  fight.  We  used  to  frequently 
look  up  captured  rebel  artillery  in  hopes  to  find  it  again,  but 
I  never  heard  of  its  being  recovered.  I  recollect  as  some 
of  my  Detachment  at  the  time,  John  F.  Mack,  David  Mc- 
Vey,  Wm.  B.  Newhall,  G.  W.  Poole,  B.  F.  Story,  C.  M. 
Tripp, — I  think, — P.  Welch,  Henry  Fitzsimmons." 

From  Chase's  Diary.     ''April  4,  1862.     Two  miles  from 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  201 

Great  Bethel.  'In  Battery,'  'Action  Front,'  to  be  ready 
for  the  enemy! 

The  Right  section  advanced  about  1000  feet,  and  com 
menced  shelling  a  rebel  battery. 

Serg't  William  H.  Peacock  of  the  Second  Detachment 
of  the  Right  section  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  Light  Ar 
tillery  fired  the  first  gun,  and  it  was  the  first  gun  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  to  be  fired.  After  a  few  rounds  the 
left  piece  of  the  Right  section  had  the  trail  of  the  gun 
broken  off  squarely." 

FROM  LETTER  OF  CORPORAL  J.  E.  SPEAR. 
APRIL  13,  1862. 

"Came  upon  the  rebels  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.  Our  Bat 
tery  being  in  the  advance,  Gen.  Porter  sent  out  with  a  regi 
ment  of  skirmishers  a  section  of  the  Battery.  When  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  entrenchments  a  squadron  of  cavalry 
was  seen  to  leave  very  hurriedly.  Our  skirmishers  fired 
upon  them,  but  as  they  were  some  distance  away  the  shots 
did  not  take  effect.  While  our  guns  were  being  fired  one 
carriage  in  recoiling  was  broken;  the  trail  coming  back  upon 
a  rock  with  such  force  as  to  break  it.  The  rebels  having 
left  their  encampment,  and  entrenchments,  nothing  re 
mained  for  us  to  do  but  to  march  into  them,  which  we  did 
at  a  double  quick.  Remained  all  night.  The  place  was 
called  Howard's  Mills." 

NOTES  OF  CORPORAL  WM.  H.  BAXTER. 

REVISED  OCT.  15,  1900. 
BUILDING  NEW  TRAIL  FOR  GUN  NO.  4. 

"We  went  into  Battery  several  times  approaching  York- 
town.  I  think  it  was  the  second  day  out  from  Fortress 


202  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Monroe,  that  we  were  'in  Battery,'  firing  at  the  fast  re 
treating  Johnnies,,  when  the  trail  of  the  4th  Detachment 
Gun  broke  squarely  in  two  pieces,  causing  the  muzzle  of  the 
Gun  to  point  skyward.  The  accident  put  the  Gun  out  of 
action,  and  upon  arriving  at  camp  that  evening,  the  writer 
was  ordered  to  make  a  detail  to  build  a  new  trail.  The  job 
seemed  insurmountable,  but  a  detail  was  finally  made, 
which  proved  equal  to  the  occasion.  Being  a  non-com, 
my  part  in  the  building  of  that  trail  was  to  do  the  heavy 
standing  around,  and  I  did  it  to  perfection.  We  started 
for  the  woods  near  camp,  and  cast  about  for  a  tree  suitable 
for  the  purpose.  The  writer  can  recollect  but  two  of  the 
boys  who  were  in  this  detail  'Uncle  Dudley'  Blanchard, 
now  passed  away,  and  sterling  Lem.  Washburn.  The  tree 
was  dropped,  a  length  measured  off  suitable  for  the  trail, 
and  the  boys  went  to  work  shaping  it;  nothing  but  axes 
being  used.  After  getting  it  well  roughed  out,  we  hauled 
it  to  camp,  and  it  was  taken  in  hand  by  that  Knight  of  the 
Hammer,  Mike  Hewitt  and  his  assistants,  who  proceeded 
to  put  the  finishing  touches  to  the  wood  and  fitting  the  iron 
work.  My  recollection  of  the  time  taken  to  build  it  is  that 
we  had  that  tree  felled  at  about  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and 
were  ready  to  start  with  the  trail  completed  at  8.30  next 
morning,  overtaking  the  Battery,  which  had  marched  early 
in  the  morning,  between  n  and  12  o'clock  that  noon. 

That  the  work  was  well  done  no  better  evidence  can  be 
had,  than  that  some  of  the  Boys,  after  the  surrender,  saw 
the  old  Gun  in  park  with  the  trail  intact,  just  as  we  had 
'donated'  it  to  the  Johnnies  at  Gaines  Mills,  with  the  excep 
tion  that  the  ground  end  of  it  had  warped  nearly  one  half 
way  around,  the  effect  of  the  sun  upon  the  green  wood  of 
which  it  was  made. 

This  is  one  of  the  many  evidences  which  occurred  dur 
ing  the  war  that  the  Boys  of  '61  were  always  found  equal 
to  every  occasion  where  necessity  demanded  brain  or 
brawn." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  203 

FROM  PRIVATE  BENJAMIN  F.  STORY. 
OCT.  8,  1900. 

"In  regard  to  the  first  shot  at  Howard's  Mills, — We 
were  in  the  advance  in  that  action,  and  were  in  the  advance 
ordered  by  Captain  Griffin  of  the  5th  Regulars  U.  S.  A., 
as  he  had  charge  of  the  4  Batteries — to  place  the  guns  and 
fire  on  the  Rebels  who  occupied  a  hill  to  the  front — which 
we  did — and  Capt.  Griffin  told  Capt.  Allen,  that  he  had  the 
honor  of  firing  the  first  gun  on  the  Peninsula,  and  I  heard 
it  distinctly. 

My  duty  at  the  time  was  head  driver  on  the  Caisson  2cl. 
Detachment,  and  I  know  whereof  I  speak." 

After  recalling  the  same  circumstances  of  the  broken 
trail  he  says: — 

"That  gun,  with  three  others,  was  lost  in  action  at  Gaines 
Mills,  and  was  recaptured  by  us  at  the  Weldon  R.  R.  fight, 
and  turned  in  at  the  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Washington  D.  C. 
when  our  Battery  was  mustered  out.  All  of  which  I  can 
certify  to  having  come  under  my  own  personal  observation 
at  the  time." 


Grows'  Journal:  "Friday  April  4,  1862.  Was  called  at 
half  past  two  this  morning  by  the  Bugle.  Packed  all  my 
things  together.  Lashed  my  knapsack  and  overcoat  on  the 
limber  of  the  piece.  At  half  past  four  we  had  breakfast  of 
hot  coffee  and  hard  bread.  At  a  quarter  to  six  we  took  up 
our  line  of  march  with  the  Corps  which  numbered  some 
30,000  men.  The  morning  was  very  warm  and  close. 
After  marching  a  few  miles  I  saw  plenty  of  overcoats, 
blankets,  and  knapsacks  by  the  roadside,  which  our  troops 
had  thrown  away  on  account  of  the  heat.  Arrived  at  Great 
Bethel  at  half  past  10  in  the  forenoon.  Stopped  long 
enough  to  feed  and  water  the  horses,  then  took  up  the  line 


204  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  march  for  Bethel:  arrived  at  one  o'clock.  Our  scouts 
brought  in  word  that  the  Rebels  were  in  their  entrench 
ments,  and  that  we  would  have  to  shell  them  out.  At  half 
past  one  the  Right  section  opened  fire  upon  their  works,  and 
the  sharpshooters  the  same  upon  their  cavalry,  killing  two. 
The  enemy  then  left  their  works.  We  pushed  on,  but  they 
were  gone,  so  we  began  to  pitch  our  tents  here  in  their 
breastworks.  If  they  had  had  more  pieces  they  could  have 
held  it  against  our  force,  for  some  time. 

There  were  about  800  rebels  in  the  works  when  we  first 
came  upon  them,  but  they  retreated  very  lively." 

Josiah  W.  Gardner,  referring  to  his  journal  of  April  4, 
1862,  says,  "Archie  Waugh  (W.  A.  Waugh)  drove  the 
swing  team  of  No.  i  gun,  and  fired  the  first  shot.  This  was 
Peacock's  gun  which  had  the  trail  broken." 


YORK  TOWN 


/tt.2.  'Summer's  Corps.    3  Porter's  Division,    4-.  Hamilton's  Divisio,,,    of 
H&int?elmans   Corps.  5,6,*7  Keyes   Corps.   BCeneral    McCfeJJon's 
Weaa&uorte.r3.   9.J3r-idqes  over  Worrnley  C r.    Guarded  &_y  the  5f* 
Mass.  oQtf&i~y.    7OPeac"h  orc\arcl.  II.  First  position    taken    by   trie  5  fh- 
floss.  Bvftery   on  April  6'*  /'862.    12.   Houses   burned  ly  Rebe7s.  /3.  Moore's 
house.  l4.Bac\  River  Land  ing.   15  Redoubt    /6.  Lunette.   17.  House  built 
by  5'*  Wass.  Bafter-y.     /S./Mvanced  7-ine  of  Porter-s  Division.     /3   5,/OOpdr 
"parrots*     A.     Mortar  Battery. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

YORKTOWN, 

April  5  to  May  3,  1862. 

"Let  others  hew  from  marble  the  grand  forms 
Imprisoned  there  .  .  . 
For  thee  the  tragedy  of  daily  things, 
By  firesides  placed  amid  our  work  and  books 

How  every  group  the  war  before  us  brings!" 

THOMAS  G.  APPLETON. — Sonnet  to  Rogers. 

THE  ADVANCE. 

Bugle  Call.— "In  Battery." 
Allegro 


[>r  r 


Porter's  Division  on  the  Right,  led  the  advance  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac. 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS, 
OF  APRIL  6,  1862. 

"Sunday  forenoon.  Yesterday  morning  we  left  our  com 
fortable  quarters,  and  started  as  we  supposed  on  a  recon- 
noissance,  but  we  have  not  yet  returned.  After  we  had  pro 
ceeded  a  short  distance  on  our  way  it  commenced  to  rain, 
and  poured  down  till  noon.  We  marched  on,  and  about 
twelve  o'clock  we  heard  firing  ahead,  and  marched  into  a 
fieft. 

205 


206  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  Rhode  Island  Battery  and  Griffin's  were  shelling  the 
rebel  intrenchments.  Pretty  soon  Martin's  Battery  was 
sent  off  to  the  left,  and  commenced  shelling.  About  4 
o'clock,  Martin  returned,  having  lost  2  killed  and  3 
wounded,  and  we  were  ordered  to  relieve  Captain  Weeden, 
who  had  lost  one,  killed.  So  our  pieces  started  off  and 
formed  in  battery  in  front  of  the  rebels  about  2000  yards 
distant. 

Just  as  we  were  coming  into  battery,  a  little  smoke  puffed 
out  from  the  fort,  then  the  report,  and  a  few  seconds  later, 
a  32  pdr.  shell  struck  in  the  dirt  50  yards  on  our  left.  The 
fuze  had  not  ignited,  so  we  picked  up  the  shell  and  carried 
it  home. 

We  blazed  away  once  or  twice  in  return,  and  pretty  soon 
we  heard  two  reports  from  them  to  the  right  and  left,  and 
then  bang,  bang!  two  shells  burst  right  in  front  of  us  50 
feet  from  the  ground;  one  piece  striking  an  infantry  soldier 
in  the  woods  to  our  right.  We  fired  a  little  more,  but,  not 
accomplishing  much,  we  soon  stopped,  and  after  dark  re 
turned  to  camp. 

Early  this  morning,  3  o'clock,  the  Right  and  Centre  sec 
tions  took  position  in  the  same  place,  and  are  at  present, — 
12  m., — there.  The  men  are  mostly  asleep  and  I  am  lying 
on  my  overcoat  writing  this  letter.  The  rebels  have  been 
making  embrasures  in  front  of  their  guns,  probably  to  keep 
off  the  bullets  by  our  skirmishers,  who  are  scattered  round 
pretty  thick.  The  enemy's  gunners  are  quite  good,  and  they 
have  got  our  range  very  well." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Saturday,  April  5,  1862.  We  are 
about  9  miles  from  Yorktown,  and  there  are  about  30,000 
rebels  encamped  there  in  strong  breastworks.  Owing  to 
the  bad  state  of  the  roads  we  did  not  arrive  at  Yorktown 
outside  of  the  enemy's  works  till  half  past  one.  The  rebel 
works  are  in  sight  and  about  i^  miles  to  two  miles  off. 
About  half  an  hour  after  we  arrived  the  Rhode  Island  4th 
Battery  were  ordered  to  open  fire  upon  them.  In  a  short 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  207 

time  one  of  the  enemy's  shells  struck  one  of  their  men,  and 
he  died  in  half  an  hour.  At  £  past  3  this  afternoon  Mar 
tin's  Battery  was  ordered  to  relieve  the  Rhode  Island  Bat 
tery.  As  soon  as  they  came  in  sight  the  enemy  opened 
upon  them  a  murderous  fire  killing  Charles  Lord  and  Ed 
ward  Lewis,  both  of  Charlestown,  wounding  3  men,  and 
killing  6  horses.  After  firing  about  two  hours  they  silenced 
one  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  At  8  o'clock  that  evening  we 
were  ordered  back  to  camp.  Just  as  we  were  leaving  they 
threw  a  shell  which  knocked  down  one  of  the  infantry  about 
100  yards  on  my  right.  We  came  into  camp  feeling  well, 
but  tired. 

Sunday  April  6th.  Was  awakened  at  4  o'clock  this 
morning  by  the  noise  caused  by  the  Right  and  Centre  sec 
tions  going  do\vn  into  the  field.  About  3  this  afternoon, 
went  a  short  distance  to  Martin's  Battery  to  witness  the 
funeral  ceremonies  over  the  bodies  of  Lord  and  Lewis.  It 
was  a  very  affecting  sight.  The  pictures  of  their  wives, 
which  they  had  with  them  were  opened,  and  laid,  open, 
upon  their  breasts,  and  in  this  way  they  were  buried." 

In  the  "History  of  .Rhode  Island  in  the  Rebellion"  may 
be  found  the  following  in  relation  to  these  first  shots : — 

"During  the  advance  on  Yorktown  April,  1862,  Battery 
C,  R.  I.  Captain  Weeden,  went  into  battery  in  a  cornfield 
on  the  right  of  the  road  leading  to  Yorktown.  Griffin's 
Battery  came  up  on  our  right  and  peppered  away  in  fine 
style.  Martin's  did  similar  execution  on  our  left.  In  ad 
vance,  and  about  750  yards  from  the  nearest  rebel  entrench 
ment,  Berdan's  sharpshooters  were  posted.  .  .  .  At_3 
o'clock  p.  m.  Randolph's  Battery  was  ordered  to  relieve 
Griffin's.  He  was  engaged  two  hours.  [This  was  Battery 
E,  ist  R.  I.  Captain  George  E.  Randolph  afterwards  chief 
of  artillery  of  Division  and  Corps,  Third  Corps.]  The  3d 
and  5th  Massachusetts  batteries  took  an  efficient  part  in  the 
fight.  Butterfield's  and  Martindale's  Brigades  reclined  on 
their  arms  within  range  of  the  enemy's  guns  during  the  day. 


208  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  roar  of  cannon  shook  the  earth  like  a  subterranean  con 
vulsion  and  the  sharp  crack  of  Berdan's  rifles  told  how  bus 
ily  they  were  employed.  .  .  .  Two  men  belonging  to  Mar 
tin's  Battery  were  killed  and  five  reported  wounded.  Thus 
Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  share  the  honor  of  shed 
ding  the  first  blood  in  this  preliminary  engagement." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Monday  morning.  (April  7,  1862)  We  had  a  little 
target  practice  yesterday.  We  waited  during  the  forenoon 
without  firing,  and  while  we  were  sleeping  away  as  com 
fortably  as  possible,  bang,  whiz,  bang!  came  a  shell  from 
the  Fort,  bursting  very  near,  and  waking  us  all  up.  The 
enemy  then  hoisted  a  new  and  handsome  flag  on  our  left, 
and  brought  a  field  piece  into  position,  out  of  sight  from 
where  I  was,  but  visible  from  the  Right  section,  and  let  us 
have  a  shell  from  it.  It  burst  close  to  and  the  pieces  flew 
all  round  us.  ...  This  fun  did  not  particularly  suit  us,  but 
soon  we  got  orders  from  General  Porter  to  reply,  so  the 
Right  section  blazed  away  at  the  field  piece  on  our  left,  and 
soon  silenced  that,  while  my  section  went  to  work  pitching 
shells  into  the  Fort  and  camp.  We  fired  two  shots  at  the 
Fort,  one  of  which  struck  the  sandbags  in  the  embrasure, 
and  then  we  pitched  into  the  camp.  After  a  while  down 
went  one  tent  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  and  the  shells  began  to  fly 
pretty  thick  round  the  rest.  Still  the  distance  was  too 
great,  and  we  stopped  after  a  while. 

Monday  afternoon.  Captain  (Ormand  F.)  Nims  has 
just  arrived,  and  is  going  to  the  Fort.  We  have  been  in 
camp  all  day,  and  it  is  raining  hard.  Griffin  occupies  our 
yesterclay's  position,  intrenchments  having  been  thrown  up 
last  night.  Some  30  batteries  of  light  artillery  have  ar 
rived,  and  as  soon  as  the  siege  guns  arrive  we  shall  be  ready 
for  a  second  siege  of  Yorktown,  which  will  be  pretty  sure  to 
result  as  the  former  siege.  It  is  said  that  the  Right  of  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  209 

enemy's  lines  was  carried  last  night.     I  don't  know  how 
true  the  report  is." 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  6,  1862.  .  .  .  Found  fragments 
of  a  shell  fired  at  us.  But  one  good  shot  from  the  enemy 
today.  Balloon  reconnoissance  by  the  generals  today. 
None  of  the  Battery  injured  today." 

TO  PREPARE  FOR  ACTION. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

CAMP  NEAR  YORKTOWN,  VA. 

April  8,  62. 
General  Orders 

No.  113  Extract. 

VIII.  "To  the  Color"  sounded  on  the  march,  will  be  the  signal 
to  prepare  for  action. 


At  this  call  (80  steps  to  the  minute)  the  trains  will  draw,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  one  side  of  the  road  and  halt.  The  ambulances  will  be  pre 
pared  for  service:  the  men  will  close  their  ranks  without  further  or 
ders,  and  preserve  perfect  silence. 

By  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l.  McClellan. 

S.  WILLIAMS  A.  A.  G. 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  YORKTOWN,  VA. 

April  9,  1862. 

For  the  last  few  days  we  have  been  exchanging  shots  at 
long  range,  but  without  accomplishing  much.     Earthworks 


210  HISTORY    OF    THE 

have  been  thrown  up  in  the  field,  and  the  Left  section 
(Lieut.  Dillingham's)  are  now  out.  The  rebels  have  got 
some  field  pieces  in  position,  and  are  trying  to  shell  him  out. 
Quite  a  lot  of  regiments  are  up  in  line  round  our  camp,  and 
it  is  said  they  are  going  to  capture  something." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  9,  1862.  Dillingham's  section 
went  into  the  earthworks  to  dig,  and  the  rebels  tried  to  shell 
him  out  with  a  ten  inch  mortar  in  the  hospital  fort.  One 
of  the  shells  which  blew  out,  was  dug  up  6  ft.  deep,  and  car 
ried  to  General  Porter.  The  Division,  except  Butterfield's 
Brigade,  Martin's  and  Allen's  Batteries,  have  moved  one 
mile  to  tEe  rear  and  during  the  night  we  were  alarmed  sev 
eral  times,  harnessed  and  unharnessed,  but  nothing  came  of 
it." 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  9,  1862.  The  Left  section  ex 
changed  shots  with  the  enemy  today,  and  brought  to  camp 
an  eleven  inch  shell,  which  'blew'  without  exploding; 
weighing  86  Ibs.  and  having  80  bullets  in  it.  Infantry 
regiments  taking  new  positions." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Wednesday  April  9,  1862.  Our  sec 
tion,  consisting  of  two  pieces,  was  ordered  out  into  the  field 
to  protect  the  encampment  of  the  9th  Mass.,  62d.  Penn., 
and  our  own  camp.  Soon  after  arriving  on  the  field  it 
began  to  rain  like  fury.  The  orders  were  for  us  to  only 
answer  the  rebels'  shot.  They  fired  about  ten  heavy  shell 
at  us,  four  of  which  burst  over  our  heads,  but  none  of  us 
got  hurt.  We  fired  in  return  at  them,  and  by  means  of 
glasses  saw  several  fall,  but  could  not  ascertain  how  many 
of  them  were  killed.  About  3  this  afternoon  the  regiments 
near  us  were  ordered  to  fall  back  about  a  mile,  as  they  were 
in  the  direct  range  of  the  rebels'  fire.  At  6  this  afternoon 
we  were  ordered  back  to  camp.  .  .  .  Orders  came  about 
midnight  to  be  ready  to  fall  back  about  one  mile  to  the  rear, 
so  the  mortar  and  siege  guns  can  work  without  our  being 
in  the  way." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  211 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Thursday  Evening:  (April  10,  1862.)  It  seems  the 
rebels  have  been  using  a  10  inch  mortar  to  silence  our  3  in. 
guns.  Several  shells  burst  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Bat 
tery,  but  no  damage  was  done.  .  .  .  Today  Lieut.  Hyde 
and  I  have  been  in  the  field,  but  not  a  shot  was  fired  on 
either  side.  The  rebels  have  struck  the  camp  that  we 
shelled  the  other  day.  Last  night  \ve  had  several  alarms 
and  harnessed  several  times  expecting  an  attack,  but 
nothing  came  of  it.  If  the  rebels  don't  shoot  better  than 
they  have  done,  they  may  fire  at  us  as  long  as  they  like." 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  10,  1862.  Ordered  out  at  n 
o'clock  last  night  and  pitched  up  'double  quick'  both  guns 
and  caissons,  and  the  infantry  called  in  line :  waited  half  an 
hour  in  line,  then  ordered  to  camp  for  the  night  without 
further  excitement.  Two  sections  of  the  Battery  left  camp 
and  took  position  about  a  mile  to  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and 
joined  the  Division  in  a  new  position,  leaving  one  section 
in  front  of  the  enemy." 

Grows'  Journal :  "April  10,  1862,  we  took  up  our  line 
of  march,  and  very  soon  arrived  at  this  place.  It  is  a  very 
pretty  place.  The  river  is  near  by.  Pitched  our  tents  in 
a  corn  field.  There  are  plenty  of  troops  around  us,  and  lots 
of  gunboats  to  be  seen  on  the  river.  General  McClellan's 
quarters  are  on  this  ground.  April  nth.  At  9  o'clock 
this  morning  our  section  (Left,  Dillingham's)  were  or 
dered  to  go  about  |  of  a  mile  to  protect  the  'pioneers'  of 
the  1 8th  Mass,  who  are  building  a  bridge  across  a  creek, 
(Over  Wormley's  Creek,  between  the  camp  and  Yorktown) 
for  the  purpose  of  conveying-  troops  and  field-pieces  across 
for  the  intrenchments  that  are  going  to  be  built  by  our 
troops.  Arrived  at  the  spot  and  pitched  a  large  tent  for  us 
to  sleep  in  at  night,  after  which  we  cruised  around,  dug 


212  HISTORY    OF    THE 

some  mussels  and  oysters  (The  far  famed  York  River  oys 
ters  described  by  the  historian  Lossing  in  1848)  which  are 
very  plenty  here.  Had  them  for  dinner.  Had  our  supper 
sent  to  us  of  coffee  and  hard  bread.  I  am  detailed  for  guard 
tonight  from  8  till  9,  one  hour;  after  'standing  it'  I  sat 
down  by  the  fire  with  Harry  Simonds  and  some  others,  till 
12  o'clock.  Turned  in  soon  after." 

FROM  LETTER  OE  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  YORKTOWN,  VA. 

April  12,  1862. 

You  need  not  imagine  there  was  anything  very  terrible 
in  the  fight;  there  was  some  little  popping  away  of  muskets 
and  some  banging  of  artillery,  without  amounting  to  much. 
Martin's  Battery  got  into  a  pretty  tight  spot,  hotter  than 
anything  at  Bull  Run,  so  said  Griffin.  The  R.  I.  battery 
got  down  in  a  field  and  blazed  away  at  an  earthwork  mount 
ing  four  32  pdrs.  at  2500  yards.  Griffin  was  alongside  of 
them,  but  he  did  not  silence  their  guns,  or  anything  of  the 
sort.  Both  sides  might  bang  away  till  doomsday,  at  that 
distance,  without  doing  any  injury  worth  speaking  of.  We 
have  been  down  on  the  same  ground  and  fired  at  the  enemy, 
and  had  them  fire  at  us,  till  it  has  become  rather  ridiculous. 
One  day  we  fired  into  a  fort  on  the  right  to  oblige  General 
Porter,  who  was  up  in  a  balloon  and  wished  to  see  what  the 
effect  would  be.  We  blazed  away  with  our  3  inch  popguns 
till  the  rebels  seemed  to  get  a  little  excited,  and  bang  went 
a  big  mortar,  and  a  10  inch  shell  whistled  several  hundred 
yards  over  our  heads.  We  rather  enjoy  this  amusement 
as  they  cannot  afford  to  waste  much  valuable  ammunition 
of  the  sort  by  throwing  it  half  a  mile  over  our  heads.  Our 
sharpshooters  appear  to  bother  the  rebels  a  great  deal  and 
yesterday  they  sallied  out  and  drove  them  in,  burning  down 
a  house  close  by  their  lines  which  has  given  them  a  great 
deal  of  trouble.  .  .  .  We  are  now  encamped  within  sight 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  213 

}f  York  River,  and  of  our  gunboats  lying  in  it,  below  York- 
;own,  in  a  corn  field,  by  a  house  formerly  owned  by  a 
Secesh  doctor,  now  used  as  a  General  Hospital.  Behind  us 
s  a  large  field  in  which  General  McClellan  has  his  Head 
Quarters.  For  the  last  week  there  have  been  all  sorts  of 
•umors  about  a  large  siege  train  which  was  somewhere  or 
)ther,  and  for  which  everything  must  wait.  Today  I  hear 
:hey  are  landed  somewhere  or  other,  and  will  soon  arrive. 
[  hope  so.  At  present  we  have  nothing  to  do,  and  are 
ifraid  to  stir  out  of  camp  lest  the  Battery  should  move 
vhile  we  are  out.  For  the  last  24  hours  our  Left  section 
ias  been  guarding  a  bridge  which  is  building,  and  which  is 
supposed  to  be  absolutely  necessary  to  the  success  of  opera- 
ions.  But  at  the  present  rate  of  construction  the  bridge 
vill  be  finished  in  the  course  of  6  months.  -  General  Porter 
vent  up  in  a  balloon  alone  yesterday  morning  and  got 
iclrift.  After  floating  about  a  little  while  he  came  down 
n  safety :  the  wind,  fortunately  for  him,  blowing  from 
lie  north." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  12,  1862.  Yesterday  Dilling- 
lam's  section  went  into  a  masked  battery  in  our  front  to 
>rotect  a  bridge.  .  .  .  Weeden  sent  one  section  into  the  old 
earthwork  and  had  quite  hot  work.  The  rebels  rallied  at 
$000  strong:  burnt  the  houses  by  the  peach  orchard  and 
hreatened  Dillingham's  section,  but  nothing  came  of  it. 
rhis  morning  I  relieved  Dillingham.  The  rebels  fired  3 
shells  at  a  tug  which  tried  to  come  up  the  river.  Griffin 
:his  morning  concluded  it  was  too  dangerous  to  occupy  the 
earthworks  above." 


NOTES  OF  CORPORAL  J.  E.  SPEAR, 

vho,  besides  acting  directly  with  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
is  sergeant  and  lieutenant,  was  at  one  time  assistant  adjti- 
ant  general  for  Major  Freeman  McGilvery;  at  one  time 


214  HISTORY    OF    THE 

assistant  adjutant  general  for  General  A.  P.  Martin;  also 
ordnance  officer  for  Artillery  Brigade  5th  Army  Corps:— 

"ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

NEAR  YORKTOWN,  VA. 
Sunday,  April  13,  1862. 

The  stillness  of  the  day  has  turned  my  thoughts  towards 
home  and  the  dear  friends  there.  It  is  very  quiet  in  the 
different  camps.  Nothing  of  importance  save  the  arriving 
of  more  troops.  Whilst  I  am  writing  I  can  hear  the  sounds 
of  bugles  from  the  newly  arrived  troops.  I  have  just  fin 
ished  my  dinner,  fresh  meat  and  broth,  no  more  'salt  junk' 
for  a  spell,  as  long  as  'Secesh  Cattle'  hold  out,  which  I  think 
will  be  for  some  time,  and  I  am  glad  that  we  have  ad 
vanced  so  that  we  can  get  fresh  meat,  for  it  has  been 
nothing  but  salt  junk  and  salt  pork  for  some  time  past,  and 
many  of  the  boys  were  sick  on  rations  of  pork. 

I  will  give  you  a  description  of  our  march  from  Hamp 
ton  to  our  present  encampment : — One  week  ago  last  Fri 
day,  we  left  our  pleasant  little  camp  at  Hampton,  for  Rich 
mond,  expecting,  of  course,  to  be  brought  to  a  standstill  at 
Yorktown,  and  we  are,  and  no  mistake.  The  first  day,  Fri 
day,  we  advanced  about  3  miles  beyond  Big  Bethel,  coming 
to  a  rebel  encampment  of  about  400  cavalry,  the  infantry 
and  artillery  having  left  the  day  before  for  Yorktown  on 
hearing  that  Porter's  Division  was  advancing  towards  them. 
(See  p.  201  Howard's  Mills.) 

At  5  o'clock  the  next  morning  (After  the  fight  at  How 
ard's  Mills)  we  were  routed  up  and  ordered  to  move  on 
ward,  and  after  partaking  of  a  good  breakfast  consisting  of 
salt  junk,  hard  bread,  and  some  good  coffee,  we  hitched  up 
our  horses  and  were  soon  moving  onward,  but  our  day's 
march  was  not  as  pleasant  as  that  of  the  day  before.  Fri 
day  the  roads  were  in  tip  top  condition  and  the  day  pleas 
ant,  but  Saturday  we  had  to  pass  through  a  swamp  of  5 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  215 

miles  length,  and  we  hadn't  gone  more  than  a  mile  or  so, 
before  it  commenced  raining  real  old  Virginia  style,  drops 
as  large,  nearly,  as  cherries,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the 
mud  was  ankle  deep.  On  this  day  we  found  that  we  could 
not  advance  as  readily  as  on  the  day  before,  and  on  coming 
to  the  end  of  the  SAvamp,  we  began  to  hear  the  booming  of 
cannon.  Saturday  there  were  2  batteries  with  us  in  the  ad 
vance,  and  leading  us,  so  that  we  didn't  have  a  chance  to 
commence  the  firing  as  we  did  the  day  before.  We  finally 
came  in  sight  of  Yorktown,  and  we  saw  before  us,  forts, 
entrenchments,  rifle  pits,  strongly  guarded.  The  Rhode 
Island  and  5th  Regular  batteries  were  ordered  out  to  com 
mence  firing  upon  the  forts,  but  as  they  were  of  small  calibre 
could  not  do  much  service,  yet  did  considerable  towards 
silencing  the  batteries. 

Our  sharpshooters  did  about  as  much  as  any  towards  si 
lencing  the  Confederates,  keeping  the  gunners  from  their 
guns.  In  the  afternoon  Martin's  Battery  was  ordered  out 
to  endeavor  the  silencing  of  a  battery  on  the  left  of  the  en 
trenchments,  and  was  successful,  but  with  a  loss  of  two 
men  and  3  horses;  they  also  had  3  men  wounded.  About 
4^  o'clock  we  were  ordered  into  the  field  and  remained  until 
about  8  o'clock,  when  we  were  ordered  back  to  camp.  None 
of  us  were  wounded,  although  the  shell  flew  around  us  fast. 
On  arriving  at  camp,  the  clerk  of  the  company  came  to  me 
with  a  piece  of  paper  with  names  on  it,  and  called  it  the 
guard  detail.  I  felt  very  tired,  don't  know  as  I  ever  felt 
more  so,  but  being  detailed  for  guard  I  must  attend  to  it. 
Was  about  f  of  an  hour  putting  on  the  relief,  the  men  being 
very  tired  and  would  not  go  on  readily  and  I  couldn't  blame 
them,  having  marched  for  two  days.  About  i  o'clock  I  was 
relieved  by  Corporal  Wilson,  turned  in,  under  my  piece, 
and  slept  until  morning.  Sunday  morning  we  were  routed 
up  very  early.  The  Right  and  Centre  sections  were  or 
dered  into  the  field  to  guard  our  pickets,  so  as  not  to  allow 


216  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  rebel  cavalry  to  charge  upon  them  as  they  had  attempt 
ed  to  on  the  day  before.  Bill  Baxter  is  in  the  Centre  sec 
tion,  and  I  am  in  the  Left,  so  he  went  in,  and  I  remained  in 
camp.  When  they  returned,  about  8  in  the  evening,  I  found 
out  that  they  had  been  exposed  to  a  pretty  hot  fire  from  the 
rebel  siege  guns,  but  thanks  to  God,  none  were  injured. 

Captain  Martin's  Battery  being  encamped  near  us,  I  wit 
nessed  the  burial  of  the  two  men  killed  in  action,  and  it  was 
a  hard  sight  to  see  so  many  brave  and  courageous  men  clus 
tered  around  their  dead  comrades,  not,  as  on  the  day  before, 
facing  the  din  and  smoke  of  battle,  but  bowed  down  in 
grief,  the  tears  streaming  down  their  manly  cheeks. 

Monday  was  a  stormy  day,  and  the  Left  section  was  or 
dered  out.  As  soon  as  we  had  reached  our  position  at  the 
entrenchments,  which  had  been  thrown  up  during  the  night, 
the  cussed  rebels  commenced  firing  upon  us,  and  our  Cap 
tain  returned  the  compliment.  They  shelled  us  for  about  an 
hour,  but  as  their  fuzes  were  cut  too  long  the  shells  went 
beyond  us,  and  burst  in  the  air.  None  of  us  were  hurt. 
About  2  in  the  afternoon  it  commenced  raining,  not  driz 
zling  rain,  but  a  tough  old  Virginia  rain  storm.  Tuesday 
returned  to  camp. 

Wednesday  we  moved  back  about  a  mile,  as  Gen'l  Mc- 
Clellan  thought  we  occupied  too  conspicuous  a  position, 
into  a  cornfield,  and  the  stalks  and  husks  make  a  very  good 
bed. 

Friday  the  Left  section  was  ordered  to  guard  a  party  of 
men  building  a  bridge  across  the  river  which  separates  the 
Right  of  the  Army  from  Yorktown.  We  had  only  one 
alarm  during  the  day :  were  relieved  by  the  Centre  section 
yesterday  morning,  and  came  back  to  camp. 

Yesterday  afternoon  I  received  permission  to  go  with  a 
party  of  two  for  oysters,  so  last  night  had  an  oyster  stew. 
All  that  was  needed  to  make  it  rich  was  butter,  milk,  pepper, 
and  a  few  little  extras  that  we  must  not  expect  in  the  Army. 

Sunday  night,  6  o'clock :  I  have  just  finished  my  supper 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  217 

of  3  hard  breads  and  a  cup  of  coffee.  Oh!  I  am  getting 
used  to  High  Living.  .  .  . 

State  musters  are  nothing  to  be  compared  with  the  en 
campments  here.  General  McClellan  and  his  body  guard 
are  encamped  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  ours.  The 
guard  consists  of  Duryea's  Zouave  Regiment,  a  Regiment 
of  Regular  Dragoons,  and  an  infantry  regiment. 

Billy  Baxter  and  Charlie  Jameson  have  been  over  to  see 
Major  Wood.  He  is  on  McClellan's  staff  with  the  rank  of 
major. 

The  gunboats  that  are  going  to  do  the  mischief  are  in 
York  River,  four  miles  from  us,  and  the  Signal  Corps  have 
been  signalling  all  day  to  them. 

I  believe  the  ball  will  roll  pretty  soon,  and  if  nothing  is 
wanting  save  the  number  of  men,  why  the  place  is  ours. 
Who  knows  but  what  there  will  be  another  surrender  at 
Yorktown!" 

Note :  "At  Yorktown  on  the  first  day,  Corporal  T.  E. 
Chase  was  seen  when  under  fire,  studying  the  Manual  of  the 
Gun — 'Serving  with  reduced  numbers.' ' 


The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  guarded  the  new  bridge  over 
Wormley  Creek  by  sections  on  certain  days,  as  follows : — 

The  Right  section,  Lieut.  Hyde,  April  I3th,  I5th,  i8th, 
2  ist,  24th,  27th,  30th,  and  May  3d. 

Centre  section,  Lieut.  Phillips,  April  i6th,  iQth,  22d, 
25th,  28th  and  May  ist. 

Left  section,  Lieut.  Dillingham,  April  I4th,  I7th,  2Oth, 
23d,  26th,  29th  and  May  2d. 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  YORKTOWN, 
Sunday  morning  April  13,  1862. 

Yesterday  morning  I  relieved  Lieut.  Dillingham.  .  .  . 
As  there  were  a  lot  of  planks  lying  round  intended  for  the 
bridge,  we.  set  to  work  and  built  a  house,  12  ft.  by  18  ft. 


218  HISTORY    OF    THE 

roofed  with  slabs  which  accommodated  about  20  very  com 
fortably.  General  McClellan  is  encamped  in  the  field  be 
hind  us,  and  close  to  him  is  a  regiment  of  some  sort  of 
Zouaves  with  red  breeches  and  white  turbans,  altogether 
too  conspicuous  a  uniform  for  comfort  in  war.  ...  I  am 
getting  dreadfully  tired  of  loafing  around  here  doing- 
nothing.  No  drill,  no  bugle  calls,  no  stirring  out  of  camp 
lest  orders  should  come  in  our  absence,  and  meanwhile  we 
are  waiting,  waiting,  doing  nothing.  .  .  .  Oysters  are 
plenty.  Our  cook  is  opening  about  half  a  bushel  now  for 
our  dinner/' 

Grows'  Journal:  "April  13,  1862.  The  view  where  we 
are  encamped  is  splendid,  the  river  is  near  us.  In  front,  in 
our  rear,  and  either  side,  are  woods  and  ravines,  with  nice, 
cool  springs  of  water. 

Monday  April  14.  This  forenoon  at  9  we  got  our  ration 
of  hard  bread  for  one  day,  so  as  to  be  ready  at  10  to  go  on 
picket  and  relieve  the  section  which  is  guarding  the  bridge. 
Soon  after,  we  fell  in  and  went  over  and  relieved  them,  after 
which  I  made  me  a  little  house  of  boards  to  sleep  in.  I  then 
dug  a  hole  in  front  of  it  to  put  wood  in  so  I  can  have  a  fire. 
We  only  stand  guard  of  one  hour,  and  are  off  eight,  so  it 
comes  very  easy  on  us.  The  rest  of  the  time  we  dig  oysters 
and  mussels,  and  go  fishing,  or  lie  down  on  the  grass  in  the 
shade.  At  one  o'clock  the  cooks  came  over  with  our  dinner 
of  stewed  beans.  About  five  o'clock  the  coffee  was  brought 
over  to  us.  I  built  a  fire  in  front  of  my  tent  and  with  Serg't. 
Harry  Simonds,  and  a  few  others  we  sat  down  to  chat  and 
smoke.  At  8  I  went  on  guard  for  one  hour,  coming  off  at 
9-" 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT 
NEAR  YORKTOWN,  April  14,  1862. 

I  give  a  short  journal  to  show  how  much  time  I  have  to 
myself:  Sat'y  April  5th  marched  at  daylight.  Halted  and 
kept  in  line  till  4  p.  m.,  then  went  into  the  field  and  stayed 


FIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  219 

till  8  p.  m.  Sunday,  April  6th,  Right  and  Centre  sections  in 
the  field  from  3  a.  m.  till  dark.  Wednesday,  April  pth,  Left 
section  in  the  field.  Kept  in  continual  alarm  all  day  and 
routed  out  at  midnight  for  fear  of  an  attack.  Thursday, 
April  loth,  Right  section  in  the  field, — Lieut.  Phillips  ac 
companying.  Moved  camp  in  the  afternoon.  Friday, 
April  nth,  Left  section  guarding  the  bridge  24  hours. 
Sat'y,  April  i2th,  Centre  section  guarding  the  bridge  24 
hours.  Sunday,  April  I3th,  Right  -section  at  the  bridge. 
Monday,  April  I4th,  Left  section  at  the  bridge,  Centre  sec 
tion  on  picket. 

Last  night  Martin's  and  Weeden's  batteries  were  turned 
out  by  a  little  skirmish  in  front.  The  rebels  sallied  out  and 
cut  down  the  peach  orchard  and  burnt  the  houses  on  the  left 
and  front  of  the  field  in  which  our  guns  were  placed  Sun 
day  April  6th.  .  .  .  Today  I  marched  my  section  at  7  a.  m. 
into  the  field  where  we  encamped  for  the  first  few  days, 
came  into  Battery,  unhitched  the  horses,  watered  them, 
picketed  them,  posted  a  guard  and  went  to  work  to  pass 
away  the  time.  The  picket  reserve  were  close  by.  This  con 
sists  of  about  200  men  .  .  .  and  is  intended  to  support  our 
pickets  in  case  they  are  driven  in.  ...  Pretty  soon  up  rode 
some  officers  curious  to  look  at  the  enemy  but  there  is  no 
passing  pickets,  so  back  they  go.  Next  come  some  officers 
of  the  Signal  Corps  and  they  keep  on  wherever  they  choose, 
and  pretty  soon  we  see  the  signal  flag  waving  ahead  where 


Signal  Flag* 

it  keeps  going  all  day,   occasionally  shifting  its  position. 
Then  we  see  a  section  of  artillery  coming  along  the  edge  of 


220  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  woods  on  our  left,  and  pretty  soon  they  come  into  bat 
tery  and  shell  away  at  a  rebel  earthwork.  Towards  after 
noon  we  hear  heavy  reports  on  our  right,  and  conclude  that 
the  gunboats  are  trying  their  hand  in  the  rebel  batteries. 

So  gradually  the  day  wears  on  till  sunset,  when  we  limber 
up  and  go  home.  I  shall  probably  go  down  to  the  bridge 
tomorrow.  .  .  .  Shipping  Point  is  important  as  a  place 
where  we  can  load  he.avy  stores  instead  of  carting  them 
over  the  roads  between  us  and  Fortress  Monroe.  Porter's 
Division  is  encamped  well  in  sight  of  York  River  in  one 
large  field,  i.  e.  it  may  have  been  several  fields,  but  fences 
are  among  the  things  that  were.  In  the  same  field  is  the 
Artillery  Reserve,  with  guns  too  numerous  to  mention.  .  .  . 
One  side  of  our  camp  is  sheltered  by  a  fence,  saved  by  our 
energetic  efforts,  which  appertains  to  a  large  house  distin 
guished  as  'the  house  with  blinds  on  it.'  This  house  is  a 
large  two  story  edifice  .  .  .  used  as  a  General  Hospital  for 
our  troops.  In  front  of  the  house  is  a  large  peach  orchard, 
and  the  hopes  of  a  speedy  reduction  of  Yorktown  are  sad 
dened  by  the  thought  that  we  must  leave  so  many  unripe 
peaches  behind  us.  The  siege  guns  have  at  last  been  heard 
from.  Lieut.  Dillingham  rode  down  a  couple  of  miles 
toward  Shipping  Point  last  night,  and  saw  in  a  field  several 
30  pdrs.  Rifled  Guns,  one  8  inch  Columbiad,  and  several  8 
or  10  inch  mortars.  The  engineers  are  at  work  prospecting 
all  round,  and  I  suppose  we  shall  now  start  some  trenches. 
The  bridge  over  the  creek  which  lies  between  Porter's  Di 
vision  and  Yorktown,  progresses  slowly,  and  I  think  the  at 
tack  will  be  made  in  that  direction.  I  just  hear  that  Gen 
eral  Hooker  is  at  Shipping  Point,  General  Sumner  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Severn." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  14.  Some  of  our  heavy  howitz 
ers  on  our  left  trying  to  shell  out  a  rebel  battery.  Small 
fight  between  the  gunboats  and  rebel  batteries." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  221 

Grows'  Journal:  "Tuesday  April  15,  1862.  After  break 
fast  we  laid  ourselves  out  on  the  grass  to  wait  till  we  should 
be  relieved  at  10  o'clock  this  forenoon.  There  are  about 
300  men  here  at  work  building  bridges.  There  are  to  be 
three  of  them.  There  was  a  pontoon  bridge  of  boats  thrown 
across  the  creek  last  night.  These  bridges  are  fine  looking 
ones.  .  .  .  About  10  a.  m.  were  relieved,  when  we  went  to 
camp.  All  that  I  need  the  most  is  something  to  read,  and 
that  is  almost  impossible  to  get,  for  when  a  paper  does  get 
here  it  is  spoken  for  by  most  every  man  that  sees  it." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  i5th,  1862.  One  bridge  fin 
ished,  and  a  pontoon  bridge  put  on  the  creek." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 
"CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT, 
Wednesday,  April  16,  1862. 

The  Centre  section  is  guarding  the  bridge  today,  Lieut. 
Hyde  having  had  it  yesterday.  Nothing  momentous  has 
occurred.  The  gunboats  have  been  throwing  a  few  shells 
at  the  forts  and  the  forts  have  been  throwing  a  few  shells 
at  the  gunboats.  This  morning  there  was  a  considerable 
heavy  firing  on  the  left. 

Hooker's  Division  came  up  today,  and  have  encamped 
somewhere  in  our  neighborhood.  They  are  now  building 
four  bridges  here.  The  floating  bridge  is  rather  a  failure, 
as  the  logs  sink  as  fast  as  they  are  put  in.  i  and  2  were 
built  by  General  Morell,  and  are  about  finished;  3  and  4  by 
General  Martindale.  No.  i  was  laid  yesterday  in  2^  hours. 
No.  4  was  commenced  this  morning,  and  is  nearly  finished. 
The  width  of  the  creek  is  about  60  yds.  Across  the  river 
the  banks  rise  up  steep,  and  then  there  is  a  level  plain  to  the 
enemy's  lines.  As  soon  as  the  bridges  are  finished  the  siege, 


222  HISTORY    OF    THE 

guns  and  mortars  will  probably  be  carried  across,  and  put 
in  position,  and  the  Secesh  will  have  an  unpleasant  time. 
Yesterday  afternoon  I  rode  about  i^  miles  towards  Ship 
Point,  and  found  part  of  the  siege  train,  twelve  4^  inch 
Rifled  Guns,  eleven  8  inch  mortars,  nine  10  inch  mortars." 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  16,  1862.  Centre  section  sent  to 
guard  bridge.  Alarm  at  7  p.  m.  when  a  shell  struck  in  the 
camp  of  the  22d  Mass.  Reg't, — General  Miles's  old  regi 
ment, — but  doing  no  damage.  Captain  Griffin  ordered 
'every  man  to  his  post/  and  to  be  ready  to  load  with  shrap- 
nell.  Heavy  cannonading  and  sharp  musketry  firing  on  the 
extreme  left  to-day,  .and  occasional  shots  through  the 
night." 

Phillips'  Diary: — "April  i6th.  .  .  .  Occasional  shells 
from  gunboats." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

April  17,  1862. 

"Thursday  morning.  The  firing  on  the  left  was  kept 
up  all  day,  and  at  supper  time  the  rumor  was  that  we  had 
dismounted  several  pieces  of  the  enemy.  Towards  evening 
the  reports  became  heavier  and  I  thought  I  could  distinguish 
the  boom  of  a  mortar,  and  the  whistling  of  a  heavy  shell. 
This  morning  the  firing  still  continues,  having  been  kept 
up  all  night.  About  five  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon  the 
enemy  appeared  to  have  become  excited,  and  threw  several 
shells  in  rapid  succession,  into  the  creek,  just  below  us, 
rather  disturbing  one  of  my  men  who  was  fishing  on  the 
lower  bridge.  Some  of  their  shells  fell  among  the  pickets 
across  the  creek  and  the  officers  of  the  Signal  Corps  who 
were  over  here  were  obliged  to  retreat  double  quick,  with 
out  time  to  carry  away  all  their  things.  In  a  few  minutes 
,  up  rode  Griffin  in  a  very  excited  state. — 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  223 

'Every  man  to  the  guns.  Load  with  shrapnell  when  you 
load,  and  fire  right  at  them! — Two  regiments  of  infantry 
and  one  of  cavalry  have  just  appeared  outside  of  the  Fort.' 

So  we  got  all  ready,  but  nobody  appeared.  Pretty  soon, 
however,  two  of  our  regiments  crossed  over  and  deployed 
in  front  of  us,  and  just  as  I  was  thinking  that  the  com 
mander  of  them  had  better  keep  me  informed  of  their  move 
ments  if  he  did  not  wish  a  shell  amongst  them,  General  Mar- 
tindale  rode  up  and  suggested  the  necessity  of  my  using 
some  discretion  in  firing  at  the  other  bank.  I  have  just  re 
turned  from  the  bridge." 


FROM  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE  REV.  WAR 
REN  H.  CUDWORTH,  CHAPLAIN  iST  MASS.      . 
INFANTRY. 

"CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT, 

'  April  1 8,  1862. 
MY  DEAR  PARISHIONERS. 

.  .  .  Here,  in  1781,  before  the  United  States  became  a 
nation,  were  encamped  the  regiments  of  our  Revolutionary 
ancestors  and  their  French  allies,  and  on  the  very  ground 
where  now  are  quartered  the  soldiers  of  the  loyal  North,  the 
British  laid  down  their  arms,  and  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  was  practically  established.  The  very  house 
where  Lafayette  had  his  headquarters  is  within  a  few  steps 
of  my  tent,  and  the  site  formerly  occupied  by  his  seven  thou 
sand  troops  is  freshly  consecrated  by  the  presence  among 
the  forces  of  two  batteries  from  Massachusetts.  The  ist 
Reg't.  occupies  an  advanced  position  about  a  mile  in  front 
of  General  McClellan's  headquarters,  and  only  two  from  the 
strong  earthworks  which  defend  Yorktown." 


224  HISTORY    OF    THE 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT, 

April  1 8,  1862. 

There  is  so  much  firing  now  around  here  that  we  don't 
get  up  to  look  out  unless  a  shell  comes  in  our  neighborhood. 
The  guns  which  are  in  plain  sight  directly  in  front  of  our 
tent,  and  the  enemy's  water  batteries  blaze  away  at  each 
other  once  in  a  while,  but  without  accomplishing  much. 
We  can  hear  the  shells  whistling  through  the  air,  and  an  in 
experienced  individual  would  imagine  them  directly  over 
our  heads,  though  they  do  not  come  within  a  mile  of  us. 
...  I  do  not  know  whether  General  McClellan  was  de 
ceived  in  the  character  of  the  works  to  be  encountered,  but 
General  Porter,  who  stands  as  high  in  McC.'s  confidence  as 
any  General  of  Division  had  no  idea  that  the  rebel  fortifi 
cations  were  as  strong  as  they  really  are.  The  first  clay  was 
only  a  reconnoissance,  as  it  would  be  as  useless  to  throw 
stones  at  a  brick  wall  as  to  oppose  field  batteries  to  earth 
works  armed  with  32  pdrs.  and  10  in.  mortars.  Our  gen 
erals  soon  found  that  out  and  are  now  preparing  for  an  ex 
tended  siege.  Nothing  can  be  done  without  trie  siege  train, 
and  this  moves  slowly.  There  are  now  in  a  field  about  a 
mile  from  here, — a  kind  of  depot, — some  fifteen  4^  inch 
Rifled  Guns,  five  100  pdr.  Parrott  guns,  and  twenty  8  and 
10  inch  mortars,  besides  three  or  four  8  in.  Howitzers.  The 
4-J  in.  guns  and  the  Howitzers  are  mounted  on  siege 
carriages, — something  like  a  field  carriage, — the  Parrotts 
on  wrought  iron  barbette  carriages  with  chains  and  trav 
erse  circle.  Nothing  has  yet  been  done  towards  opening 
the  trenches,  but  about  400  men  are  at  work  across  the 
creek  in  front  of  our  two  guns,  in  making  gabions,  so  you 
see  we  expect  to  do  some  shovelling.  '.  .  .  Meantime  the 
rebels  are  not  idle,  but  are  working  like  bees,  shovelling 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 


225 


lirt,  lhat  is  to  say,  they  are  making  the  negroes  work,  for 
^ieut.  Colonel  Alexander,  chief  of  engineers,  told  me  the 
lay  I  was  out  on  picket,  that  he  had  just  been  inspecting 
hem,  and  he  could  see  nothing  but  negroes.  ...  A  de 
serter  who  came  in  told  the  sergeant  who  had  charge  of 
lim,  and  the  sergeant  told  one  of  our  men,  that  our  shots 
:he  first  Sunday  we  were  here  caused  a  great  commotion  in 
:he  rebel  camp,  bursting  right  in  the  tents.  As  the  Centre 
section  of  the  Mass.  5th  was  the  only  one  that  fired  at  the 
:amp,  you  will  see  this  story  gives  some  satisfaction.  At  the 
same  time  mind  I  do  not  vouch  for  its  correctness.  [See 
3.  208]  .  .  This  afternoon  I  took  a  ride  towards  the  various 
andings, — Ship  Point,  Crab  Point,  Cheesman's  Point,  Back 
River  Landing,  Melville  Point  &c.  all  in  the  same  general 
direction.  .  .  .  Close  to  the  seige  train  in  the  field  afore 
said  is  a  square  redoubt,  intended  to  defend  an  attack  from 
Back  River  Landing  and  Ship  Point.  The  redoubt  is  very 
well  built,  with  a  barbette  in  each  corner  for  a  gun,  and 
would  hold  about  300  men.  The  ditch  is  full  of  water. 
[Barbette  guns  fire  over  the  parapet  and  have  a  free  range.  | 


B. 


The  magazines  are  under  the  ramparts,  and  are  very  well 
protected.  The  barracks  are  very  comfortable,  like  all 
rebel  barracks  in  this  neighborhood,  being  well  built  log 
houses.  At  present  the  redoubt  is  occupied  as  a  magazine 
for  the  ammunition  for  the  siege  train,  and  holds  quite  a 


226  HISTORY    OF    THE 

pile  of  shells.  Farther  down  the  road  is  what  would  he 
called  in  military  language  a  lunette,  with  a  pan  coupe  (The 
short  length  of  parapet,  by  which  the  salient  angle  of  a 
work  is  sometimes  cut  off.)  at  the  salient,  and  the  gorge 
stockaded  in  this  shape. 


A.Bis  a  mere 
<stocl<acle 
no  ditch 
Barbettes  for 
guns  atCKF.and 
at  fhe  part  coupe 


J 7~  •&  *  DH-cTt. 

*1      E'nfrOfiGC      "° 

LUNETTE. 

This  work  was  fitted  for  three  guns,  and  say  200  infantry. 
The  ditch  was  full  of  water.  There  were  no  barracks.  The 
platforms  for  the  guns  had  been  laid  and  taken  up  again  by 
the  rebels,  or  by  us.  ...  The  fortifications  at  Ship  Point 
are  said  to  be  very  strong.  .  .  .  The  country  round  here 
is  very  flat  and  dusty.  We  are  encamped  in  a  cornfield 
which  is  by  no  means  as  pleasant  as  grass  land.  Peach  or 
chards  are  very  abundant,  but  I  am  afraid  if  we  stay,  here 
till  they  are  ripe  there  will  be  more  men  than  peaches.  .  .  . 
We  have  built  up  an  extensive  arbor  in  front  of  our  tent, 
where  we  sit  in  arm  chairs  made  out  of  barrels  and  enjoy 
our  'otium  cum  dignitate'  in  true  military  style.  The  pow 
ers  that  be  seem  to  have  repented  of  their  reduction  of  bag 
gage,  for  tomorrow  the  officers  will  once  more  have  three 
tents, — wall  tents.''* 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  19,  1862.  .  .  .  Roar  of  musketry 
on  extreme  left  at  9.30  p.  m." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  227 

Grows'  Journal :  "Saturday,  April  19,  1862.  Was  called 
at  i  o'clock  this  morning  to  go  on  guard.  After  going  on 
my  post  my  attention  was  taken  up  till  3  o'clock  by  the  pass 
ing  of  troops  with  gabions  made  of  wicker  work.  They 
are  filled  with  earth,  and  in  this  way  our  intrenchments  and 
breastworks  are  built  by  our  troops.  Was  relieved  at  3  this 
morning." 

Phillips'  Diary.  "April  19.  ...  Towards  evening  an 
easterly  storm  set  in,  and  rained  all  night.  A  great  many 
gabions  moved  across  the  bridges  to  this  side.  A  great 
many,  men  with  shovels  &c.  crossed  to  the  other  side." 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 
"CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT  NEAR  YORKTOWN, 

Sunday  Forenoon,  April  20,  1862. 

We  arrived  here  two  weeks  ago,  expecting  to  march  right 
into  Yorktown  and  have  been  waiting  here  ever  since  with 
out  apparently  getting  much  nearer  our  object.  .  .  .  Our 
principal  business  now  is  to  guard  the  bridges  across 
Wormley  Creek.  We  have  2  guns  posted  on  a  bluff  just 
this  side  of  the  creek,  commanding  four  bridges,  and  raking 
the  opposite  shore.  The  Battery  is  well  masked  with 
bushes,  and  I  doubt  whether  the  enemy  know  of  its  exist 
ence.  The  three  sections  relieve  each  other  in  this  duty, 
each  taking  it  24  hours  at  a  time,  so  that  I  am  down  there 
one  day  out  of  three.  The  duties  are  not  very  laborious. 
We  have  built  up  a  house  out  of  slabs,  roofed  with  a  tar 
paulin,  and  we  get  along  very  comfortably.  Yesterday 
while  I  was  down  there,  I  devoted  my  energies  to  building 
a  chair,  calculating  on  a  prolonged  stay.  We  have  built 
up  an  arbor  in  front  of  our  tent  and  rigged  up  a  settee,  so 
that  we  can  sit  in  the  shade  in  the  hot  days  to  come.  As 
the  said  settee,  however,  is  rather  hard,  I  thought  I  would 


228  HISTORY    OF    THE 

get  up -something  a  little  more  comfortable,  and  yesterday 
I  set  to  work  to  put  my  plans  in  execution.  The  result  has 
fully  answered  my  expectations.  I  have  now  a  chair,  which 


Camp   Chain 

I  consider  a  triumph  of  genius  and  in  which  I  can  sit  with 
great  comfort.  My  chair  is  likewise  a  bedstead,  and  can  be 
made  to  occupy  any  intermediate  position  between  these 
two  extremes.  You  may  judge  of  its  attractiveness  by  the 
following  incident: — Just  after  it  was  completed  Major 
(Albert  J.)  Myer,  Chief  of  the  Signal  Corps  passed  by  and 
was  so  struck  with  it  that  nothing  would  satisfy  him,  but  he 
must  have  one  like  it,  so  the  man  that  made  mine  is  going 
to  make  one  for  him.  .  .  . 

The  siege, — so  called, — of  Yorktown  progresses  slowly. 
The  siege  train  is  coming  up  slowly;  some  20  guns  and  20 
mortars  having  reached  the  depot  about  a  mile  from  here. 
A  large  force  have  been  at  work  making  gabions,  and  a 
thousand  or  two  went  over  the  creek  last  night,  with  shovels 
and  intrenching  tools.  .  .  .  We  have  splendid  artillery 
here,  and  ought  to  drive  them  out  of  their  position  in  48 
hours  after  our  guns  are  in  position.  Our  siege  train  is 
made  up  mostly  of  4^  inch  Rifled  Guns,  a  very  accurate  and 
long  ranged  piece  of  ordnance,  and  a  half  dozen  100  pdr. 
Parrott  Guns,  which  seem  to  have  knocked  Fort  Pulaski  to 
pieces.  [Fort  Pulaski  commanded  the  entrance  to  the 
Savannah  River  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Florida.]  The 
enemy  have  some  heavy  ordnance  e.  g.  the  10  inch  Mortars 
with  which  they  practice  at  us,  and  some  heavy  Columbiads 
in  their  water  batteries,  but  old  smooth  bore  320  and  240 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  229 

form  the  most  of  their  armament,  while  they  use  still 
smaller  pieces  a  great  deal.  .  .  .  The  military  commission 
to  Europe, — Major  Delafield,  Major  Mordecai  and  Captain 
McClellan, — found  great  fault  with  the  allied  generals,  be 
cause  they  attempted  to  besiege  Sebastopol  without  sur 
rounding  it  and  cutting  off  its  supplies.  General  McClellan 
marches  his  army  200  miles  to  besiege  Yorktown,  and 
places  it  in  this  position.  (See  Plan  of  Operations.)  I 
have  not  yet  been  able  to  discern  the  difference  between  the 
two  situations.  And  considering  the  fact  that  the  rebels  can 
throw  up  as  many  intrenchments  as  they  please  between 
Yorktown  and  Richmond,  the  siege  does  not  seem  to  prom 
ise  any  very  satisfactory  results.  .  .  .  Referring  to  the 
Revolutionary  map.  our  general  hospital  is  at  Lafayette's 
Headquarters.  We  are  encamped  where  the  Virginia 
militia  were.  Our  bridges  are  built  across  Wormley's 
Creek  where  the  old  road  crossed  it  to  Moore's  house  or 
rather  a  little  above.  [A  frame  building  with  a  brick  foun 
dation  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Yorktown,  and  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  banks  of  the  York  River.  The 
commissioners  of  the  two  armies  met  here  when  Cornwal- 
lis  surrendered,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  capitulation.  At 
that  time  it  was  occupied  by  a  widow  of  the  name  of  Moore, 
and  was  known  as  "Moore's  house."]  The  enemy's  works 
extend  in  a  curved  line  from  the  British  redoubt  on  the 
shore  of  the  river  to  the  Virginia  quarters,  our  first  camp, 
half  way  between  Moore's  house  and  the  Adjt.  Gen's  Quar 
ters.  Our  guns  placed  in  position  the  first  two  days  a  little 
farther  up  the  road  to  the  right;  Martin's  Battery  the  first 
day  to  the  right  of  the  field  where  the  British  laid  down 
their  arms.  .  .  .  The  peach  orchard  to  the  left  has  been  cut 
down,  and  the  houses  close  by  it  burnt  by  the  rebels  to  pre 
vent  them  from  sheltering  our  sharpshooters.  The  Battery 
to  which  we  directed  most  of  our  attention  when  we  were 
in  the  field  is  the  one  nearest  the  road." 


230  HISTORY    OF    THE 


FROM  ANOTHER  LETTER  OF  THE  SAME  DATE. 

"Our  three  tents  for  the  officers  arrived  yesterday,  and 
as  soon  as  the  easterly  storm,  which  is  the  order  of  the  day 
at  present,  stops,  we  shall  move  in.  ...  I  will  allow  Gen 
eral  McClellan  5  weeks  to  take  the  place,  and  I  think  by  the 
end  of  that  time  the  soldiers  will  capture  Yorktown.  .  .  . 
The  rebels  occupy  one  line  across  the  peninsula  and  we  oc 
cupy  another  parallel  to  it,  and  allowing  that  both  sides 
can  throw  up  dirt  equally  fast,  they  have  the  advantage  of 
us,  as  they  have  one  pile  of  dirt  all  thrown  up.  As  far  as  I 
can  see  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  them  from  throwing  up 
a  new  line  in  the  rear  of  their  present  intrenchments,  and  so 
continuing  the  process,  and  even  supposing  we  could  drive 
them  out  of  their  fortifications  without  difficulty  by  the 
slow  process  of  a  siege,  it  would  take  considerable  time  to 
trench  from  here  to  Richmond.  ...  As  things  are  now 
working,  the  event  will  be  decided  by  engineering  skill,  and 
artillery  practice.  ...  In  the  point  of  artillery  practice  our 
army  has  shown  itself  immensely  superior  to  the  rebels.  At 
Hilton  Head,  Fort  Henry,  Fort  Pulaski,  our  heavy  guns 
were  so  well  manned  that  the  result  was  inevitable,  and 
here  it  must  be  the  same.  Our  siege  train  consisting  of  the 
best  Rifled  Guns  ought  to  dismount  every  rebel  gun  in  48 
hours,  and  I  have  no  doubt  will  do  it.  At  2,200  yards  the 
first  Sunday,  one  of  my  guns  was  aimed  at  a  rebel  gun,  and 
at  the  second  shot  landed  a  shell  in  the  embrasure.  This 
from  a  3  inch  gun.  A  4^  inch  gun  of  course  ranges  a  great 
deal  farther  and  more  accurately  at  the  same  distance,  and 
the  first  parallel  is  generally,  placed  at  600  yards  from  the 
work  attacked.  .  .  .  We  have  also  six  100  pdr.  Parrott 
Guns  which  I  see  went  clear  through  the  brick  walls  of 
Fort  Pulaski.  ...  In  the  meantime  the  main  body  of  the 
army  will  lie  back  out  of  danger,  unless  the  garrison  make 
a  sortie,  when  we  shall  drive  them  back  without  much  diffi- 
cultv. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  231 

April  21,  1862.  Mr.  Schenkle  the  inventor  of  the  only 
percussion  fuze  now  in  use,  who  was  here  to-day,  says  that 
a  200  pclr.  Parrott  gun  has  been  mounted  on  the  Point 
across  Wormley's  Creek,  intended  to  silence  the  water  bat 
teries  of  the  enemy.  .  .  .  Mr.  Fay,  allotment  commissioner 
for  Massachusetts,  has  been  here  to-day." 


The  Roll  in  charge  of  this  officer  has  been  thus  de 
scribed  : — 

"It  is  a  new  kind  of  pay  roll  made  out  by  the  State  of 
Massachusetts  for  her  soldiers,  and  is  called  the  'Allotment 
Roll.'  Each  man  that  wishes  to  allot  a  part  or  whole  of  his 
money  to  his  parents,  friends,  or  any  one,  can  do  so  by 
signing  the  roll.  Then  after  each  company  has  made  out 
its  roll,  and  it  has  been  signed,  by  the  company,  the  Captain 
endorses  it  and  gives  it  to  the  Paymaster.  The  Paymaster 
then  sends  the  money  to  the  State  Treasurer,  and  he  sends 
it  to  the  city  or  town  treasurer.  Then  the  city  or  town 
treasurer  notifies  the  persons  to  whom  the  money  is  sent, 
and  they  call  and  get  it.  The  object  is  to  insure  safety  and 
to  save  paying  the  percentage  on  the  money  which  would 
have  to  be  paid  if  it  was  sent  by  express." 


Phillips'  Diary:  "April  22,  1862.  .  .  .  Set  to  work  and 
built  a  frame  house  18x13  ft.,  4  ft.  high  at  the  eaves,  8  ft. 
high  at  the  ridge." 

THE  TRENCHES.— YORKTOWN. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

%  CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT  NEAR 

YORKTOWN  VA.  April  23d,  1862. 

General   Orders.       [Extracts.] 

The  following  orders  for  the  construction  of  batteries  and  trenches 


232  HISTORY    OF    THE 

during  the  operations  before  Yorktown,  will  be  strictly  observed,  viz. — 

Night  working  parties  will  be  double  the  size  of  day  parties,  one- 
half  forming  a  support  to  the  guard. 

(IN  CASE  OF  AN  ATTACK.) 

The  buglers  and  drummers, — of  whom  there  should  always  be  some 
in  the  parallels  with  the  officers  commanding  the  firing  parties  and  sup 
ports, — immediately  sound  "to  arms"  or  beat  the  "long  roll/'  which 
will  be  repeated  all  along  the  lines,  and  as  far  back  as  the  re 
serves.  .  .  . 

The  utmost  silence  and  order  must  be  preserved  in  the  trenches, 
and  in  marching  to  and  from  them.  All  working  parties  for  the 
trenches  will  go  equipped  for  action. 

To  prevent  the  glistening  of  the  bayonets  and  arms  betraying  the 
movements  of  the  troops,  bayonets  will  be  carried  in  the  scabbard,  and 
the  gun  slung  while  going  to  and  from  the  trenches. 

An  officer  will  be  sent  with  each  relief  of  the  guards  and  working 
parties  to  the  batteries  and  trenches,  who  will  return  to  his  camp  to 
escort  the  next  relief  to  their  proper  position. 

No  officer,  soldier,  or  citizen,  shall  be  allowed  to  enter  the  trenches, 
or  to  approach  their  vicinity,  unless  specially  detailed  on  dutv  there. 
The  only  exception  to  this  rule,  will  be  in  the  case  of  General  Officers, 
the  staff  of  the  Major  Gen.  Commanding,  and  the  staff  officers  of  the 
Generals  near  the  trenches. 

[All  officers  or  men  who  unnecessarily  exposed  themselves  to  the 
view  of  the  enemy,  with  the  above  exceptions,  were  to  be  arrested  and 
sent  to  the  nearest  Provost  Marshal.] 

By  command   of   Major   General   McClellan 

S.    WILLIAMS   Ass't   Adj't.    Gen'l. 


FROM  A  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

'Thursday  morning,  April  24,  1862.  The  5th  Battery 
now  can  bear  comparison  with  any  battery  in  the  service, 
and  does  not  fall  below  the  average  standard  in  this  Divi 
sion.  Griffin's  Battery  is  of  course  well  drilled.  All  regu 
lars  are." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  25.,  1862.  .  .  .  Built  a  turf  chirn- 
ney  and  fireplace  in  the  house :  cold,  easterly  storm  all  day 
and  night." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  233 

Grows'  Journal :  "Friday,  April  25,  1862.  This  fore 
noon  I  got  some  'laurel  root/  a  very  pretty  wood,  and  made 
a  pipe.  It  looks  very  neat  and  nice.  The  wood  grows  quite 
plenty  around  here.  There  is  the  usual  amount  of  heavy 
firing  from  the  large  guns.  We  hear  it  so  much  that  I  have 
got  used  to  it." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

" April  26,  1862.  The  Doctor  of  the  N.  Y.  44th  occa 
sionally  drops  in  with  a  New  York  daily,  and  Mr.  Whitte- 
more  reporter  for  the  N.  Y.  Times,  brought  in  this  morn 
ing's  Times  and  Herald  of  the  23d,  still  as  I  received  Bos 
ton  papers  of  the  22d,  last  night,  I  keep  posted  as  well  as 
anybody.  .  .  .  The  house  which  we  first  built  was  soon 
carried  off,  to  build  the  bridges,  and  nothing  was  left  behind 
but  a  few  slabs  and  joists.  The  other  sections  got  along 
with  a  patched  up  arrangement  which  lets  in  wind,  rain  and 
cold,  and  kept  everybody  pretty  uncomfortable.  Last  Tues 
day,  however,  when  the  Centre  section  got  down  there,  I 
set  to  work  to  see  what  we  could  do,  and  the  ingenuity  of 
the  section  soon  planned  an  edifice,  which  I  consider  one 
of  the  wonders  of  the  war.  This  building  is  13  by  17  ft., 
gable  ended,  all  framed  together,  and  all  pinned  together 
with  oaken  pins.  The  sides  are  made  of  slabs  put  on  clap 
board  fashion,  one  end  being  built  of  oak  timbers  14  inches 
square.  The  roof  is  made  of  a  tarpaulin,  full  as  light  as 
canvas.  It  is  4  ft.  high  at  the  eaves,  and  8  ft.  at  the  ridge 
pole,  so  that  we  can  stand  up  and  walk  around  with  great 
comfort.  .  .  .  During  the  last  three  or  four  days  an  east 
erly  storm  has  prevailed,  and  we  found  that  our  hotel  would 
be  uncomfortable  without  a  fire,  so  yesterday  the  Centre 
section  again  took  hold  and  built  a  fireplace  and  chimne'y 
of  turf  on  one  side  of  the  house,  cutting  a  hole  in  the  side. 
The  chimney  draws  beautifully,  and  all  yesterday  and  last 
night  we  kept  up  a  roaring  fire.  The  floor  is  made  of  oak 


234 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


slabs,  smooth  side  up,  pretty  well  levelled,  but  with  occa 
sional  cracks  three  or  four  inches  in  width.  We  spread  our 
blankets  on  the  floor,  put  a  sloping-  board  down  for  a  pil 
low,  and  turn  in. 

The  following  plan  will  give  you  an  idea  of  how  we  pack. 

Sft.  fir-ep7o  ce. 


Corp. 


\JW.C7ar'k. 
~ 


Serfft£7oT<e\    __  _         \.osrns. 
" 


. 


Door 
//oi/se   near 


We  have  got  our  wall  tent,  Scott  and  I  having  one,  but  as 
the  Captain's  tent  is  the  only  one  with  a  stove  in  it,  we  have 
no  chance  yet  to  enjoy  it.  I  like  the  tent  much  better  than 
a  Sibley.  It  is  9  ft.  square,  and  about  9  ft.  high,  four  feet 
high  at  the  eaves.  It  is  not  so  large  as  the  Sibley  tent,  but 
the  room  is  so  disposed  that  it  can  all  be  used.  The  beds 
are  placed  on  each  side,  leaving  a  clear  space  in  the  middle 
with  a  table,  looking  glass,  &c.  opposite  the  door.  The 
only  trouble  is  that,  the  tents  are  not  new,  and  ours  has  got 
a  hole  ripped  in  the  end  opposite  the  door,  which  we  find  it 
difficult  to  stop  up.  ...  A  N.  Y.  Lieut.  Colonel  and  Major 
deserted  day  before  yesterday  and  went  to  Yorktown.  How 
much  information  they  can  carry  I  do  not  know.  Two  bat 
teries  have  been  established  by  our  side  in  the  woods  to 
the  right  of  the  field  where  our  Battery  was  placed  the  first 
Sunday,  and  four  4-^  inch  guns  have  been  mounted  in  one 
of  them.  The  mortars  will  be  placed  on  the  opposite  shore 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  235 

of  Wormley's  Creek,  at  the  end  of  the  bridges  which  we  are 
guarding.  The  bank  has  been  cut  away.  ...  In  this  posi 
tion  they  will  be  completely  sheltered  and  out  of  sight  of 
the  enemy,  while  they  can  be  fired  with  perfect  ease,  it  be 
ing  of  no  consequence  that  the  mark  should  be  in  sight  from 
the  mortar. 

April  26,  1862.  Two  batteries  we  have  built  and  four 
guns  we  have  mounted.  These  are  so  near  the  rebel  forti 
fications  that  the  men  at  work  on  them  are  not  allowed  to 
speak  a  loud  word.  The  trees  are  still  standing  in  front  of 
them,  so  that  the  rebels  cannot  ascertain  their  exact  posi 
tion,  though  they  know  we  are  doing  something  in  the  vi 
cinity;  accordingly  they  amuse  themselves  by  shelling  the 
woods  but  without  doing  any  particular  damage  to  any 
body.  The  floating  bridge  which  I  mentioned  in  one  of  my 
letters  as  being  rather  a  failure,  has  been  taken  up,  and  the 
materials  used  to  build  a  bridge  still  lower  down  the  creek. 
.  .  .  There  is  now  great  fault  found  with  the  artillery  am 
munition,  and  I  do  not  think  that  McC.  can  shift  all  the 
blame  on  the  Ordnance  Department.  Take  one  instance: 
before  we  left  Hall's  Hill,  every  artillery  officer  in  the  Army 
knew  that  the  percussion  ammunition  furnished  to  us  was 
utterly  unreliable.  The  percussion  fuze  universally  adopted 
is  Schenkle's,  the  best  yet  invented,  but  the  shot  preferred 
by  the  Ordnance  Department  was  found  to  be  unreliable. 
Of  all  the  percussion  shell  which  we  fired  at  Hall's  Hill, 
only  two  proved  at  all  satisfactory,  and  these  were  fired  at 
the  very  short  range  of  200  yards.  The  rest  turned  over, 
burst  in  the  air,  and  flew  round  in  all  sorts  of  ways,  the 
greater  number  not  being  seen  or  heard  of  after  they  left 
the  muzzle  of  the  guns.  Still  knowing  all  this,  half  the  bat 
teries  in  the  Army  were  supplied  with  the  Dyer  shot.  The 
consequence  was  that  in  the  first  day's  fight  at  Yorktown, 
the  percussion  ammunition  exploded  pretty  much  every 
where,  at  the  muzzle  of  the  gun,  and  everywhere  else,  ex 
cept  the  right  place.  As  soon  as  the  news  of  this  reached 


236  HISTORY    OF    THE 

headquarters  there  was  a  great  hullaballoo.  Mr.  Schenkle 
(see  p.  125)  was  sent  for  post  haste,  and  new  ammunition 
was  ordered,  and  the  Ordnance  Department  blamed  gen 
erally  and  particularly.  .  .  .  Again  the  4^  in.  siege  guns  it 
is  said  proved  to  be  a  failure  before  we  left  Washington, 
and  yet  McClellan  accepts  a  train  of  them  though  greatly 
inferior  to  the  Parrott  gun,  and  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Pulaski  has  demonstrated  that  the  James  projectile  is  im 
mensely  superior  to  either.  Then  I  don't  know  but  what 
it  shows  generalship  to  draw  up  our  Army  in  front  of  the 
rebel  lines  without  any  chance  to  outflank  or  surround 
them.  .  .  .  We  can  storm  the  works,  of  course,  but  this 
we  might  have  done  a  great  deal  better  the  first  day  when 
the  enemy  were  surprised  and  before  they  were  reinforced. 

Sunday  evening,  April  27th.  .  .  .  Our  bridge  builders 
seem  to  have  changed  their  plans.  They  have  taken  up  the 
upper  pontoon  bridge  and  the  floating  bridge,  and  carried 
the  materials  of  the  latter  a  short  distance  down  the  stream 
to  build  a  pier  bridge,  which  sank  into  the  mud  as  soon  as  it 
was  finished,  so  that  now  about  50  feet  of  the  centre  are  un 
der  water.  The  lower  pontoon  bridge  is  at  present  defended, 
in  addition  to  our  Battery,  by  a  pine  log  and  a  barrel 
mounteS  on  wheels !  Our  house  at  the  bridge  still  continues 
in  excellent  condition,  the  Right  section  today  actually  did 
a  little  work  on  it,  raising  the  chimney  a  few  feet.  Sergt. 
Peacock  says  that  the  rule  of  the  section  is  to  put  under  ar 
rest  any  man  who  does  anything  more  than  what  is  abso 
lutely  necessary  to  sustain  life.  .  .  .  Staunton  and  Weldon 
are  turning  out  to  be  important.  Perhaps  McClellan' s  plans 
are  deeper  than  anybody  thinks.  .  .  .  The  whole  siege 
train  has  all  disappeared,  and  I  presume  guns  and  mortars 
are  all  mounted  somewhere,  ready  to  open  when  the  word 
is  given. 

At  present  there  is  quite  a  rage  for  pipe  making  here.  At 
least  half  of  the  men  in  the  Division  are  carving  pipes  out 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  237 

of  laurel  root,  and  I  am  not  sure  but  I  shall  take  to  it  my 
self,  though  whether  I  shall  make  a  pipe,  salt  cellar  or 
toothpick  T  have  not  yet  decided.  .  .  .  Five  Parrott  100 
pdrs.  have  been  mounted  near  a  large  house  between  Worm- 
ley's  Creek  and  the  river  .  .  .  one  from  which  a  very 
good  view  could  be  obtained  of  the  rebel  fortifications. 
Very  extensive  works  have  been  erected  on  the  other  side  of 
the  creek,  and  the  rebels  occasionally  try  to  shell  out  our 
workmen.  This  morning  there  was  quite  a  noise  for  a  few 
minutes  as  they  threw  out  a  field  battery,  and  fired  as  fast 
as  they  could  load  for  about  15  minutes.  The  gunboats 
have  been  firing  a  few  shots  today,  and  seemed  to  have  got 
the  range  better." 

On  this  day  General  Fitz  John  Porter  was  appointed  Di 
rector  of  the  Siege. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Sunday,  April  2/th.  I  spent  a  very 
pleasant  forenoon  and  portion  of  this  afternoon  reading  the 
American  Union  and  the  Herald." 

Letter  of  Corporal  Spear:  "Monday,  April  28,  1862. 
.  .  .  Every  day  thousands  and  thousands  of  men  are  at 
work  throwing  up  entrenchments  and  digging  rifle  pits  for 
the  use  of  our  Army  in  the  coming  battle;  the  infantry  regi 
ments  do  the  fatigue  duties,  while  batteries  do  guard  duty. 
Yesterday  there  was  considerable  firing  between  the  rebels 
and  our  gunboats,  and  several  times  during  the  day  a  bat 
tery  of  field  artillery  would  come  out  and  fire  upon  our 
fatigue  men." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Tuesday,  April  29,  1862.  Was  called 
at  i  o'clock  this  morning  to  go  on  my  post,  which  I  did, 
coming  off  at  3,  when  I  was  relieved.  There  has  been  some 
awful  heavy  firing  by  the  rebels  and  our  gunboats  all  night. 
I  can  plainly  see  the  flashes  of  their  guns  every  time  they 
fire.  I  went  to  my  tent  and  laid  down  and  read  the  Herald 
and  the  Journal  that  I  had  borrowed.  I  had  read  about 
half  an  hour  when  the  camp  was  awakened  by  the  call 
Hitch  up.  I  had  not  more  than  got  to  my  place,  when  an 


238  HISTORY    OF    THE 

order  came  into  camp — 'Un  Hitch/  so  we  all  went  to  our 
tents  again.  It  was  expected  the  rebels  would  make  a  sortie 
out  on  some  of  the  regiments  and  if  they  had  they  would 
have  been  cut  to  pieces." 

Later  in  the  clay  he  saw  15  rebel  prisoners  who  had  been 
taken  that  morning. 

LETTER  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE. 

"CAMP  NEAR  YORKTOWN  VA. 

April  29,  1862. 

We  were  paid  off  yesterday,  and  all  is  lovely  again. 
For  the  last  two  months  our  standard  currency  has  been 
hard  bread :  five  hard  breads  for  a  sheet  of  paper,  and  a 
whole  day's  ration  for  a  postage  stamp.  We  have  eaten 
hard  tack  so  long  that  now  it  is  second  nature  to  us,  and 
I  believe  that  if  worst  came  to  worst  we  could  masticate 
flint.  We  live  on  hard  tack;  hard  tack  is  our  money;  we 
use  them  for  dipper  covers  and  candlesticks,  and  if  they 
were  large  enough  we  should  make  them  into  'spare  wheels' 
for  our  gun  carriages,  but  hard  tack  are  of  no  account  now 
for  money,  which  is  the  one  thing  needful,  is  plenty. 

We  are  in  camp  today,  but  the  Right  section  is  at  the 
Bridge,  and  while  I  am  penning  this  I  can  hear  the  enemy's 
shells  bursting  very  near  the  Battery.  They  are  nervous 
about  something  today,  for  they  have  blazed  away  quite 
brisk  this  a.  m.  Their  firing  is  all  guess  work,  and  has  not 
yet  done  any  harm.  They  cannot  see  the  bridges  or  work 
men,  but  fire  as  near  as  they  can  judge,  and  try  to  shell  the 
men  at  work  on  the  bridges  and  siege  guns. 

You  say  your  business  is  dull.  Well,  our  business  out 
here  is  'looking  up.'  ...  All  the  canvas  we  have  on  hand  is 
what  makes  the  roof  of  our  house,  iron  remains  quiet,  but 
there  is  a  prospect  of  an  upward  tendency,  as  we  have  a  big 
contract  to  fill  in  Yorktown.  We  are  doing  something  in 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  239 

lead,  and  expect  that  trade  in  this  line  will  be  very  active 
soon. 

You  say  that  Easter  Sunday  was  observed  as  a  day  of 
Thanksgiving  and  prayer  for  the  recent  victories  of  our 
army.  I  attended  divine  service  that  day  with  the  I7th 
N.  Y.  Regiment. 

There  is  so  much  confusion  in  the  tent  that  I  hardly  know 
what  I  have  written  or  am  writing." 

At  the  close  of  this  letter  reference  is  made  to  the  lint 
which  was  prepared  by  individuals  and  by  the  ladies  of  the 
Soldiers'  Aid  Societies  (see  p.  2)  at  the  North,  meeting  at 
their  own  houses  or  in  the  church  vestries  to  "  scrape  lint" 
and  roll  linen  bandages.  He  says : — 

"  I  have  the  package  of  bandages  and  lint,  which  you 
kindly  gave  me,  and  before  Yorktown  is  taken  they  will  be 
needed,  if  not  by  me  they  will  by  others.  When  you  gave 
them  to  me  I  did  not  realize  that  they  would  ever  be  needed 
for  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  so  carefully  prepared, 
but  the  stern  reality  is  fast  approaching." 


FROM  A  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"  April  30,  1862.  Our  preparations  go  on  gradually : 
they  are  now  building  the  mortar  beds,  having  taken  a  lot 
of  oak  timbers  which  were  lying  round  our  Battery  at  the 
bridge  for  that  purpose.  One  of  the  pontoon  bridges  was 
taken  up  two  days  ago,  and  the  pontoons  are  being  used  to 
bring  planks,  shot  and  shell,  up  the  creek.  The  gunboats 
fire  15  or  20  shots  a  day,  make  a  great  deal  of  noise  and 
accomplish  very  little.  We  want  an  ironclad  gunboat  to 
sail  up  York  River  past  the  water  batteries,  and  take  the 
rebel  lines  in  the  rear  ....  the  'Galena'  is  an  iron  clad 
steamer  of  6  guns  .  .  .  she  is  now  at  Fortress  Monroe.  .  .  . 
5  p.  m.  We  were  mustered  this  afternoon  at  2  o'clock,  in 


240  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  midst  of  a  rain  storm,  by  Captain  Griffin.  As  a  muster 
for  pay  includes  a  parade,  inspection,  and  roll  call,  you  can 
imagine  the  pleasure  of  the  thing.  About  noon  the  rebels 
seemed  to  have  a  new  idea  in  their  heads,  for  they  suddenly 
threw  3  shot  towards  the  battery  by  the  house.  .  .  .  Five 
100  pdr.  Parrotts  sent  back  our  answer,  and  have  been  bang 
ing  away  ever  since.  We  can  hear  the  whir-r-r-r  of  the  shell 
as  it  flies  through  the  air,  the  thud  as  it  strikes,  and  then 
the  explosion.  Two  shells  upset  after  leaving  the  gun,  as 
we  could  tell  by  the  irregular  sound  they  made." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  3Oth.  The  rebels  continually 
shell  our  intrenchments  across  Wormley's  Creek,  and  Mon 
day  killed  one  man  in  the  N.  Y.  44th." 

RELATIVE    TO     RECRUITS    see   p.    194. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  May  i,  1862. 
General  Orders 
No.  49. 

Upon    requisition    made    by    Commanders    of    Armies    in    the    field, 
authority  will  be  given  by  the  War  Department  to  the  Governors  of  the 
respective  States  to  recruit  Regiments  now  in  service. 
By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

L.   THOMAS 
Adjutant  General. 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"May  2,  1862.  We  have  established  batteries  of  siege 
guns  and  mortars, — n  batteries  at  least, — but  as  yet  they 
are  not  ready  to  open.  The  only  exception  to  this  is  Bat 
tery  No.  i  of  five  100  pdr.  Parrott  guns,  which  now  fires 
once  in  a  while  through  the  day  and  night.  Last  night 
when  I  was  down  at  the  bridge  the  noise  was  incessant  all 
night,  and  I  could  hardly  get  a  wink  of  sleep.  Their  prin 
cipal  attention  seemed  to  be  directed  to  our  earthworks,  and 
as  most  of  the  shell  exploded  within  500  or  600  yards  of 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  241 

our  guns,  the  noise  was  rather  disagreeable.  This  fore 
noon  the  performance  has  been  kept  up,  and  Battery  No. 
I  has  had  quite  a  duel  with  the  rebels.  .  .  .  We  can  see  the 
rebels'  shots  strike  in  a  large  field  where  they  are  pretty  sure 
not  to  hurt  anybody.  One  of  their  shots  struck  close  by  a 
large  barn,  and  with  our  glasses  we  could  see  our  men  run 
ning  to  pick  it  up.  During  the  forenoon  the  rebels  ap 
peared  to  get  a  little  excited,  for  they  elevated  their  gun 
and  sent  a  shot  whirring  clear  over  our  camp  towards  Gen. 
McC.'s  headquarters.  Last  night  our  guard  at  Wormley's 
Creek  reports  that  they  sent  one  shell  right  into  the  camp 
fire  of  the  heavy  artillerists  encamped  across  the  creek.  Our 
house  at  the  bridge  we  extended  yesterday,  making  it  now 
about  25x13  feet.  Our  quarters  there  are  altogether  the 
best  we  have,  although  my  tent  is  pretty  comfortable. 

THE  PROVOST  GUARD. 

One  of  the  institutions  round  here  is  the  Provost  Guard 
which  makes  itself  particularly  obtrusive.  The  guard  is 
stationed  all  over  the  Division  about  half  a  dozen  at  each 
post.  They  pitch  their  shelter  tents  and  keep  one  man  on 
the  lookout  all  the  time :  and  then  woe  betide  civilian  or  pri 
vate  soldier,  who  attempts  to  cross  their  beat  without  a 
pass.  There  are  three  posts  down  by  the  bridge,  and  one 
about  50  ft.  from  our  tents,  and  many  more,  scattered  all 
around  the  lot. 

THE   SUTLER. 

Another  institution,  rather  more  popular,  is  the  sut 
ler's,  which  is  now  exceedingly  well  patronized.  One  is 
in  sight  from  our  camp,  and  I  should  think  at  least  50 
men  have  been  standing  outside  the  door  ever  since  pay 
day,  three  days  ago.  Prices  run  rather  high  and  change  is 
not  to  be  had.  The  unlucky  wight  who  has  nothing  but  a 


242  HISTORY    OF    THE 

$5  treasury  note, — and  this  includes  most  of  the  army, — 
and  wants  a  pound  of  tobacco,  must  take  his  change  in  sut 
lers'  tickets,  or  go  without  his  tobacco.  .  .  .  P.  S.  Our 
Quartermaster  Sergeant,  just  returned  from  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  says  that  the  'Galena'  will  be  here  in  a  few  days." 

THE  EVACUATION. 

Chase's  Diary:  ''May  3,  1862.  Yorktown  was  evacuated 
today  by  the  enemy.  The  Right  section  was  withdrawn  in 
the  evening.  Terrific  shelling  by  our  gunboats." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Sunday  Morning,  May  4,  1862. 

The  American  Flag  waves  over  the  fortifications  of 
Yorktown,  and  McClellan  can  again  advance  to  occupy  the 
deserted  intrenchments  of  the  enemy. 

For  the  last  week  there  have  been  rumors  that  the  enemy 
were  leaving,  and  last  night  they  took  their  final  departure, 
burning  up  what  they  could  not  take  with  them.  We  were 
awakened  in  the  night  by  the  firing  of  the  outposts,  and  a 
bright  light  was  seen  over  Yorktown,  and  this  morning  our 
troops  took  quiet  possession.  The  gunboats  have  been  sig 
nalled  to  move  up  the  river.  We  are  ordered  to  march  to 
morrow  with  two  days'  cooked  rations,  forage  &c." 


Grows'  Journal:  "Sunday,  May  4,  1862.  Went  on  my 
post  at  2  this  morning.  I  had  not  been  on  more  than  an 
hour  when  I  heard  heavy  cannonading  in  the  direction  of 
Yorktown.  In  about  ten  minutes  it  was  almost  deafening. 
In  a  short  time  I  noticed  quite  a  fire  which  soon  increased 
to  a  tremendous  large  one.  I  first  thought  the  fight  on  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  243 

Right  had  begun  but  I  soon  found  that  the  rebels  were  de 
stroying  their  stores  and  some  of  their  works.  The  reports 
of  the  large  guns  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  were  both 
awful  and  sublime.  Shortly  after  7  o'clock  word  was  re 
ceived  in  camp  that  the  rebels  had  evacuated  Yorktown. 
During  the  night  if  Pandemonium  had  been  let  loose  it 
would  not  have  caused  more  excitement  than  did  the  leav 
ing  of  Yorktown !  Drums  that  they  have  not  dared  to  beat 
for  the  last  four  weeks;  bugles  that  have  not  sounded  since 
we  have  come  here,  now  opened  their  music,  and  never  was 
i  Fourth  of  July  at  home  equal  to  it.  It  is  a  beautiful  morn- 
ng  and  the  bands  are  playing  the  'Star  Spangled  Banner,' 
America,'  and  'Hail  Columbia.'  Soon  the  different  camps 
:ake  up  the  cheering,  and  it  can  hardly  be  described,  for 
from  the  throats  of  100,000  men  cheer  after  cheer  went  up, 
md  thanks  that  the  place  is  ours  and  without  the  loss  of 
Dlood.  Divine  service  was  held  in  the  different  camps  in 
:ommemoration  of  the  event. 

This  place  has  been  for  the  last  four  weeks  one  of  dread 
Doth  to  our  officers  and  men,  and  now  that  the  place  is  ours 
mr  feelings  can  hardly  be  described.  It  does  look  good  to 
;ee  our  old  flag  flying  over  the  rebels'  rag.  Some  of  our 
nen  have  gone  to  the  city.  They  found  about  1000  barrels 
)f  flour  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores.  I  have  a  piece  of 
he  house  where  Gen.  Washington  was  at  the  surrender  of 
lornwallis.  We  have  had  orders  to  pack  our  knapsacks, 
md  be  ready  to  start  at  any  moment.  Went  to  Roll  at  6. 
*.t  did  seem  good  to  have  our  old  bugle  again." 

Chase's  Diary :  "...  Reconnoissance  by  balloon  'In- 
Tepid'  this  morning.  Whole  company  in  camp  to-day; 
^May  4th)  first  time  for  three  weeks." 

Diary  of  Lieut.  Phillips:  "May  5th  1862.  Still  at  Camp 
vVinfield  Scott.  Heavy  firing  all  day  towards  Williams- 
)urg.  Rumors  of  all  sorts  round  camp.  Hitched  up  at 
5  p.  m.,  unhitched  15  minutes  after,  and  unharnessed  at 
[  in  the  morning." 


244  HISTORY    OF    THE 

LETTER  OF  PELEG  W.  BLAKE. 

"YORKTOWN,  May  5,  1862. 

Saturday  night  (May  3d)  there  was  'right  smart'  hot 
work  here.  The  shells  were  bursting  in  all  directions,  and 
our  big  siege  guns  were  'giving  them  Hail  Columbia/  The 
old  original  Duryea's  Zouaves,  the  red  breeches,  charged  on 
the  right  fort,  and  the  rebels  left  Yorktown  without  eating 
their  breakfast.  We  took  all  of  their  big  guns  and  two 
thousand  prisoners,  and  General  Smith  on  the  left  wing 
took  nine  thousand  prisoners,  two  batteries  of  light  artil 
lery,  all  hitched  up  ready  for  a  start.  On  the  Right,  in  front 
of  where  we  are,  they  cut  the  traces  from  their  guns,  and 
left  with  their  horses  in  double  quick  time. 

Our  troops  are  chasing  the  rebels  up.  While  I  am  writ 
ing  we  are  having  a  big  battle  close  by.  The  rebels  set  all 
kinds  of  traps  to  kill  our  troops  when  we  went  into  the 
streets  of  Yorktown.  You  could  not  tip  over  a  barrel,  or 
anything  else,  but  what  had  a  string  attached  to  a  big  shell 
or  some  kind  of  torpedoes,  that  would  kill  five  or  six  men 
every  time  they  did  anything  or  moved  anything.  Wher 
ever  you  could  see  the  dirt  thrown  up  loosely,  look  out  for 
your  feet,  or  else  they  would  be  catching  in  some  string  an 
inch  under  the  dirt,  and  then  shells  would  explode. 

Our  folks  got  plenty  of  tobacco." 

FROM  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  THIRD  MASS. 
BATTERY. 

"At  Yorktown  the  rebels  buried  shells  underground 
which  exploded  when  our  forces  entered  the  Fort.  The 
gate  of  the  Fort  stood  open.  A  heavy  shell  was  planted 
there  which  the  opening  of  the  gate  would  have  exploded. 
Our  Army  declined  to  enter  there.  A  man  who  made  a 
hole  for  a  telegraph  pole  was  terribly  mangled,  and  6  cav 
alry  men  and  2  horses  were  killed  in  that  way." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  245 


NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  HYDE  MAY  21,  1900. 

Accompanied  by  Lieut.  Dillingham  and  Lieut.  Daniel 
Tompkins  of  the  Signal  Corps,  Lieut.  Hyde  on  the  morn 
ing  succeeding  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown,  rode  into  the 
city  on  "Black  Charley,''  passing  circuitously  by  the  marks 
set  up  to  indicate  the  presence  of  buried  torpedoes,  placed 
there  for  the  purpose  of  blowing  up  whoever  might  step 
upon  them.  They  rode  round  and  examined  the  fortifica 
tions  for  a  half  hour,  and  then  went  back  to  camp. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Monday,  May  5,  1862.  Was  awakened 
about  6  this  morning  by  the  rain.  I  should  think  by  ap 
pearances  that  it  has  rained  hard  all  night.  Heard  heavy 
cannonading  at  a  distance.  The  rebels  have  done  all  that 
human  ingenuity  could  desire  to  fix  traps  for  our  men.  In 
some  places  you  will  see  an  overcoat  laying  on  the  ground, 
but  it  will  not  do  to  pick  it  up,  for  to  it  is  attached  a  string 
leading  to  a  fuze  containing  powder,  so  when  the  garment 
is  picked  up  it  causes  the  powder  to  explode  and  by  this 
means  destroy  our  men.  Torpedoes  are  covered  with  dirt 
in  the  street  and  should  horse  or  man  step  upon  one  it  is 
death.  In  fact  the  whole  place  is  mined,  and  so,  to  prevent 
accidents,  small  red  flags  are  placed  near  these  infernal 
articles,  to  give  a  person  warning.  One  of  the  22d  stepped 
upon  one  which  killed  him  and  wounded  five  others.  I  sa\v 
them  when  they  were  brought  into  the  Hospital." 

Phillips'  Diary:  'Tuesday,  May  6,  1862.  Visited  York- 
town  with  Captain  Allen  and  Dillingham,  Scott  and  Terry. 
Fort  quite  formidable.  Visited  the  redoubt  which  was  en 
gaged  the  first  Sunday." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  WINFIELD  SCOTT, 
Tuesday,  May  6,  1862. 

My  writing  materials  have  been  packed  up  for  the  last 
two  days.  .  .  .  Day  before  yesterday  we  kept  receiving  or 
ders  about  every  ten  minutes,  each  one  contradicting  the 


246  HISTORY    OF    THE 

one  which  preceded  it.  Finally,  however,  we  remained  be 
hind,  Porter's  Division  being  placed  in  the  Third  Reserve, 
while  others  pushed  on  ahead.  The  gunboats  left  and  went 
up  the  river.  Yesterday  ...  we  could  hear  heavy  firing 
up  the  river,  lasting  through  the  day.  ...  In  the  after 
noon  Lieut.  Hyde  went  into  Yorktown  with  an  officer  of 
the  Signal  Corps,  but  did  not  bring  back  any  trophies.  The 
houses  were  completely  stripped.  The  streets  of  Yorktown 
are  filled  with  ten  inch  shell,  with  percussion  caps  buried 
just  below  the  ground,  and  several  of  our  men  have  been 
killed  by  them.  Last  night  about  eight  o'clock,  just  as  we 
had  made  up  our  minds  that  we  should  not  move,  came  an 
order  to  hitch  up.  The  night  was  pitch  dark,  but  in  less 
than  15  minutes  we  were  ready  for  a  move.  I  was  looking 
after  the  Captain  to  report  my  section  all  ready,  when  there 
came  an  order  to  unhitch  and  leave  the  horses  at  the  picket 
rope.  So  we  turned  in  and  at  i,  came  an  order  to  unhar 
ness.  Today  is  very  pleasant  and  the  bands  are  going  all 
round. 

Tuesday  Eve:  I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  York- 
town.  .  .  .  The  works  are  well  built,  with  traverses  and 
blindages  in  the  most  approved  fashion :  [Traverses  were 
masses  of  earth,  thrown  up  at  short  distances,  to  screen  the 
troops  from  shot  and  shells  fired  in  ricochet,  that  is,  by  the 
rebounding  of  a  shot  which  strikes  in  more  spots  than  one. 
Blinds  were  covers  of  timber,  bundles  of  brushwood  or 
earth,  under  which  guns  were  secure  from  projectiles  reach 
ing  them  at  the  top  or  in  flank.]  heaps  of  sandbags  seem  to 
present  an  obstacle  to  a  shell  in  whatever  direction  it  should 
come.  The  guns,  some  40  or  50  in  number,  are  mostly 
stolen  from  Uncle  Sam :  old  pattern  32  pdrs.  and  24  pdrs., 
some  few  42  pdrs.,  two  9  inch,  some  8  inch, — 64  pdrs., — 
one  8  in.  mortar,  and  a  number  of  32  pdr.  Howitzers  or 
carronades.  They  had  had  six  guns  of  their  own  manu 
facture, — Richmond,  1862, — one  10  inch  Columbiad  and 
five  Rifled  Guns  of  4  or  5  in.  calibre.  Four  of  these  Rifled 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  247 

Guns  are  now  burst:  the  fragments  being  thrown  round 
promiscuously,  one  32  pdr.  is  burst  also.     Very  few  of  the 
guns  are  spiked.     The  guns  of  rebel  make  are  rough  cast, 
not  turned,  and  probably  never  tested  till  tried  here.     The 
10  inch  gun  was  mounted  in  the  eastern  corner  of  the  works, 
and  commands  nearly  f  of  a  circle.    This  is  the  place  where 
the  shots  of  Battery  No.  i  were  directed  and  the  traces  of 
our    shots  are    plainly  visible.     One  struck    in  a  traverse, 
knocking  the  sandbags  right  and  left,  two  ploughed  deep 
furrows  in  the  parapet,  and  another  went  through  the  rebel 
barracks,   knocking  down  the  chimney  in  its  path.     The 
water  batteries  were  very  well  built  and  kept.    There  were 
four  on  the  bluff,  armed  as  follows,  from  east  to  west: — 
No.  i,  two  32  pdrs.  No.  2,  three  32  pdrs.  No.  3,  four  32 
pdrs.  No.  4  four  Columbiads.     Each  battery  was  provided 
with  magazine  and  furnace  for  heating  shot,  and  sandbag 
traverses.     Down  on  the  beach  were  two  more  batteries, 
which  I  did  not  go  into.    Grape,  [Large  shot,  usually  nine, 
sewed  together  in  cylindrical  bags,  made  to  fit,  like  car 
tridges,  into  cannon.]   canister  shot,  and  shell  were  lying 
round  in  great  profusion.     [Canister  shot  is  a  tin  cylinder 
with  iron  heads,  filled  with  balls  packed  in  with  sawdust] 


/Pe5e7  ftedovbfi 

I  brought  away  some  canister  shot.  The  work  which  we 
engaged  the  first  Sunday  is  a  redoubt  about  half  a  mile  iti 
advance  of  the  main  line,  armed  with  one  42,  one  24,  one  32 
Howitzer  and  one  Rifled  Gun  burst. 


248  HISTORY    OF    THE 

A  bloodstain  on  the  ground  where  a  man  was  blown  up 
by  one  of  the  rebel  infernal  machines,  and  a  little  red  flag 
about  ten  feet  from  it,  admonished  us  to  be  careful  in  walk 
ing,  and  so  we  did  not  extend  our  investigations  very  far. 
The  rebels  have  shown  great  ingenuity  in  constructing  in 
fernal  machines  for  our  especial  benefit,  but  since  the  first 
day  no  accident  has  occurred.    They  all  consist  of  a  ten  inch 
shell  with  percussion  cap  hidden  in  various  ways.     They 
are  buried  all  round  the  top  just  level  with  the  ground, 
ready  to  go  off  as  soon  as  stepped  on.    One  house  seems  to 
have  been  the  particular  object  of  their  ingenuity,  shells  be 
ing  placed  in  all  convenient  spots.     Under  a  table  in  the 
corner  of  the  room  was  placed  a  coffee  pot  which  most  per 
sons  would  naturally  seize  as  soon  as  they  saw  it,  but  the 
coffee  pot  was  tied  by  a  small  thread  to  a  weight  hung  di 
rectly  over  the  cap  of  a  10  inch  shell,  so  that  the  weight 
would  fall  as  soon  as  the  coffee  pot  was  moved.    Then  the 
cellar  floor  was  paved  with  similar  machines  at  the  foot  of 
the  stairs,  all  ready  to  be  stepped  on.     In  this  same  house 
there  is  one  room  which  no  one  has  yet  dared  to  enter,  for 
a  ten  inch  shell  is  lying  on  a  table  in  the  middle.     Nothing 
can  be  seen  to  touch  it  off,  but  still  people  are  suspicious 
here.    Two  of  the  magazines  have  not  yet  been  opened,  and 
we  shall  have  to  be  careful.  .  .  .  We  searched  in  vain  to 
find  some  trophies,  such  as  pipes,  buttons,  etc.    The  guns  as 
yet  have  not  been  much  meddled  with,  as  they  are  loaded 
with — the  Rebels  only  know  what.     One  little  rifled  piece, 
the  one  which  has  fired  so  much  in  the  direction    of    our 
guard  at  the  bridge,  had  a  shell  sticking  out  at  the  muzzle, 
which  I  looked  at  but  concluded  to  let  remain.     In  another 
place  I  noticed  a  heap  of  shell  and  cartridges  half  buried  in 
the  sand,  and  I  thought  that  prudence  would  dictate  that 
they  should  be  touched  off  with  a  very  long  10  foot  pole." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  249 


FROM  A  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

WRITTEN  MAY  10,  1862.  ON  BOARD  STEAMER  NEW 
HAVEN,  YORK  RIVER,  ABOUT  THE  FORTIFICATIONS  AT 
YORKTOWN. 

"The  works  are  well  constructed  as  far  as  the  details  go, 
of  the  general  plan  of  the  works  I  don't  know  enough  to 
speak.  I  have  learned  this, — that  it  is  not  the  quantity  of 
dirt  in  a  fortification  that  makes  it  strong,  as  much  as  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  arranged.  There  was  a  great  pile  of 
dirt  shovelled  here,  but  the  dimensions  of  the  ramparts  are 
nothing  more  than  those  of  an  ordinary  field  work.  The 
height  of  the  rampart  and  the  depth  of  the  ditch  are  per 
haps  12  ft.  on  an  average,  or  24  ft.  from  the  bottom  of  the 
ditch  to  the  top  of  the  rampart,  but  this  would  soon  be 
diminished  under  the  operations  of  breaching  batteries. 
The  batteries  which  we  have  already  planted  would  prob 
ably  have  dismounted  most  of  the  rebel  guns  in  the  first  12 
hours  of  the  bombardment.  Battery  No.  2  in  the  few  scat 
tering  shots  fired  lately,  had  planted  3  shells  within  30  feet 
of  their  10  inch  Columbiads,  and  was  placed  to  enfilade  all 
their  water  batteries." 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  ALLEN. 

After  the  evacuation  Colonel  Stephen  W.  Stryker,  of  the 
44th  New  York  Regiment  Infantry,  garrisoned  Yorktown, 
entering  the  city  the  next  morning.  He  sent  a  note  to  Cap 
tain  Allen  inviting  him  to  dine  with  him  that  day,  and,  tak 
ing  an  orderly  with  him,  Captain  Allen  rode  in  from  camp. 
After  dinner  Colonel  Stryker  said : 

"Come    with    me.      I.  want   to    show   you    something/' 
They  went  round  to  several  places,  finally  bringing  up  at 
the  building  here  described  by  Phillips  and  saw  everything 
as  here  stated. 


250  HISTORY    OF    THE 

This  note  is  added, — after  reading  the  letter  as  here 
transcribed,— by  Captain  George  D.  Allen,  April  19,  1900. 

A  few  days  later  Corporal  Spear  made  his  visit  to  the 
fortifications  at  Yorktown  while  the  Battery  was  waiting 
for  the  infantry  to  go  on  board  the  steamer*  He  says : — 

"Having  nothing  to  do  the  Captain  gave  permission  to 
go  and  view  the  enemy's  works.  At  the  main  entrance, 
which  we  entered,  there  were  laid  quantities  of  torpedoes 
for  the  purpose  of  destroying  our  soldiers  should  they  at 
tempt  to  enter  the  fortifications.  I,  in  company  with  my 
sergeant,  went  all  about  the  works  and  viewed  the  guns 
&c,  which  the  rebels  had  left  behind  in  their  retreat.  Many 
of  the  guns  mounted  in  the  fort  were  good,  and  some  very 
poor :  their  magazines  splendid  and  well  stored  with  am 
munition,  but  their  quarters  were  far  different,  everything 
in  disorder  and  confusion  and  very  filthy.  I  managed  to 
find  several  relics." 


REPORT  OF  GENERAL  PORTER. 

Of  the  services  of  the  Division  of  Artillery  under  his 
command  during  the  thirty  days  of  the  siege,  General  Fitz 
John  Porter  says  in  his  report : — 

"I  desire  also  to  express  my  gratification  at  the  gallant 
and  efficient  service  of  the  Division  of  Artillery,  under  the 
immediate  direction  of  Captain  Charles  Griffin,  5th  Artil 
lery,  whose  reports  of  service  rendered  and  losses  in  respect 
ive  batteries  were  forwarded  in  proper  time.  Often  exposed 
to  a  hot  fire  from  the  enemy,  and  meeting  with  some  losses, 
these  batteries  were  examples  of  superior  discipline  and  in 
struction,  and  the  conspicuous  coolness,  gallantry,  bravery 
and  skill  of  the  officers  and  men,  merited  the  highest  com 
mendation.  These  batteries  were :  D.  5th  Artillery,  Captain 
Charles  Griffin;  C.  Rhode  Island  Artillery,  Captain 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  251 

Weeden;  C.  &  E.  Massachusetts  (Light)  Artillery,  com 
manded  respectively  by  Captain  A.  P.  Martin  and  Captain 
(Geo.  D.)  Allen." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Thursday,  May  8,  1862.  Struck  my 
tent  at  5  and  began  our  march.  Arrived  in  Yorktown  at  / 
this  morning,  found  that  the  transports  were  not  ready,  so 
we  went  'into  park'  and  set  our  picket  rope,  then  the  men 
were  dismissed  except  the  guard.  Harry  Simonds  and  my 
self  then  went  into  the  town.  The  rebels  could  have  held 
it  against  awful  numbers.  There  are  not  many  buildings  in 
the  place,  but  the  fortifications  are  equal  to  a  Sevastopol  or 
a  Gibraltar.  I  passed  into  the  Water  Battery  and  examined 
it,  a  most  splendid  work,  then  passed  into  the  lot  where  the 
dead  were  buried. 

There  were  in  all  about  60  graves  in  this  lot,  and  25  in 
another.  Had  quite  a  stroll  through  the  place.  At  3  this 
afternoon  we  hitched  out  again  and  went  to  the  wharf,  and 
had  to  get  the  guns  ready  to  go  aboard.  We  had  to  wait 
till  half  past  eleven  at  night  before  we  could  load,  then  we 
commenced  in  good  earnest." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  8,  1862.  Turned  out  at  2  a.  m. 
and  packed  up,  hitched  up,  and  left  Camp  Winfield  Scott  at 
sunrise  and  marched  to  Yorktown;  halted  just  outside  the 
village  and  unharnessed  the  horses.  At  8  p.  m.  embarked 
on  steamer  'New  Haven'  and  lay  moored  in  the  stream  all 
night." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  HANOVER  COURT  HOUSE. 
MAY  27,  1862. 

"And  many  a -brave  man  from  the  war 

Came  feeble  and  maimed  of  limb. 
Bullet-scar  and  sabre-scar 
And   fevered   weakness,   sadder  far, 

Were   Glory's   marks   on   him ! 
These  living  martyrs  of  the  war — 
Who  tells  us  where  they  are?" 

— ROSSITER  W.  RAYMOND,  Captain  U.  S.  V. 
— Vision  and  Duty. 

The  latest  plan  of  the  Peninsula  campaign  would  have 
been  successful,  General  McClellan  asserted  in  his  report,  if 
supported  with  appreciation  of  its  necessities,  but  which 
failed  because  of  the  repeated  failure  of  promised  support 
at  the  most  critical,  and,  as  it  proved  the  most  fatal  moment. 
'The  illustration  of  the  heroism  of  the  Army  in  the  aban 
donment  of  one  plan  and  the  originating  of  another,"  he 
says,  "must  be  left  for  the  pen  of  the  historian  in  times  of 
calm  reflection,  when  the  nation  shall  be  looking  back  to 
the  past  from  the  midst  of  peaceful  days." 

THE  POINT  OF  ATTACK. 

The  James  River  was  open  to  the  Union  fleets.  This  had 
been  made  possible  by  the  destruction  on  March  9,  1862,  of 
the  rebel  ram  "Merrimac"  by  the  U.  S.  "Monitor." 

The  historian  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  observes  that 
"May  n,  1862,  McClellan's  military  instinct  demanded  the 
immediate  movement  of  his  Army  to  the  James  River  as  a 

252 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  253 

base."  General  John  E.  Wool  telegraphed  him  on 
May  1 2th. — "Your  flank  will  be  protected  on  the  James 
River,  etc.  etc.,"  and  this  "military  instinct"  which  was  not 
allowed  to  sway  the  wisdom  of  the  controlling  powers,  was 
proven  to  have  been  founded  on  the  best  judgment,  for  be 
fore  the  close  of  June  it  was  demonstrated  to  the  world  that 
a  strategic  movement  resting  on  the  Chickahominy,  such  as 
was  then  on  foot,  was  but  the  "baseless  fabric  of  a  dream/' 

Two  main  roads  run  down  the  Peninsula  from  near  Wil 
liamsburg,  one  following  •  the  York  River  goes  to  York- 
town,  the  other  following  the  course  of  the  James,  crosses 
the  Warwick  at  Lee's  mills. 

A  mile  east  of  Williamsburg  where  these  roads  come  to 
gether,  was  Fort  Magruder  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  works, 
13  in  all,  which  stretched  across  the  intervening  space  be 
tween  the  two  rivers. 

Williamsburg,  the  seat  of  William  and  Mary  College 
chartered  in  1693,  is  built  on  the  ridge  of  the  Peninsula,  3 
miles  from  the  James  River  and  4  from  York  River.  It  is 
distant  from  Richmond  60  miles,  Hampton  36  miles,  and 
Yorktown  12  miles. 

BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

Grows'  Journal  of  May  gth  has  the  following  entry: — 
"At  2  o'clock  this  morning  I  came  aboard  the  steamer  New 
Haven,  spread  out  my  blankets  on  deck  and  turned  in.  We 
got  underweigh  at  3  this  afternoon  with  two  schooners  in 
tow,  having  our  horses  on  board.  At  6  this  evening  we  ar 
rived  off  West  Point  but  finding  the  tide  low  we  did  not  un 
load. 

Saturday,  May  10,  1862.  Had  breakfast  of  hard  bread 
and  water,  then  went  on  deck  to  look  around.  This  is  a 
very  pretty  place.  The  beach  extends  for  miles,  very  hard 
and  smooth.  I  should  like  to  live  here,  and  it  seems  hard 
to  have  this  place  disturbed  by  war.  The  water  as  far  as  I 


254  HISTORY    OF    THE 

can  see  is  covered  with  boats  and  vessels,  conveying  our 
troops  and  ammunition." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"ON  BOARD  STEAMER,  'NEW  HAVEN/ 
YORK  RIVER,  Saturday,  May  10,  1862. 

Once  again  we  are  afloat  to  find  a  new  point  of  attack, 
and  the  sooner  we  get  landed  the  better.  Going  to  sea  is 
all  very  pleasant,  but  when  it  comes  to  embarking  a  battery 
and  one  hundred  horses,  I  beg  to  be  excused. 

Thursday  morning  we  were  ordered  to  be  inYorktown  by 
daylight,  prepared  to  embark,  so  we  had  'reveille'  at 
2  a.  m.  and  started.  We  arrived  at  Yorktown  about  6, 
only  to  find  that  there  was  not  the  slightest  chance  to  get 
aboard  for  some  hours  to  come.  So  we  marched  into  a  field 
and  came  into  park  about  50  yards  from  the  walls  of  York- 
town.  The  day  was  very  pleasant  and  the  road  was  very 
dusty,  and  the  wagons  were  very  thick.  The  roads  were  a 
perfect  chaos  of  mules  and  mule  drivers,  one  about  as  stupid 
as  the  other. 

Meantime,  we  waited  and  waited. 

Martin's  battery  came  into  park  alongside  of  us,  and  the 
day  slowly  rolled  on.  I  managed  to  buy  a  loaf  of  bread, 
not  very  large  for  25  cents,  and  made  a  decent  dinner. 
About  4  o'clock  the  steamer  'New  Haven'  hauled  up  to 
the  wharf,  and  we  put  our  guns,  caissons  and  baggage 
wagons  on  board.  This  took  us  till  3  in  the  morning  when 
we  hauled  into  the  stream  to  give  Martin  a  chance,  and 
turned  in.  The  next  day  we  had  to  wait  till  afternoon 
when  we  got  some  schooners  into  the  wharf  and  loaded  our 
horses.  By  4  o'clock  this  was  completed  and  we  fastened 
the  schooner  alongside  the  'New  Haven,'  and  managed  to 
get  a  good  night's  rest. 

This  morning  we  are  waiting  for  orders.     A  schooner 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  255 

loaded  with  Griffin's  horses  has  just  come  alongside.  .  .  . 
P.  S.     Sunday  evening.     We  have  landed  at  West  Point 
on  York  River  our  Battery  and  baggage  wagons,  and  shall 
land  our  horses  tomorrow.     In  good  health  and  spirits. 

C.  A.  P." 


LETTER  OF  T.  E.  CHASE. 

ON  BOARD  STEAMER  NEW  HAVEN, 

OFF  WEST  POINT  VA. 
Sunday,  May  n,  1862. 

...  I  have  been  all  over  Yorktown  and  examined  all 
the  enemy's  fortifications,  and  it  was  an  immense  work. 
Two  thousand  negroes  were  at  work  on  them  for  nearly  a 
year,  and  all  their  work  is  thrown  away.  .  .  .  They  had 
great  furnaces  to  heat  shot  red-hot  to  fire  at  the  gunboats 
to  set  them  on  fire;  the  shot  were  in  the  furnaces  all  ready 
to  be  heated,  shot  and  shell  piled  up  alongside  of  the  guns 
ready  at  a  moment's  notice.  There  lay  the  sponge  staves 
and  everything  in  complete  readiness.  All  the  guns  were 
spiked,  and  some  of  the  buildings  burnt.  I  saw  the  ruins 
of  one  large  building,  and  in  the  ashes  there  was  a  great 
lot  of  shot  and  shell,  and  I  should  think  about  five  barrels 
of  meat  laid  in  a  pile,  all  burned,  and  about  a  cart  load  of 
fine  salt  and  the  iron-work  of  a  lot  of  cartridge  boxes. 

The  rebel  officers  had  first-rate  barracks,  good,  nice,  cot 
beds,  and  they  are  now  used  for  hospitals,  and  there  are 
already  quite  a  large  number  of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
there. 

We  are  now  about  a  day's  march  from  Richmond,  some 
28  miles,  and  where  the  disheartened  rebels  will  next  make 
a  stand  we  know  not.  Banks  and  McDowell  are  on  the 
other  side  of  Richmond  and  the  flower  of  the  army  here 
chasing  and  penning  them  up.  .  .  .  The  Captain  sings  out 


256  HISTORY    OF    THE 

'fall  in'  to  help  unload  and  I  must  close  for  the  present.   .   .   . 

P.  S.  Stuck  again !  We  are  ashore  again  on  the  flats 
and  must  wait  until  9  o'clock  this  p.  m.  before  we  can  finish 
unloading.  Our  horses  are  ashore  and  a  part  of  our  pieces, 
and  I  suppose  Richmond  will  be  taken  and  the  rest  of  the 
army  home  before  we  get  ashore.  ...  I  slept  on  the  hur 
ricane  deck  last  night  until  12  o'clock,  when  the  wind  began 
to  blow  so  hard  that  I  was  afraid  of  being  blown  overboard 
so  I  engaged  rooms  in  the  engine  room  for  the  rest  of  the 
night  and  slept  first  rate.  I  have  got  so  now  that  I  couldn't 
sleep  on  anything  but  boards,  cedar  rails,  or  a  pile  of  chain 
cable.  .  .  .  Perhaps  you  will  see  by  this  time  that  it  is  use 
less  to  worry,  for  I  have  chewed  my  hard  tack  in  Yorktown 
unmolested  by  any  of  the  chivalry,  and  have  squinted  into 
the  very  muzzle  of  their  biggest  gun ! 

My  writing  desk  is  my  knapsack  resting  on  the  muzzle  of 
our  gun." 

Sunday  and  Monday,  May  nth  and  I2th  were  occupied 
in  disembarking,  and  they  got  into  camp  at  7  p.  m.  on  the 
1 2th. 

Grows'  Journal:  "May  I2th.  We  had  to  go  ashore  at  9 
this  forenoon.  It  is  a  very  hot  morning.  Had  some  cof 
fee  and  hard  bread,  after  which  we  went  into  a  barge  and 
laid  down  to  get  rid  of  the  sun.  After  dinner  visited  the 
scenes  of  the  late  battle  at  Williamsburg.  It  looked  bad 
to  see  the  mounds  of  earth  over  our  brave  men  that  fell 
here.  The  fight  was  day  before  yesterday.  ...  At  4  this 
afternoon  our  horses  arrived.  We  got  them  ashore  and 
set  our  picket  rope.  Turned  in  under  the  gun  to  get  some 
sleep  for  we  start  in  the  morning  again." 

May  1 3th  they  started  on  the  march.  The  Divisions  of 
Franklin,  Smith,  Sykes,  and  Porter  advanced  to  Cumber 
land  by  way  of  the  New  Kent  Court  House,  14  miles;  the 
Battery  marching  with  Porter's  Division  at  4.30  p.  m.'1 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  257 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"The  day  was  very  pleasant,  the  roads  very  dusty  and 
the  woods  through  which  we  passed.,  beautiful;  so  on  the 
whole,  the  march  though  tiresome  was  not  so  bad  as  it 
might  have  been. 

Shortly  after  leaving  West  Point,  we  passed  through 
the  woods  where  Franklin's  Division  had  a  fight  the  other 
day.  From  appearances  it  must  have  been  an  unpleasant 
spot  to  be  in.  The  trees  were  perfectly  riddled  with  bul 
lets,  some  having  three  or  four  holes  in  them,  but  I  suppose 
like  most  bullets  they  injured  more  trees  than  men.  We 
kept  halting  all  along  the  road,  which  was  blocked  up  by 
wagons,  mule  teams  and  troops,  but  finally  reached  the 
camp  about  five  p.  m.  ...  It  was  in  a  large,  dusty  wheat 
field  on  a  level  plain  right  on  the  shore  of  the  Pamunkey 
River." 

Grows'  Journal:  "May  I3th  1862.  At  6  we  took  up  the 
line  of  march  for  a  place  called  Cumberland,  about  15  miles. 
We  got  along  very  well  till  9  o'clock,  when  we  had  to  wait 
five  hours  for  two  other  Divisions  to  pass.  Built  a  fire  by 
the  side  of  the  road,  and  made  some  coffee.  On  account 
of  stopping  in  the  road  so  long  we  did  not  arrive  at  our 
camp  ground  till  late  this  afternoon.  Every  house  we 
passed  had  a  white  flag  hung  out  to  show  they  were  peace 
able.  After  pitching  my  little  tent  I  dropped  on  the  ground 
and  fell  asleep.  Awaked  at  7  this  morning  and  was  told 
that  I  must  go  on  guard,  as  one  of  the  men  was  sick,  and  it 
being  my  next  turn  I  had  to  go.  I  offered  several  $1.00  if 
they  would  take  my  place,  but  could  find  no  one,  the  men 
being  completely  worn  out  by  the  heat  and  the  march." 

General  McClellan's  Head  Quarters  were  close  by,  and 
at  5  p.  m.  of  the  I4th  the  Battery  was  called  in  line  to  salute 
the  General  and  Secretary  Stanton. 


258  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Grows'  Journal :  "Wednesday,  May  I4th.  On  my  post  I 
did  not  dare  sit  down  for  fear  I  should  get  asleep.  Both 
men  and  horses  are  pretty  well  tired  out.  We  march  again 
in  the  morning.'' 

Those  on  guard  of  course  could  not  rest  on  the  march, 
even  when  the  column  stopped. 

FROM  SPEAR'S  LETTERS. 

REVIEW  OF  A  WEEK. 

"May  14,  i8(>2. 

Well,  we  waited  in  Yorktown  until  7  o'clock  at  night 
before  we  could  commence  the  loading  of  our  Battery  and 
its  accompaniments,  and  all  was  aboard  the  transport,  by 
2.\  o'clock  the  next  morning,  which  was  about  the  size  of 
the  'Nelly  Baker.'     Laid  off  in  the  stream  until  3  in  the 
afternoon,  when  all  went  ashore  and  commenced  the  load 
ing  of  horses  on  schooners.     This  took  about  two  hours, 
and  then  steamer,  schooners  and  all,  hauled  out  into  the 
stream,  where  we  remained  all  night  and  the  next  day  until 
2  o'clock,  when  orders  were  received  to  proceed  up  the 
York  River.     Reached  West  Point  at  dusk.     Monday  was 
a  hard  and  tough  day  for  the  boys,  as  it  took  nearly  all  day 
to  unload  the  horses  and  guns,  and  at  night  all  were  very 
tired,  but  managed  to  retire  about  9  o'clock  after  a  good 
supper  of  coffee,  hard  bread,  and  salt  'horse.'     Not  much 
sleep  for  that  night,  however,  as  we  were  routed  out  at  2 
o'clock  to  be  ready  to  move  by  sunrise.     At  sunrise  were 
on  the  road  from  West  Point  to  Cumberland  Creek.     We 
advanced  readily  until  the  sun  came  out  so  hot,  and  the 
roads  became  very  dusty,  and  as  there  was  but  little  air  stir 
ring,  it  was  oppressive  to  us.     Reached  Cumberland  Creek 
at  dusk,  and  for  supper  coffee,  hard  bread  and  salt  pork. 

Wednesday  night  rain,  and  continued  heavy  fall  all  night 
and  the  next  day  and  night.     About  12  o'clock  Wednesday 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  259 

night  the  boys  of  the  tent  in  which  I  am,  awoke  and  found 
the  water  standing  3  inches  deep  inside  of  the  tent.  Every 
thing  was  wet  through  and  through.  At  3  o'clock  were 
routed  up  same  way  as  usual,  ordered  to  pack  up,  and  at  6 
o'clock  had  everything  ready  to  move:  tents  struck,  horses 
harnessed,  and  hitched  in,  but  owing  to  the  heavy  rain,  and 
the  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  we  did  not  leave  the  en 
campment  until  about  12  o'clock.  Proceeded  well  until  we 
came  to  a  swamp,  and  then  one  of  our  caissons  got  stuck 
fast  in  the  mud,  and  we  were  obliged  to  remain  there  all 
night.  As  soon  as  we  found  that  we  should  have  to  remain 
in  the  middle  of  the  swamp,  we  went  to  work,  built  a  blazing 
fire  and  prepared  some  coffee.  After  partaking  of  our  fru 
gal  meal,  some  went  to  work  and  pitched  a  tent  to  sleep  in 
during  the  night,  and  at  10  o'clock  everything  was  ready 
for  sleep.  On  awaking  the  next  morning  found  it  pleasant 
and  were  ordered  to  move  on,  so  struck  our  tent,  hitched  up 
our  horses  and  pulled  out  of  the  swamp,  and  by  g  o'clock 
reached  the  place  where  the  Division  was  encamped." 


FROM  CHASE'S  LETTER  OF  MAY  14,  1862. 

"Cumberland  Va.  I4th  May,  1862.  .  .  .  The  trip  up 
York  River  was  a  pleasant  one, — or  rather  the  scenery, — 
and  the  country  looks  more  civilized  than  it  does  on  the 
Potomac.  There  are  many  splendid  residences  and  fine 
plantations,  and  some  of  the  houses  had  white  flags  flying 
in  front  of  them.  At  West  Point  in  a  small  enclosure  there 
are  nineteen  graves  of  men  who  were  killed  near  there  when 
Franklin's  Division  arrived,  and  belonged  to  the  3ist  N.  Y. 
Regt.  They  were  buried  in  a  trench,  but  their  graves  ap 
pear  to  be  separate  on  the  surface,  and  each  one  has  a  board 
neatly  marked  with  their  names,  age,  &c.  .  .  .  I  must  close 
for  we  have  been  standing  in  line  for  the  last  hour  to  salute 


260  HISTORY    OF    THE 

General  McClellan  and  the  Secretary  of  War.  ...  I  will 
send  Fred  a  few  seeds  which  I  took  from  a  deserted  secesh 
house.  I  do  not  know  what  they  are,  but  perhaps  he  would 
like  to  plant  them.  We  are  to  march  again  tomorrow  at 
6  a.  m.  and  we  expect  to  help  clear  out  some  masked  bat 
teries  between  here  and  Richmond.  .  .  . 

P.  S.     Passed  a  guide-board  yesterday  with  the  follow 
ing  curious  inscription  on  it,  viz.  'Richmond  31  miles.'  ' 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CUMBERLAND,  BANKS  OF  THE  PAMUNKEY, 

Wednesday  Forenoon,  May  14,  1862. 

Things  look  very  different  when  seen  by  a  newspaper 
correspondence  subjected  to  a  military  censorship  and  when 
seen  here.  The  Rebels  left  Yorktown  because  they  had  to, 
but  the  compulsion  might  have  been  stronger.  .  .  .  Our 
guns  were  better  than  theirs  and  would  have  knocked  their 
works  all  to  pieces.  .  .  .  Our  nearest  batteries  were  some 
1800  yards  from  the  enemy's  works.  .  .  .  They  commenced 
an  evacuation  which  lasted  three  days  .  .  .  but  our  gen 
erals  with  balloons,  spies,  pickets,  gunboats  &c.  knew 
nothing  of  it  till  every  man  had  left  the  intrenchments.  Then 
General  McC.  .  .  .  pushed  on  with  artillery  and  cavalry. 
The  enemy  retiring  in  perfect  order,  left  a  rear  guard  at 
Williamsburg  to  hold  us  in  check,  while  the  main  body 
pushed  on  to  the  Chickahominy,  and  in  this  they  succeeded. 
Hooker's  Division  attacked  them  and  were  driven  back, 
losing  three  out  of  four  batteries,  and  were  about  sur 
rounded  when  reinforcements  arrived.  These  reinforce 
ments  sufficed  to  drive  the  enemy  back  to  their  works, 
which  they  abandoned  soon  after,  as  their  design  was  mere 
ly  to  hold  them  for  a  time.  .  .  .  General  McC.  rode  through 
our  camp  on  his  way  to  Williamsburg  between  4  and  5 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  he  could  not  have  got  there 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  261 

very  early.  We  have  not  been  in  any  fight  yet,  though  the 
event  may  come  off  any  day.  .  .  . 

We  are  encamped  on  a  large  level  plain  right  on  the  shore 
of  the  river.  Our  own  camp  is  in  a  wheat  field,  very  dusty. 
Gen.  McClellan  with  a  long  string  of  generals,  aides, 
French  Princes  .  .  .  officers  and  escort,  passed  us  and 
camps  close  by.  It  is  now  raining  and  we  are  all  blue  and 
growling.  Nothing  to  eat  but  hard  tack  and  coffee  with 
out  sugar.  The  President  is  here  today. 

Evening:  It  still  rains.  We  managed  to  get  some  fresh 
bread  for  supper,  and  are  in  rather  better  spirits;  also  we 
bought  two  hams,  one  of  which  has  been  boiled  for  tomor 
row." 


The  next  morning,  May  I5th,  the  Division  was  ordered 
to  move  at  6.30  a.  m.  as  follows : — 

I.  Berdan's  Sharp  Shooters.  2.  Artillery.  3.  But- 
terfield's  Brigade.  4.  Martindale's  Brigade.  5.  Mc- 
Quade's  Brigade.  About  5  o'clock,  however,  Franklin's 
Division  commenced  passing  and  the  Battery  had  to  wait. 
The  roads  ahead  were  apparently  very  bad,  for  Franklin's 
Division  advanced  slowly,  but  by  ten  o'clock  the  last  bag 
gage  wagon  disappeared,  and  Porter's  Division  started  on 
its  slow  progress  toward  White  House  Landing. 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Our  march  was  very  intermittent, — now  we  advanced 
a  fewr  hundred  yards,  then  wre  came  to  a  long  halt,  and  so 
we  kept  on.  Our  first  stick  was  in  a  field.  The  grass 
looked  very  fine  but  underneath  was  all  quicksand.  With 
some  difficulty  half  the  Battery  got  through,  but  one  piece 
cut  through  and  two  horses  tumbled  over.  So  we  went  to 
work  to  unharness,  unlimbered,  and  pulled  it  out. 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE 

We  kept  on,  up  and  down,  through  sloughs  cor 
duroyed  by  pioneers,  halting  every  half  hour.  Our  mule 
team  got  stuck  and  broke  the  pole,  so  we  left  it  in  the  mud. 
Then  we  passed  Captain  Martin's  battery  wagon. 

The  day  was  slipping  away,  it  began  to  grow  dark  and 
the  roads  grew  worse.  About  5  o'clock  I  rode  ahead  to 
see  to  the  teams  passing  over  a  difficult  place,  and  found  12 
horses  hitched  -on  hauling  our  carriages  through  the  mud. 
Three  of  my  four  carriages  got  safely  through,  and  I  yelled 
out  'Forward  with  the  Fourth  Caisson!'  Promptly  came 
back  the  answer  from  the  rear, — 'Fourth  Caisson  stuck  in 
the  mud.' 

I  rode  back  and  found  the  caisson  (Page's)  stuck  fast, 
and  10  horses  tugging  at  it  without  starting  it. 

We  tried  it  a  little  while,  but  it  was  growing  dark,  and 
we  concluded  to  give  it  up  for  the  night;  unhitched,  left 
our  carriages  in  the  road,  built  fires,  opened  our  haversacks, 
spread  tarpaulins  and  pitched  in." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Thursday,  May  15,  1862.  Got  up  at  3 
a.  m.  It  rained  all  night  but  has  held  up  now  for  a  while. 
At  5  this  morning  we  received  orders  not  to  march  till  9 
o'clock,  and  we  were  in  a  nice  fix,  our  tents  all  down,  and  it 
began  to  rain  like  fury.  Three  hours'  rain  in  this  country 
spoils  the  roads  for  travelling  till  the  sun  dries  up  the  mud, 
but  our  journey  is  to  be  a  short  one,  only  five  miles.  We 
started  at  9  this  forenoon,  and  at  7  this  evening  we  had 
come  3^-  miles! 

The  1 5th  of  May,  1862,  will  be  a  day  ever  to  be  remem 
bered  by  those  who  marched  today. 

It  has  rained  hard  all  day.  Sometimes  our  guns  would 
go  almost  out  of  sight,  and  we  would  have  to  pull  them 
out  by  hand.  It  was  a  hard  sight  to  see  the  poor  infantry 
fall  down,  completely  worn  out.  I  thought  at  one  time  I 
should  not  hold  out  much  longer,  but  I  am  thankful  for  one 
thing :  I  am  in  good  health,  and  I  have  reason  to  think  it 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  263 

was  this  that  carried  me  through.  Several  of  our  men  and 
officers  dropped. 

No  pen  can  describe  nor  language  express  the  sufferings 
of  today.  It  would  have  been  a  very  nice  and  pleasant 
march  if  it  had  not  rained. 

So  here  we  are  stuck  in  the  woods,  dark  as  coal.  We  can 
not  go  any  farther  tonight,  so  after  building  large  fires  we 
made  a  little  covering  to  keep  the  rain  off.  The  cooks 
made  us  some  hot  coffee,  after  which  Harry  and  I  were 
talking  about  home,  when  I  heard  a  man  behind  me  ask  'Is 
not  that  Dave  Grows?' 

I  looked  round  and  there  stood  Cornelius  Smith,  an  old 
schoolmate  of  mine. 

So  we  talked  over  old  times  and  how  he  liked  soldiering, 
till  9  o'clock;  then  Harry  Simonds,  Joe  Knox, — poor  little 
boy,— and  I,  turned  in  with  a  large  fire  to  our  feet.  But 
before  doing  so  I  had  a  change  of  wet  clothes  to  dry  ones, 
thanks  to  a  good  wife's  care. 

Friday,  May  16,  1862.  Got  up  at  6  a.  m.,  nice  morning, 
and  began  to  build  a  road.  At  10  this  forenoon  we  were 
in  camp." 

On  this  march  they  had  not  lost  a  horse.  The  pioneers 
and  infantry  helped  to  pull  out  the  mired  guns.  The  night 
of  the  1 5th,  Allen,  Dillingham  and  Phillips  slept  under  a 
tarpaulin  all  night  in  a  pouring  rain.  The  camp  ground 
which  they  reached  on  the  :6th,  was  White  House  Land 
ing  where  Head  Quarters  had  been  established.  It  was  a 
beautiful  place,  a  large  clover  field,  near  a  fine  house,  the 
grounds  covering  35  acres.  The  Landing  is  on  the  Pa- 
munkey  River  a  tributary  of  the  York,  30  miles  north  of 
Williamsburg,  and  25  east  of  Richmond  with  which  it  is 
connected  by  the  Richmond  and  York  River  railroad.  It 
derived  its  name  from  the  white  wooden  house  near  it,  oc 
cupying  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Custis,  afterwards 
the  wife  of  Washington,  and  had  been  recently  occupied  by 
General  Lee,  the  Confederate  general.  The  water  at  this 


264  HISTORY    OF    THE 

point  on  the  river  being  of  sufficient  depth,  it  became  a  great 
supply  depot  for  the  Union  army. 

Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  the  night  of  their  arrival : — "I  have 
just  cut  enough  clover  to  make  a  bed,  and  expect  to  sleep 
comfortably."  Later  in  the  movement  he  refers  to  it  again : 
"We  remained  there  Saturday  and  Sunday,  eating  Colonel 
Lee's  clover  and  wheat,  and  burning  up  his  fence  rails. 
Sunday  evening,  Hyde,  Dillingham  and  I  went  down  to 
the  Pamunkey  and  took  a  swim." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Sunday,  May  18,  1862.  The  evening 
is  enlivened  by  the  singing  of  the  'whip-poor-will' !" 

MCDOWELL  COMING  SOUTH. 

Information  was  received  May  i8th,  1862,  from  the  Sec 
retary  of  War  that  General  Irvin  McDowell,  with  his  com 
mand  of  40,000  men  had  been  ordered  to  move  southeast 
from  Fredericksburg  to  a  connection  with  the  Right  wing 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  was  ordered  to  be  ex 
tended  to  the  north  of  Richmond  in  co-operation  with  the 
movement. 

FIFTH  PROVISIONAL  ARMY  CORPS. 

By  General  Orders  No.  125,  Head  Quarters  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  May  18,  1862,  the  forces  commanded  by  Maj. 
Gen'l  Fitz  John  Porter  were  designated  as  the  Fifth  Pro 
visional  Army  Corps,  and  by  General  Porter's  promotion 
the  Division  came  under  the  command  of  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  George  W.  Morell. 

General  Orders 
No  125. 

II.  The  attention  of  the  General  commanding  has  been  called  to 
the  publication  of  letters  from  officers  and  others  connected  with  the 
Army,  containing  information  which  must  have  been  of  much  value  to 
the  enemy  should  it  have  reached  him.  To  communicate  precise  intel 
ligence  of  the  strength,  position,  or  movements  of  the  army  in  private 
letters  not  designed  for  publication,  is  itself  highly  improper,  and  liable 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  265 

to  prove  of  serious  disadvantage  to  our  operations,  but  when  such  in 
telligence  is  allowed  to  pass  into  the  public  prints,  the  proceeding  de 
serves  grave  censure,  if  indeed  the  offense  does  not  become  one  de 
manding  the  exaction  of  the  penalty  denounced  by  the  law  for  giving 
information  to  the  enemy. 

Henceforth  the  communication  for  publication  of  any  intelligence 
likely  to  prove  of  advantage  to  the  enemy  is  prohibited,  and  the  utmost 
circumspection  is  enjoined  upon  correspondents  in  their  private  letters. 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP   NEAR  THE   WHITE   HOUSE, 

Sunday  morning,  May  18,  1862. 

By  a  Special  Order  just  issued,  Porter's  Division  is  tem 
porarily  detached  from  the  3d, — Heintzelman's, — Army 
Corps,  and  together  with  Sykes's  Infantry  Reserve, — Regu 
lars  and  5th  N.  Y., — forms  a  Provisional  Corps  under 
command  of  Brig.  Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter.  This  places  us 
in  the  Reserve.  Porter's,  Franklin's,  and  Smith's  Divi 
sions  are  now  here,  but  will  probably  move  tomorrow." 

Grows'  Journal:  "May  19,  1862.  At  6  we  were  on  the 
road  again  for  Richmond.  It  looked  lowery  when  we 
started,  and  we  had  not  marched  more  than  one  mile  when 
it  began  to  rain.  I  put  my  blanket  over  my  shoulders,  and 
it  kept  me  dry  on  the  march.  Berdan's  Sharpshooters 
halted  near  us,  and  I  had  a  good  chance  to  see  the  'Old  Cali- 
fornian,'  the  man  who  killed  so  many  of  the  rebels  at  York- 
town. 

Instead  of  seeing  a  young  man,  I  found  a  little  old  man 
bowed  down  with  age,  with  long  hair,  and  a  staff  in  his 
hand,  but  a  pair  of  the  brightest  eyes  I  ever  saw. 

After  marching  seven  miles  we  went  into  park  at  3 
o'clock  this  afternoon  on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places 
I  ever  saw.  No  pen  can  describe  the  beauties  of  this  place. 
In  our  rear  is  a  railroad  track  and  the  ruins  of  a  large  bridge 
burnt  by  the  rebels  in  their  retreat.  After  we  arrived  here 
it  stopped  raining  and  the  sun  came  out.  I  then  pitched 


266  HISTORY    OF    THE 

my  tent  for  the  usual  three,  Harry  Simonds,  Joe  Knox  and 
myself.  .  .  .  This  place  is  called  Tunstall's  Station." 

It  was  also  called  "Station  20"  and  was  on  the  Richmond 
and  York  River  R.  R.  They  crossed  the  railroad  here  and 
were  on  the  northern  side. 

FROM  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.   PHILLIPS. 
MAY  20TH,  1862. 

'•'About  200  yds.  to  the  east  of  us,  and  in  plain  sight 
through  the  back  door,  as  I  sit  writing,  our  men  are  repair 
ing  a  railroad  bridge.  General  McClellan's  Head  Quar 
ters  are  directly  to  the  west  on  top  of  White's  Hill. 

This  is  the  pleasantest  camping  ground  we  have  had  yet, 
but  like  every  other  place  the  soldiers  are  a  little  too  thick. 
When  we  arrived  the  woods  were  very  thick  on  the  hill  side 
between  us  and  the  railroad,  but  they  have  been  disappear 
ing  very  fast,  and  although  we  have  had  a  guard  over  there 
to  preserve  some  shade  for  us,  it  is  about  as  hopeless  a  task 
as  to  keep  off  a  flock  of  locusts.  .  .  .  The  sutlers  are 
rather  scarce  and  their  prices  run  rather  high;  butter  40  cts. 
a  pound,  eggs  50  cts.  a  dozen  &c  &c.  We  consider  ourselves 
lucky  if  we  get  anything,  even  at  their  prices.  People  who 
are  accustomed  to  beating  down  prices,  would  be  rather  as 
tonished  to  get  into  a  sutler's  establishment.  As  soon  as 
his  wagon  is  unloaded,  a  grand  rush  commences,  which 
lasts  till  everything  is  gone.  Nobody  stops  to  ask  the  price. 
As  a  general  thing  a  sutler  will  not  sell  to  anybody  outside 
of  the  command  to  which  he  is  attached,  which  places  us  at 
a  disadvantage.  As  far  as  the  officers  are  concerned,  a 
sutler  is  a  useful  man,  but  with  the  men  I  think  their  ad 
vantage  is  questionable.  Hardly  any  man  can  withstand 
the  temptation  of  patronizing  the  sutler  and  $13  lasts  a  very 
short  time.  The  men  get  on  just  as  well,  are  as  healthy,  if 
they  confine  themselves  to  Government  rations.  .But  with 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  267 

the  officers  the  case  is  different.  No  provision  is  made  for 
feeding  them,  and  they  have  to  look  out  for  themselves. 
As  long  as  they  remain  in  a  civilized  neighborhood  there  is 
no  difficulty  about  this,  but  as  soon  as  we  begin  to  march 
provisions  get  rather  scarce.  Hard  tack  and  salt  junk  are 
plenty  enough,  but  there  it  ends.  Nothing  else  can  be  had 
for  love  or  money. 

May  21,  1862.  At  eleven  o'clock  [p.  m.  of  the  2Oth] 
orders  came  to  march  at  5.  Reveille  was  sounded  at  3,  and 
as  I  was  officer  of  the  day  I  got  the  Battery  ready  at  5  min 
utes  before  five.  Our  baggage  went  on  ahead,  and  our 
Battery  ahead  of  the  others.  Just  as  we  started  my  un 
lucky  Fourth  Caisson  broke  a  trace :  a  new  one  was  put 
in  and  the  caisson  resumed  its  place  in  the  column.  All 
went  well  for  half  a  mile  when  we  came  to  a  very  steep  hill, 
when  right  in  the  middle,  snap  went  the  new  trace,  and 
again  we  had  to  stop  till  this  could  be  replaced.  After  we 
got  to  the  top  of  the  hill  we  found  an  excellent  road  for 
several  miles  and  got  along  rapidly,  till  we  stopped  at  8  to 
allow  Franklin's  Division  to  get  out  of  the  way.  We  halted 
several  hours  in  a  wheat  field  and  watered  the  horses.  The 
morning  was  misty  but  now  the  sun  came  out  very  hot. 
We  found  here  the  best  spring  of  water  we  have  yet  seen 
in  Virginia :  the  water  hitherto  having  been  full  of  clay  and 
very  poor.  .  .  .  The  negroes  round  here  are  running  off 
very  fast  in  one  direction,  while  their  masters  are  running 
in  the  other.  .  .  . 

Evening:  We  arrived  at  this  camp  at  IT  o'clock  a.  m. 
having  marched  6  or  8  miles.  The  country  here  is  quite 
well  cultivated,  there  being  many  large  wheat  and  clover 
fields.  The  roads  for  most  of  the  way  were  bordered  by 
hurdle  fences.  We  are  encamped,  I  believe,  in  Hanover 
County.  The  road  upon  which  we  came  goes  to  Richmond 
through  Newbridge  Church,  which  is  about  5  miles  from 
the  city.  We  are  now  about  18  miles  from  Richmond. 
The  nearest  route  from  West  Point,  the  old  stage  road, 


268  HISTORY    OF    THE 

which  passes  over  Bottom's  Bridge  is  south  of  us.  ...  A 
squadron  of  cavalry  passed  here  this"  evening,  having  been 
within  9  miles  of  Richmond,  500  yards  beyond  our  pickets, 
and  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  camps.  Our  camp  is  very 
pleasant :  the  four  batteries  are  encamped  on  the  left  of  the 
road  in  a  wheat  and  grass  field  bordered  by  a  beautiful  oak 
woods.  Our  tents  are  pitched  under  a  large  oak  behind  a 
log  house,  which  appears  to  have  been  a  grocery  store  kept 
by  Mr.  Brown.  The  account  books  of  the  concern  were 
scattered  round  and  furnished  evidence  of  the  temperate 
habits  of  the  country  ...  a  leaf  of  the  ledger  .  .  .  will  do 
to  go  with  Falstaff's  bill  of  bread  and  sack." 

Grows'  Journal:  "May  21,  1862.  .  .  .  During  our  march 
we  passed  some  beautiful  plantations,  each  one  guarded  by 
our  troops,  and  most  of  them  with  a  white  flag  hung  out. 
Arrived  at  our  camp  ground  at  12  o'clock  (noon).  It  was 
a  rebel  camp  just  deserted,  so  I  took  one  of  their  tents  and 
used  it. 

Thursday,  May  22d.  Was  called  at  4  this  morning  to 
strike  tents  and  be  ready  to  march.  At  6  we  were  on  our 
way.  On  account  of  guard  yesterday  I  am  on  the  'fatigue' 
today  of  the  Baggage  teams.  On  the  way  I  passed  some 
splendid  places  of  planters.  One  in  particular  had  no  flag 
flying,  the  owner  was  a  rank  'secesh.'  The  boys  coaxed 
the  officers  to  allow  them  to  go  in  and  clean  him  out,  but 
they  would  not,  and  instead,  posted  a  squad  over  his  place 
and  house  to  protect  it.  We  marched  13  miles.  Got  into 
camp  at  3  this  afternoon  and  then  pitched  my  tent." 

The  march  of  the  22d.  took  them  to  Parker's  Mills,  14 
miles  from  Richmond,  one  mile  in  a  straight  line  east  from 
the  Chickahominy  River,  and  6  miles  from  the  bridge 
across  that  river.  The  camp  was  in  a  meadow  bordered 
by  a  pine  grove,  and  below  in  the  valley  lay  the  grist  and 
saw  mill  and  a  village  of  at  least  6  houses. 

Nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the  enemy  who  had  disap 
peared  over  the  Chickahominy.  Firing  was  heard  in  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  269 

direction  of  Richmond.  They  might  have  been  McDowell's 
guns, — but  they  were  not, — for  whom  Porter  was  to  re 
ceive  orders  to  open  a  way  from  Hanover  Court  House,  but 
who  was  to  be  turned  in  another  direction  and  his  forces 
spread  out  between  Luray  and  Fredericksburg. 

The  1 8th  Mass.  Infantry  were  on  picket  duty  on  the  23d, 
at  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Chickahominy,  and  found 
our  scouts  two  miles  ahead  of  them. 

FROM  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.   PHILLIPS. 

SUNDAY   MORNING  POSTSCRIPT  TO  LETTER  OF   MAY   24, 

1862. 

"CAMP  IN  THE  FIELD. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  fever  and  ague,  bilious  fever,  in 
termittent  fever,  &e.  We  have  several  men  sick,  seven 
absent,  at  hospitals  or  at  home,  and  some  sick  here  in  camp 
whom  we  shall  have  to  send  back  the  next  time  we  move. 
It  is  my  opinion  that  more  men  have  died  of  fever  than  of 
bullets,  and  I  thought  and  still  think,  that  it  would  have 
been  a  saving  of  life  if  we  had  taken  Yorktown  by  assault 
the  first  day,  and  pushed  right  on  to  Richmond  at  whatever 
cost.  People  would  have  heard  of  a  few  bloody  battles  and 
ten  thousand  killed  and  wounded,  but  what  is  this  to  two 
months  exposure  and  hundreds  dying  every  day.  Lieut. 
Scott  has  been  pretty  sick  for  a  week,  but  is  a  great  deal 
better.  I  have  not  had  a  sick  day  yet.  My  appetite  is 
always  good,  and  the  demand  generally  exceeds  the  supply." 

The  Battery  remained  at  Parker's  Mills  Friday,  Satur 
day  and  Sunday.  In  camp  Sunday  the  25th  May,  1862,  in 
the  evening  there  were  religious  services  by  the  chaplain  of 
the  New  York  44th.  .  Text,  6th  chapter  of  Romans,  ist 
verse. — "Shall  we  continue  in  sin?"  [The  entire  verse  is 
"What  shall  we  say  then?  Shall  we  continue  in  sin,  that 
grace  may  abound?"] 


270  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips :  "Sunday  morning,  May  25, 
1862.  Of  late  we  have  been  living  on  sweet  potatoes. 
We  tried  to  buy  some  strawberries  but  did  not  succeed,  so 
we  bought  a  bushel  of  potatoes  at  $2.00  and  have  lived  on 
them  for  the  last  three  days,  good  living  too." 

Grows'  Journal:  "Sunday,  May  25,  1862.  Heavy  firing 
has  been  heard  during  the  night  on  our  right.  The  Rhode 
Island  4th  Battery  has  been  sent  out  to  see  what  is  the  mat 
ter.  Had  a  good  dinner :  a  pork  stew  of  potatoes,  onions, 
pepper,  pork  &c. 

Monday  M'ay  26th.  Broke  camp  soon  after  4  o'clock, 
and  at  6  o'clock  we  started  on  our  march.  At  noon  time 
we  arrived  on  a  large  plantation  and  went  into  park." 

This  was  the  famous  Dr.  Gaines  Plantation  near  Gaines 
Mills.  It  was  nearly  due  west  of  Cold  Harbor  on  a  broken 
plateau  between  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Chickahominy  and 
the  Pamunkey  rivers.  It  was  east  of  north  from  Richmond, 
on  the  road  leading  from  Bottom  Bridge  up  the  Chicka 
hominy  via  Cold  Harbor  to  Mechanicsville,  thence  to  Han 
over  Court  House.  The  camp  of  the  Battery  was  in  the 
edge  of  an  oak  wood. 

The  Army  was  disposed  as  follows : — 

On  the  Right  wing  Franklin's  Corps  was  stationed,  three 
miles  from  New  Bridge  on  the  Chickahominy.  Porter's 
Fifth  Corps  supported  him  in  the  rear.  Across  the  rail 
road  was  Sumner's  Corps,  holding  the  centre  near  Turner's 
Mills,  and  Keyes's  Corps  held  the  New  Kent  Road  near 
Bottom's  Bridge.  Heintzelman's  Corps  was  in  support  of 
Keyes,  and  was  supposed  to  guard  the  Left  wing. 

HANOVER  COURT  HOUSE. 

From  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg,  the  news  had 
come  that  the  enemy  had  fallen  back,  and  a  considerable 
force  was  near  Hanover  Court  House  to  the  right  and  rear 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY. 

of  our  army,  threatening  our  communications.  This  town 
was  north  of  Richmond  on  the  Virginia  Central  railroad. 
Porter  was  ordered  to  disperse  the  enemy's  forces,  while 
guarding  the  approaches  to  the  rear  guard  of  the  Right 
wing  of  the  army.  It  was  also  expected  that  the  enemy's 
communication  with  Northern  Virginia  by  the  line  of  the 
Virginia  Central  railroad  should  be  cut  off,  and  General 
Porter  received  orders  to  move  at  daylight  on  the  2^th  to 
Hanover  Court  House.  Assurances  were  received  that 
McDowell  would  co-operate  without  fail.  The  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery  in  camp  at  Dr.  Gaines's  Farm  was  ordered  to  march 
at  4  a.  m.  with  McOuade's,  formerly  Morell's,  Brigade. 

General  Porter  moved  from  camp  near  New  Bridge  by 
the  most  direct  route  to  Hanover  Court  House,  expecting 
to  engage  the  enemy  at  or  near  that  point.  At  noon  of  the 
27th  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  town,  he  encountered  a  bri 
gade  commanded  by  General  Branch  and  composed  of  the 
1 8th,  28th  and  33d  North  Carolina  Regiments  which  held 
the  road,  but  after  an  hour's  fighting  they  were  dispersed 
and  the  main  body  of  our  troops  moved  on  intending  to 
pursue  the  enemy  northward.  But  instead  of  taking  that 
direction  he  passed  around  to  our  Left,  with  the  intention  of 
surrounding  our  forces  while  covering  his  own  retreat,  and 
appeared  in  our  rear.  Having  found  this  out,  Porter  faced 
his  whole  column  about  and  fell  upon  the  enemy's  flanks 
while  Martindale's  Brigade  was  holding  him  at  bay.  A 
sharp  battle  ensued.  The  rebels  were  routed  and  fled  in 
confusion,  and  General  McClellan  wrote  the  President  that 
General  Porter  had  entirely  "relieved  his  Right  flank  which 
was  seriously  threatened"  and  had  "routed  and  demoralized 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  rebel  forces."  It  was  called 
one  of  the  handsomest  things  of  the  War,  both  in  itself  and 
its  results. 

One  of  our  hospitals  was  captured,  two  guns  were  taken 
from  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  but  they  were  afterwards  re 
taken.  Our  loss  was  reported  as  56  killed,  173  wounded. 


272  HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE  ACTION  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  followed  the  advance  for  two 
miles,  and  when  the  column  turned,  it  hurried  back  to  where 
our  progress  had  been  disputed  and  the  enemy  had  been 
overcome.  Now  the  rebel  and  Union  forces  had  changed 
positions. 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"NEAR  HANOVER  COURT  HOUSE 

Wednesday  Morning, 

May  28,  1862. 

Nobody  hurt  in  the  5th  Battery. 

Porter's  Division  had  a  little  brush  with  the  rebels  yes 
terday  and  licked  them.  We  have  taken  a  great  many  pris 
oners.  Martin's  Battery  2  wounded,  3  missing,  25th  N.  Y. 
cut  up.  .  .  .  We  have  got  the  railroad.  The  rebels  tried 
to  surround  us,  and  did  get  in  our  rear  so  that  we  had  to 
go  back  two  miles,  and  lick  them  a  second  time. 

Afternoon :  Yesterday  we  had  a  pretty  hard  day's  work. 
We  were  ordered  to  march  at  4  o'clock,  and  were  ready  to 
march  at  that  hour,  but  did  not  start  until  7  or  8.  Mean 
time  it  was  raining  furiously.  We  brought  up  the  rear  of 
the  Division  with  Morell's  Brigade,  Colonel  (James)  Mc- 
Quacle  commanding.  WTe  left  the  tents  standing,  carried 
two  days'  rations  in  the  haversacks,  no  knapsacks  or  any 
thing  of  the  sort.  About  noon  it  stopped  raining,  and  the 
sun  came  out.  After  marching  say  18  miles,  we  heard  firing 
ahead.  It  ceased  as  we  came  up,  and  we  found  the  enemy 
had  retired.  Soon  we  passed  two  of  Captain  Martin's  pieces 
waiting  at  some  cross  roads.  We  marched  on  over  the  bat 
tle  field,  a  wheat  field,  and  kept  on  for  some  two  miles.  A 
few  dead  and  wounded  men  were  along  the  road,  and  a 
great  many  dead  horses.  We  passed  a  large  white  house 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  273 

belonging  to  Mr.  Winston,  a  prominent  Secesh,  who,  like 
many  others,  had  gone  to  Richmond.  After  marching  two 
miles  we  heard  firing  in  our  rear,  and  the  whole  Division 
were  ordered  back. 

The  enemy  it  seems  had  passed  round  our  left  and  got  in 
our  rear,  capturing  one  of  our  hospitals  and  driving  Mar 
tin's  men  away  from  his  pieces,  Lieut.  Dunn  commanding. 
We  hurried  back  to  where  the  battle  was  first  won.  Back 
came  Griffin's  orderly.— 

'Caissons  halt  on  the  side  of  the  road!'  then — 'Can 
noneers  mount !' — Trot !' — 'March !' 

Griffin  came  into  battery,  and  threw  a  few  shells  into  the 
woods,  but  the  infantry  had  most  of  the  work  to  do.  They 
deployed  [Opened  the  order  of  troops  from  column  into 
line  of  battle]  and  soon  got  to  work  in  the  woods.  The 
9th  Mass,  fired  one  volley,  gave  a  yell  and  charged.  The 
firing  was  quite  lively,  and  was  kept  up  till  6  o'clock  when 
it  gradually  died  away,  and  the  wounded  began  to  come  to 
the  rear  pretty  fast.  .  .  .  From  the  accounts  I  hear  the 
25th  and  44th  N.  Y.  did  most  of  the  work  in  the  forenoon. 
The  rebels  advanced  firing  upon  the  25th,  and  routed  them 
completely,  so  that  one  captain  could  only  find  5  men.  The 
44th  did  very  well.  The  rebel  force  consisted  of  one  Bri 
gade  under  General  Branch,  i8th,  28th  and  33d  N.  C.  We 
passed  150  today.  They  are  a  poor  looking  set  and  are 
half  starved.  General  (George)  Stonenian  (cavalry)  cut 
off  the  railroad  track  last  night,  capturing  a  train  loaded 
with  provisions.  By  six  o'clock  the  rebels  were  pretty  well 
cleared  out,  and  we  began  to  think  of  camp.  Lieut.  Dil- 
lingham  had  captured  a  Secesh  tent,  almost  new,  so  we 
continued  to  get  under  cover.  A  few  inches  of  straw  from 
a  neighboring  stack  made  a  very  good  bed  and  we  slept 
soundly.  The  next  morning  we  lay  abed  till  8  o'clock. 

We  camped  last  night  where  the  rebels  made  their  first 
stand.  .  .  .  Today  we  have  been  skylarking  round  doing 


274  HISTORY    OF    THE 

nothing  in  particular.  We  are  six  miles  from  Hanover 
Court  House  and  14  from  Richmond.  I  am  now  6J  p.  m. 
sitting  on  the  ground  with  my  back  against  a  hen  coop. 
Our  infantry  are  round  taking  prisoners." 

Grows'  Journal :  "Tuesday,  May  27,  1862.  Raining 
awfully.  At  5  we  were  on  the  march.  After  stopping  at 
times  to  build  roads  and  help  the  guns  along,  we  arrived 
and  stopped  for  a  while  in  a  large  field  to  feed  the  horses 
and  water  them.  At  9  this  forenoon  we  took  up  the  march 
again.  It  stopped  raining  and  the  sun  came  out.  Occa 
sionally  stopping  to  rest,  at  2  this  afternoon  we  were  within 
8  miles  of  Hanover  Court  House.  Here  we  heard  heavy 
firing.  There  was  a  fight  going  on,  so  we  were  pushed 
ahead,  and  in  a  short  time  came  in  sight  of  a  house  with  a 
red  flag.  (See  p.  21.)  It  was  a  hospital  for  the  sick  and 
wounded.  In  passing  it  I  saw  some  wounded  being  carried 
in.  On  my  left  in  a  wheat  field  lay  two  dead. 

Our  troops  had  started  the  'Secesh'  to  running  just  be 
fore  we  came  up.  Alongside  the  road  were  strewn  knap 
sacks,  clothing,  arms.  &c.,  of  the  rebels  in  their  retreat. 
The  firing  had  now  almost  died  away.  We  stopped  in  a 
large  field  to  rest,  and  I  went  to  see  where  the  fight  began. 
At  3  this  afternoon  we  were  on  the  road  again.  We  had 
not  marched  more  than  a  mile  when  we  heard  firing  in  our 
rear,  and  the  whole  Division  was  ordered  back  double- 
quick. 

Louder  and  nearer  grew  the  noise  of  musketry  and  can 
non,  as  we  drew  near.  It  seems  that  a  body  of  rebels,  some 
state  the  number  as  10,000,  had  come  around  in  our  rear 
with  the  intention  of  cutting  us  off,  but  they  were  mistaken. 

Arriving  on  the  field  I  found  that  two  of  the  pieces  of 
Martin's  Battery  were  mired  in  the  mud,  and  that  the  men 
had  been  driven  from  them. 

Griffin's  Regular  Battery  opened  upon  the  rebels  with 
four  pieces,  which  soon  drove  them  back. 

We  were  stationed  on  the  Left  flank,  held  in  readiness  in 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  275 

case  they  should  show  themselves  out  of  the  woods  to  open 
upon  them,  but  we  did  not  have  to  fire,  for  they  soon  began 
to  fall  back.  From  where  we  stood  I  had  a  great  view  of 
the  battle.  On  our  right  the  22d  Mass.,  2d  Maine,  25th 
N.  Y.  and  44th  N.  Y.  were  stationed.  The  Mass.  Qth  and 
62cl  Penn.  made  a  splendid  charge  on  the  'Secesh,'  driving 
them  before  them.  About  8  or  10  rods  from  where  I  stood 
was  a  building,  and  it  was  quickly  put  in  use  for  a  hospital. 
Oh,  the  sights  T  saw  there  were  awful !  There  lay  friend 
ancl  foe,  sometimes  side  by  side ! 

At  7  this  evening  the  firing  almost  ceased,  except,  now 
and  then,  the  discharge  of  a  musket  in  the  woods.  Up  to 
TO  this  evening  our  troops  had  buried  most  300  of  the 
rebels. 

About  half  past  ten,  I  laid  my  blankets  down  on  the  bat 
tle  ground,  where  were  dead  and  dying  and  wounded,  and 
laid  myself  down  to  sleep." 

Porter's  command  pushed  the  pursuit  of  Anderson's 
forces,  who  \vere  falling  back  upon  Richmond,  until  dark, 
and  then  bivouacked  on  the  field. 

Chase's  Diary :  "Saw  the  enemy's  dead  for  the  first  time 
today.  Encamped  in  a  wheat  field  with  the  dead  and  dy 
ing  all  around  us. 

Picked  up  several  trophies,  such  as  cartridge  boxes,  belts 
&c.  Met  several  squads  of  rebel  prisoners  coming  in. 

May  28,  1862.  Large  numbers  of  prisoners  brought  in 
this  morning.  Saw  twenty-four  of  the  rebel  dead  beside  a 
fence  this  morning  and  12  of  the  25th  N.  Y.  Regt.  dead/' 
Grows'  Journal :  "Wednesday,  May  28,  1862.  Was  called 
at  5  this  morning.  Got  up,  had  some  crackers  and  coffee, 
after  which  I  took  a  walk  over  the  battleground.  The  dead 
of  the  rebels  were  lying  in  every  position  and  posture;  some 
with  hands  extended  as  though  they  were  using  a  gun, 
others  drawn  up  as  though  they  died  in  great  distress, 
among  them  a  boy  not  more  than  14  years  old. 

I  saw  314  rebel  prisoners  go  by  our  camp  in  one  lot.     It 


276  HISTORY    OF    THE 

is  estimated  we  have  taken  1000  rebels.  Most  of  them 
appear  glad  to  be  taken  by  our  troops. 

About  9  this  morning  we  were  ordered  to  report  to  Gen 
eral  Stoneman.  After  marching  about  5  miles  we  found 
his  encampment  and  waited  some  time  before  we  found  out 
whether  we  were  wanted  or  not.  We  found  out,  at  length, 
that  we  were  not  wanted,  so  we  marched  five  miles  back  to 
where  we  slept  last  night,  arriving  late  this  afternoon." 

While  they  were  waiting,  General  McClellan  passed  by. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Thursday,  May  29,  1862.  One  on  the 
field  our  troops  are  still  burying  the  dead  of  the  rebels  in 
large  trenches,  and  ours  in  graves  with  boards  put  up. 

Horses  are  on  the  field,  in  some  cases  with  awful  wounds, 
more  of  them  are  dead. 

About  TO  this  forenoon  we  were  told  to  strike  our  tents 
and  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's 
notice.  So  we  lay  around  in  the  hot  sun  till  3  this  after 
noon,  when  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  for  our  old  camp 
ground,  (Dr.  Games'  Farm)  20  miles,  that  being  the  dis 
tance  we  came  on  Tuesday,  to  this  place.  It  is  a  very  hot: 
afternoon,  but  on  account  of  the  good  state  of  the  roads 
we  rode  most  of  the  way.  Owing  to  stopping  for  baggage 
trains  to  pass,  darkness  overtook  us,  and  still  we  were  not 
in  camp. 

At  12  o'clock,  midnight,  we  got  into  our  old  camp. 
Found  my  old  tent  frame  still  up;  put  the  covering  on,  and 
soon  after  we  had  fires  going  to  make  some  coffee." 

Tn  the  three  days  they  had  been  gone  they  had  travelled 
60  miles. 

LIEUT.  J.  B.  HYDE'S  NOTES. 

"We  did  not  have  much  shooting  to  do  there  because  we 
could  not  use  artillery  to  good  advantage,  but  the  firing  of 
musketry  all  day  was  the  worst  I  ever  heard.  After  the 
battle  was  over,  General  Butterfiefd  said  to  us  officers  who 
were  all  there  together,  'Having  accomplished  the  object 
for  which  we  came  here,  we  will  now  return  to  camp.' 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  277 

On  the  way  back  there  was  a  small  church,  and  seeing  a 
large  gathering  outside,  I  rode  my  horse  up  to  it  and  looked 
in  at  the  open  door.  I  saw  a  great  many  soldiers  lying 
around  on  the  seats ;  some  singing  and  having  a  great  time, 
and  I  think  it  was  Lt.  Colonel  (James  C.)  Rice  of  the  44th 
New  York  Regt.  said, — 'Go  right  in,  Lt.  Hyde,'  so  I 
touched  the  spur  to  my  horse  and  rode  him  up  the  low  steps 
and  straight  up  the  aisle  to  the  altar.  Then  I  began  to 
think,  what  if  the  floor  should  give  way,  but  I  rode  out  in 
safety  and  came  down  the  steps  just  as  the  Battery  was 
passing.  They  set  up  a  tremendous  cheer  to  see  me  riding 
out  of  a  church  on  horseback." 

LETTER  OF  CORPORAL  SPEAR. 

WRITTEN  IN  PENCIL  ON  THE  BACK  OF  A  CERTIFICATE 
BLANK  FORM. 

"ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 
ENCAMPED  8  MILES  FROM 

RICHMOND  VA. 

Saturday,  May  31,  1862. 

Last  Tuesday  morning  (May  27th)  at  3  o'clock  we  were 
awakened  and  ordered  to  pack,  strike  tents,  get  breakfast, 
and  be  ready  to  move  by  daybreak.  Tents  were  ordered  to 
be  packed,  tents  on  caissons,  and  we  to  carry  only  a  rubber 
blanket  and  an  overcoat,  as  we  were  going  out  for  a  brush 
with  the  rebels.  About  7  o'clock  started,  in  the  rain,  with  a 
little  hard  bread  and  salt  pork  for  rations,  and  an  overcoat 
and  rubber  blanket  for  covering. 

After  advancing  15  miles,  we  heard  frequent  volleys  of 
musketry,  and,  now  and  then,  the  booming  of  a  distant  gun. 

At  2  o'clock  we  came  up  to  where  the  advance  of  our 
Division  had  had  a  skirmish,  and  two  or  three  regiments 
of  infantry  with  2  pieces  of  artillery,  were  left  behind  to 
guard  a  road,  while  the  rest  of  the  Division  advanced  in  the 
direction  in  which  the  rebels  were  supposed  to  have  moved, 
and  after  advancing  3  miles  the  order  came  for  the  whole 
Division  to  turn  about,  as  the  rebels  were  trying  to  flank  us. 


278  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  then  such  an  excitement  as  there  was!  Artillery,  cav 
alry,  and  infantry,  going  on  the  double  quick,  back  to  where 
the  regiments  and  pieces  of  artillery  were  left  to  guard  the 
road,  and  when  we  reached  the  place  found  that  two  of  the 
regiments  had  been  nearly  destroyed  and  the  men  with  the 
artillery  forced  to  leave  their  guns  on  the  field;  but  not  long, 
for  as  our  infantry  and  cavalry  came  up,  they  made  a  charge 
and  took  possession  of  the  pieces  again. 

Our  Battery  was  not  engaged,  although  we  were  on  the 
field  of  action  during  the  fight,  ready  to  take  part.  One  bat 
tery  was  engaged,  and  that  was  the  5th  Regular. 

At  dusk  they  began  bringing  in  the  dead  and  wounded 
on  our  side,  and  such  sights!  Oh!  they  were  awful,  and 
frightful.  Some  were  pierced  with  bullets,  others  only 
slightly  wounded. 

That  night  we  lay  down  on  the  battle  field  for  rest,  with 
only  the  broad  heavens  above  us  for  a  covering.  When 
morning  came  received  orders  to  retire  about  2  miles  to 
support  infantry.  So  we  went  back.  On  arriving  ascer 
tained  that  they  needed  no  assistance,  so  returned  to  the 
battle  field,  pitched  our  tents,  and  stopped  all  of  the  re 
maining  clay  and  part  of  the  next,  when  we  received  orders 
to  go  back  to  our  present  encampment,  at  which  place  we 
arrived  at  i  o'clock  Friday  morning,  tuckered  out  and 
mighty  hungry,  our  rations  gone  the  day  before.  But  now 
we  are  all  right  again.  Today  there  has  been  considerable 
firing  in  the  direction  of  Richmond." 

THE  SICK.  AND  WOUNDED. 

"Captain  Allen,"  wrote  Lt.  Phillips,  "is  sick,  and  came 
back  ahead  of  us  in  an  ambulance.  He  is  now  quite  weak 
and  keeps  to  his  bed." 

NOTES  BY  CAPTAIN  ALLEN,  APRIL  19,  1900. 

"This  was  the  beginning  of  my  first  illness  of  malarial 
fever,  and  I  was  sent  back  to  camp  in  an  ambulance  as  it 
is  said  here.  After  a  few  days  I  made  application  for 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  279 

leave  of  absence.  I  was  examined  by  the  three  senior 
surgeons  of  the  Brigade,  and  was  granted  leave  of  absence 
for  ten  days. 

It  was  six  days  before  that  leave  of  absence  was  approved 
at  Head  Quarters  and  returned  to  me.  When  I  was  ex 
amined  it  was  to  see  whether  I  was  to  be  sent  to  Fortress 
Monroe  or  beyond. 

The  surgeons  approved  of  my  going  beyond  the  hospital 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  which  meant  home. 

After  the  furlough  got  round  to  me  I  had  only  four  days 
left  for  leave  of  absence. 

General  Porter  sent  me  a  four  mule  ambulance,  and,  ac 
companied  by  Serg't  Terry,  I  started  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  for  a  station  on  the  railroad  running  to 
White  House  Landing.  There  had  been  a  battle  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  station  the  day  before  and  the  trains  were 
very  uncertain.  After  waiting  several  hours  a  train  of  a 
few  flat  cars  came  along.  Serg't  Terry  helped  me  on  to 
one  of  these  cars,  which  were  filled  with  wounded  men 
lying  on  the  floor.  He  put  my  valise  between  two  wounded 
men.  I  sat  down  on  it  and  he  stood  at  my  back  supporting 
me.  We  rode  that  way  to  White  House  Landing,  reaching 
there  the  next  morning.  Serg't  Terry  went  down  to  the 
Landing  to  see  if  there  was  any  steamer  to  take  me  to 
Yorktown.  He  returned  shortly  and  reported  that  the 
Nahant  boat  'Nelly  Baker,'  Captain  Calcler,  then  a  Gov 
ernment  transport,  wras  laying  at  the  wharf.  He  helped  me 
on  board  and  as  he  was  returning  to  camp  I  bade  him 
good  bye. 

Captain  Calcler  gave  up  his  stateroom  to  me,  and  made 
me  as  comfortable  as  possible  on  my  way  to  Yorktown, 
where  I  took  the  steamer  for  Baltimore  and  New  York. 

On  board  the  Baltimore  steamer  I  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Lt.  Colonel,  afterwards  Colonel,  Moses  B.  Lakeman  of 
Maine,  who  had  been  wounded  and  was  also  on  leave,  and 
he  rendered  me  a  great  deal  of  assistance  on  my  way  home, 
for  which  I  desire  most  heartily  to  thank  him. 

At  New  York  being  very  anxious  to  get  the  three 
o'clock  train  to  Boston,  we  explained  the  circumstances  to 


280  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  captain,  and  he  very  kindly  gave  us  all  the  time  he 
could  possibly  make  for  us,  by  running  the  bow  of  the 
steamer  directly  to  the  wharf  allowing  us  to  go  ashore, — 
no  others  were  permitted  to  land,  before  he  docked  his 
steamer. 

I  wish  I  remembered  the  name  of  the  steamer  and  of  the 
captain,  so  that  I  might  again  thank  him  for  his  generous 
kindness  in  allowing  us  to  land  as  we  did,  for  we  caught 
the  three  o'clock  train  and  in  due  time  we  arrived  at  our 
homes  in  Maiden,  Mass.  Colonel  Lakeman,  though  a 
Maine  man  was  then,  with  his  family,  residing  in  Maiden. 
Surgeon  General  Dale  sent  out  the  next  day  a  surgeon  tc 
examine  me,  and  extended  my  furlough  thirty  days.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  furlough  I  was  still  unable  to  return 
to  my  command,  and  Surgeon  General  Dale  extended  it 
thirty  days  longer.  In  a  very  short  time  after  my  several 
extensions  of  furlough,  I  received  an  Order  from  Secretary 
Stanton,  through  his  adjutant  general,  stating  that  all 
officers  who  were  unable  to  rejoin  their  commands  in  six 
days  must  resign.  This  order  forced  my  resignation,  for  I 
was  still  unable  to  rejoin  my  command.  Following  is  the 
copy  of  the  Order." 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE 

WASHINGTON,  July  31,  1862. 
General   Orders. 

No.  92 

The  following  Order  is  published  for  the  information  of  all  con 
cerned  : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 

WASHINGTON  CITY  D.  C,  July  31,  1862. 

The  absence  of  officers  and  privates  from  their  duty  under  various 
pretexts,  while  receiving  pay,  at  great  expense  and  burden  to  the  Gov 
ernment,  makes  it  necessary  that  efficient  measures  be  taken  to  enforce 
their  return  to  duty,  or  that  their  places  be  supplied  by  those  who  will 
not  take  pay  while  rendering  no  service.  This  evil,  moreover,  tends 
greatly  to  discourage  the  patriotic  impulses  of  those  who  would  con 
tribute  to  support  the  families  of  faithful  soldiers.  It  is  therefore  or 
dered  by  the  President: — 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  281 

I.  That  on  Monday,  the  nth  day  of  August,  all  leaves  of  absence 
and   furloughs  by  whomsoever  given,  unless  by  the  War  Department, 
are    revoked  and   absolutely  annulled,   and   all   officers   capable   of   ser 
vice  are  required  forthwith  to  join  their  respective  commands,  and  all 
privates   capable   of  service  to   join   their   regiments,   under  penalty  of 
dismissal   from   the   service,   or   such  penalty  as  a   Court   Martial   may 
award,  unless  the  absence  be  occasioned  by  lawful  cause. 

II.  The  only  excuses  allowed  for  the  absence  of  officers  or  privates 
after  the  nth  day  of  August,  are: 

ist.     The  order  or  leave  of  the  War  Department. 

2d.     Disabilitv   from   wounds    received   in   service. 

3d.  Disability  from  disease  that  renders  the  party  unfit  for  military 
duty.  But  any  officer  or  private  whose  health  permits  him  to  visit 
watering  places  or  places  of  amusement,  or  to  make  social  visits,  or 
walk  about  the  town,  city,  or  neighborhood  in  which  he  may  be,  will 
be  considered  fit  for  military  duty,  and  as  evading  duty  by  absence 
from  his  command  or  ranks. 

III.  On  Monday,  the  eighteenth  cla^  of  August,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m., 
each   Regiment  and   Corps   shall   be  mustered.     The  absentees   will   be 
marked,  three  lists  of  the  same  made  out,  and,  within  forty-eight  hours 
after  the  muster,  one  copy  shall  be  sent  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the 
Army,  one  to  the  Commander  of  the  Corps,  the  third  to  be  retained ; 
and  all   officers   and  privates  fit  for   duty  absent  at  that  time  will   be 
regarded  as  absent  without  cause,  their  pav  will  be  stopped,  and  they 
dismissed   from   the   service,    or   treated   as   deserters,   unless   restored ; 
and  no  officer  shall  be  restored  to  his  rank  unless  by  the  judgment  of 
a  Court  of  Inquiry,  to  be  approved  by  the  President,  he  shall  establish 
that  his  absence  was  with  good  cause. 

IV.  Commanders    of    Corps,    Divisions,    Brigades,    Regiments,    and 
detached  Posts,  are  strictly  enjoined  to  enforce  the  muster  and  return 
aforesaid.     Any  officer  failing  in  his  duty  herein  will  be  deemed  guilty 
of  gross  neglect  of  duty,  and  be  dismissed  from  the  service. 

V.  A   commissioner   shall   be  appointed   by  the   Secretary  of   War 
to  superintend  the  execution  of  this  order  in  the  respective   States. 

The  United  States  marshals  in  the  respective  districts,  the  mayor 
and  chief  of  police  of  any  town  or  city,  the  sheriff  of  the  respective 
counties  in  each  state,  all  postmasters  and  justices  of  the  peace,  are 
authorized  to  act  as  special  provost  marshals  to  arrest  any  officer  or 
private  soldier,  fit  for  duty,  who  may  be  found  absent  from  his  com 
mand  without  just  cause,  and  convey  him  to  the  nearest  military  post 
or  depot.  The  transportation,  reasonable  expenses  of  this  duty,  and 
five  dollars,  will  be  paid  for  each  officer  or  private  so  arrested  and  de 
livered. 

By  Order  of  the   President: 

E.  M.  STANTON, 
Secretary  of  War. 

By  Order  of  the   Secretarv  of  War : 

E.     D.     TOWNSEND 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


282  HISTORY    OF    THE 

On  the  day  designated  in  this  Order  for  the  revocation 
of  leaves  of  absence  the  following  was  promulgated: — 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 
WASHINGTON,  August  u,   1862. 
General    Orders, 
No  102. 

All  leaves  of  absence  and  furloughs,  by  whomsoever  given,  unless 
by  the  War  Department,  are,  from  this  date,  null  and  void,  and  all  offi 
cers  and  privates  capable  of  service  will  immediately  rejoin  their  re 
spective  commands.  The  commanding  officer  of  each  corps,  regiment,, 
military  post,  or  other  command,  will  see  that  the  muster  directed  in 
General  Orders  No.  92,  current  series,  be  made  on  the  i8th  instant,  and 
that  all  absentees  be  marked  as  therein  directed.  All  persons  so  marked 
as  absent  will  be  considered  as  absent  without  proper  cause  until  they 
shall  adduce  evidence  before  a  military  court  or  commission  to  show 
that  such  absence  was  occasioned  by  one  of  the  three  causes  specified  in 
General  Orders,  No.  92;  and  until  the  action  of  such  court  or  commis 
sion  they  will  receive  no  pay. 

By  Command  of  Major   General   Halleck : 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Assistant  Adiutant  General. 


CAPTAIN  ALLEN'S  RESIGNATION. 

A  letter  from  Lieut.  Phillips  explains  why  Captain 
Allen's  resignation  did  not  take  effect  until  October  i/th, 
and  a  copy  of  the  discharge  found  in  Lt.  Phillips'  army  desk, 
regularly  endorsed  by  Gen.  McClellan  and  the  Division 
commanders,  is  here  added : — 

[FROM  LT.  PHILLIPS'  LETTER.] 

"CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD. 
Thursday  Evening 

Oct.  1 6,  1862. 

I  have  received  a  letter  from  Captain  Allen  and  several 
official  documents.  Among  the  latter  was  Captain  Allen's 
resignation,  which  has  been  wandering  around  some  time 
after  me.  He  sent  it  in  to  the  Adjutant  General's  office 
August  20th.  It  left  the  Adjutant  General's  office  August 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  283 

26th,  respectfully  referred  to  the  commander  of  the  Fifth 
Mass.  Battery.  Somehow  or  other  the  Post  Office  was  a 
long  time  in  bringing  it  to  me,  and  it  only  reached  me  this 
morning.  I  respectfully  referred  and  forwarded  it  to 
Captain  Martin,  he  will  do  the  same  to  General  Morell,  he 
to  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  who  will  accept  it." 

SPECIAL  ORDERS  NO.  284 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
CAMP  NEAR  KNOXVILLE  MD. 

Oct.    17,    1862. 
Special  Orders. 

No.   284  Extract. 

6.  The  following  named  officers,  having  tendered  their  resigna 
tions,  are  honorably  discharged  from  the  military  service  of  the. United 
States. 

Captain   George  D.   Allen,   Battery  E.   Mass.   Artillery. 
By  command  of  Major   General   McClellan 

(Signed)         S  WILLIAMS 
Ass't  Adj't.  General. 
HEAD  QUARTERS  STH  ARMY  CORPS 

October  i8th,  1862. 
Official : 

(Sd.)  J.    KlRKLAND 

Maj.  A.  D.   C. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  MORELL'S  DIVISION. 
Oct.   19,   1862. 
Official : 

(Sd.)        FRANCIS  S.  EARLE 
Ass't  Adj't.  General. 
Official : 

A.  P.  MARTIN,  Capt. 

Commanding  Division  Artillery. 

CAMP  ON  THE  GAINES  FARM. 

To  continue  Phillips'  letter  from  the  old  camp  ground, 
May  29,  [862  : — 

"One  of  the  cannoneers,  Alpheus  Haskins,  had  his  left 
foot  badly  bruised  by  being  run  over  by  a  gun  carriage. 
A  stout  boot  saved  the  bones  though  it  ruined  the  boot." 

All  of  Morell's  Division  returned  on  the  29th  to  their 
camp  on  the  Gaines  Farm. 


284  HISTORY    OF    THE 

This  was  the  end  of  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House, 
but  not  of  the  casualties.  While  quietly  resting  next  day 
in  camp,  at  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  there  arose  a  violent 
thunder  storm.  The  thunder  was  loud  and  continuous,  and 
the  sky  a  sheet  of  flame.  One  of  the  N.  Y.  44th  camp 
ing  near  by  was  killed  by  a  stroke  of  lightning,  and  another 
stunned.  They  were  sitting  on  a  box  of  ammunition.  Scott 
and  Phillips  generously  gave  up  their  tent  and  home-made 
bedsteads  to  two  sick  men,  and  occupied  the  ."secesh"  tent 
through  which  the  water  ran  in  a  continual  stream. 

On  one  occasion  Phillips  wrote  of  the  situation,  after 
the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  sickness,  "secesh,"  and 
the  rest: — "I  regret  that  Dr.  Gaines  is  allowed  to  keep  his 
house,  though  not  allowed  to  leave  it, — when  so  many  better 
men  than  he  are  lying  on  the  damp  ground  sick  with  fever. 
After  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House  some  twenty 
wounded  men  lay  in  his  barn  on  the  floor  crowded  together, 
while  he  was  allowed  to  occupy  a  comfortable  bed.  First 
look  out  for  the  comfort  of  our  soldiers,  say  I,  and  then 
look  out  for  secessionists.  At  this  very  moment  we  have 
in  our  Battery  men  sick  with  fever  lying  on  the  wet  ground 
in  poncho  tents, — dog  kennels  you  would  call  them  at 
home, — while  Dr.  Gaines' s  large  house  close  by  is  almost 
empty.  These  men  can  be  cured  if  we  send  them  home 
where  they  can  get  comfortable  beds  under  a  dry  roof,  but 
keep  them  here  exposed  as  they  now  are,  and  in  a  month 
they  will  be  in  their  graves.  We  have  nearly  20  men  unfit 
for  duty,  and  the  regiments  in  this  Division  will  not  aver 
age  more  than  500  men.  The  New  York  25th  went  to 
Hanover  Court  House  with  300  men  and  lost  half;  the 
New  York  44th  had  550  and  lost  120;  the  Mass.  22d  is  as 
full  as  any  in  the  service.  The  Maine  2cl  is  pretty  full  and 
is  a  splendid  regiment,  and  to  them  as  much  as  to  any 
single  regiment  we  owe  the  victory  at  Hanover. 

The  New  York  44th  fought  splendidly.  They  were  op 
posed  for  some  time  to  4000  rebels  and  held  them  at  bay 
till  the  2cl  Maine  came  up." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  285 


FROM  A  LETTER  OF  T.  E.  CHASE. 

"HANOVER  Co.  VA. 

May  3  ist,  1862. 

Dr.  Gaines  is  a  noted  rebel  and  tried  to  escape,  but  was 
caught  by  our  pickets,  he  has  a  fine  residence,  a  large  plan 
tation,  and  87  slaves,  all  of  whom  seem  to  favor  the  con 
fiscation  of  all  rebel  property.  I  have  often  visited  the  log 
cabins  of  the  negroes  on  hoe-cake  speculation,  and  quizzed 
them  some,  and  I  have  had  'Uncle  Tom's  Cabin'  from  their 
lips." 

Of  the  march  to  Hanover  Court  House  he  says : — 
"We  passed  the  direct  road  to  Richmond — which  was 
seven  miles  distant — on  the  left.  When  we  had  marched 
about  1 8  miles  we  heard  firing  ahead,  and  about  a  mile 
farther  on  we  saw  that  the  enemy  had  been  surprised  and 
routed.  Several  acres  of  land  were  strewn  with  clothing, 
belts,  knapsacks,  haversacks,  &c.  which  the  gallant  south 
rons  were  too  proud  to  take  with  them — or  they  were  too 
heavy — on  a  foot  race  with  the  'mudsills.'  The  roadside 
was  lined  with  infantry  resting,  and  some  of  them  were 
wounded.  It  was  a  strange  spectacle  to  see  them  lying  in 
all  positions;  some  talking,  some  writing,  many  asleep,  and 
others  tying  up  slight  wounds.  In  a  field  at  our  right  lay 
the  body  of  one  of  the  cannoneers  of  Regular  Battery  M, 
who  was  killed  by  a  shell.  The  back  part  of  his  head  was 
shot  away,  and  his  brains  and  fragments  of  his  skull  were 
scattered  in  every  direction.  He  was  a  No.  3  man  and, 
had  a  thumbstall  still  on  his  thumb,  which  was  peculiarly 
suggestive  to  me,  but  I  had  but  little  time  to  borrow  trouble 
about  that  then.  Several  dead  horses  were  lying  there 
that  were  shot  from  under  their  riders.  As  the  Battery 
went  round  a  corner,  I  cut  across  a  wheat  field  to  save 
distance,  and  but  a  few  rods  from  the  road  I  saw  for  the 
first  time  one  of  the  enemy's  dead.  He  fell  on  his  side. 


286  HISTORY    OF    THE 

His  knapsack  was  strapped  to  his  shoulders,  and  at  his  side 
lay  his  gun,  haversack,  and  canteen.  His  eyes  were  par 
tially  closed.  I  raised  the  bosom  of  his  blood-stained  shirt, 
and  saw  the  fatal  wound.  He  was  shot  through  the  heart 
and  must  have  died  instantly.  I  took  some  cartridges  from 
his  cartridge  box  and  ran  to  our  piece.  I  found  the  car 
tridges  were  made  of  good  fine  powder  and  a  round  moulded 
ball  and  three  buck-shot  each.  On  the  road  I  picked  up  a 
cartridge  box  marked  inside  'C.  S.  Arsenal,  Baton  Rouge, 
La.'  .  .  .  We  marched  about  a  mile  farther,  and  were 
very  suddenly  ordered  to  countermarch,  as  the  enemy  had 
flanked  us,  but  we  went  as  fast  as  possible,  and  when  we  had 
regained  our  wasted  mile,  we  took  equipments,  and 
mounted  the  caissons,  and  prepared  for  quick  movements 
and  hot  work,  and  it  had  already  commenced,  for  we  heard 
the  rattle  of  musketry  in  front  of  us,  and  saw  the  smoke." 


AHOMlNY 


Camfis.—/.  Infantry  of  Division.— JL.Martln's  Battery.— 3.  Weeden's  Battery.— 4.  Griffin's 
Battery.— $.  A/leri& Battery.  Positions,  June?*—  6.  S"*Mas$.Battery.—7.  Maryland 
Batte ry.—S. Ca r lisle 's  Regu/arZO  fidr Battery.— 9. 32.jl>drj, ^-lO.Rebel Battery.  li.June9* 
—Right -Section,  ll.  'Jane/I'^—  Centre  Section.  13. June /S^-Centreiieft Sections.  /4.0u7 
Bridge  .  IS.  New  Br/'cffejb/t  brid$e*.  /n  Batteries  Jane  25^-1 6.  frght  o/NeujBridjeirGuns 
—/?.  On  hill  hack  oJNeiuBi/dge,five  30 /ad<rs—/8.  OnGain.es  HiHtFive3O/>(trs.— 19.  S^>  Mass,  in 
No4.  J/>  Guns.—20.7une  16* To  June  2^-Rebel  Guns.  It.  Our  Pickets.  ZL&bel  Pickets. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   VALLEY   OF   THE    CHICKAHOMINY. 
BATTLE  OF  MECHANICSVILLE,  June  26,   1862. 

"Oftentimes  an  indifferent  action,  a  short  saying,  or  a  ready  jest, 
opens  more  intricacies  of  the  true  character  than  a  siege  or  a  battle." 

— PLUTARCH'S  Alexander. 

"The  slight  circumstances  of  Plutarch  are  not  mere  anecdotes,  in 
serted  for  the  sake  of  amusement.  They  are  traits  of  feeling  and  dis 
position  :  short  lines  from  a  page  of  the  heart  put  into  italics." 

— REV.  ROBERT  ARIS  WILLMOTT. 

Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott  in  his  Notes  describes  the  course 
of  the  Chickahominy  as  "from  northwest  to  southeast,  a 
treacherous  stream,  from  30  to  50  feet  wide  at  this  point. 
"Its  banks,"  he  says,  "are  low,  and  after  a  few  hours'  rain 
would  overflow,  and  the  country  in  its  course  would  have 
the  appearance  of  one  vast  lake." 

The  military  operations  on  the  Chickahominy  embraced 
that  part  of  the  stream  between  Bottom's  Bridge  on  the 
south  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  Williamsburg  road,  and 
Meadow  Bridge,  fifteen  miles  to  the  north,  where  it  is 
crossed  by  the  Fredericksburg  railroad. 

Richmond  lies  nearly  opposite  the  centre  of  this  line, 
about  6  miles  from  the  Chickahominy  at  its  nearest  ap 
proach. 

The  swamp  and  stream  had  been  crossed  by  several 
bridges.  All  of  those  in  front  of  Richmond  had  been  de 
stroyed  by  Johnston  when  he  fell  back  from  Yorktown  and 
Williamsburg,  and  the  approaches  to  them  were  commanded 

287 


288  HISTORY    OF    THE 

by  batteries  on  the  southern  side.  Other  points  had  to  be 
chosen  for  building  new  bridges,  which  on  account  of  the 
soil  had  to  be  laid  upon  trestles;  the  approaches  being  cordu 
royed. 

In  moving  from  Williamsburg  the  Right  wing  of  the 
Federal  army  had  kept  to  the  north,  striking  the  Chicka- 
hominy  at  New  Bridge  directly  in  front  of  Richmond,  the 
Left  wing,  keeping  to  the  south,  had  reached  the  river  at 
Bottom's  Bridge,  13  miles  below.  This  bridge  had  been 
demolished  on  May  2Oth,  but  close  by  was  a  ford  which  had 
been  seized.  On  the  22d  of  May,  Head  Quarters  were 
established  at  Cold  Harbor  just  in  the  rear  of  the  head  of 
the  Right  wing.  The  bulk  of  the  enemy  were  across  the 
Chickahominy  on  the  main  road  from  New  Bridge  to  Rich 
mond,  but  a  detachment  had  been  left  at  Mechanicsville  on 
the  north  bank  4  miles  above.  This  was  dispersed  on  the 
24th  by  the  artillery  and  the  bridge  was  destroyed. 

The  rebel  general  Johnston  had  destroyed  the  bridge  by 
which  the  York  River  railroad  crossed  the  Chickahominy, 
but  no  other  damage  was  done,  and  after  the  bridge  was  re 
paired  the  railroad  was  in  operation  up  to  the  river. 

On  May  24th,  1862,  McClellan  received  a  despatch  from 
the  President,  announcing  that  in  consequence  of  General 
Banks's  position  having  been  made  critical  by  the  line  being 
broken  on  the  day  previous  at  Front  Royal,  with  a  probable 
loss  to  us  of  a  regiment  of  infantry  and  two  companies  of 
cavalry,  he  was  compelled  to  suspend  General  McDowell's 
movement  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Then  General  McClellan  ordered  the  construction  of  a 
series  of  bridges  across  the  Chickahominy,  but  Bottom's 
Bridge  and  the  Railroad  bridge,  a  mile  apart,  were  his 
main  dependence,  as  the  Railroad  bridge,  as  it  proved, 
was  above  the  reach  of  the  highest  water;  these  he  pro 
tected  in  order  to  render  his  communications  secure  be 
tween  the  Left  wing  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chickahominy 
composed  of  the  two  corps  of  Keyes  and  Heintzelman 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  289 

covering-  six  miles  of  the  Williamsburg  road  in  order  to 
guard  the  approaches  to  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  the  Right 
wing  fifty  miles  away  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  com 
posed  of  the  Corps  of  Sumner,  Franklin  and  Porter,  extend 
ing  north  for  18  miles. 

This  was  the  situation  on  the  28th  of  May.     The  rise 
of  the  river  on  the  3Oth  carried  away  all  but  the  Railroad 
bridge,  which  was  the  only  means  of  communication  be 
tween  the  two  wings  of  the  Army.     During  the  afternoon 
and  night  of  the  3Oth  a  storm  more  violent  than  had  been 
known  for  many  years,  swept  over  Richmond.     The  rising 
of  the  Chickahominy  which  was  already  full  would  over 
flow  the  swamp,  preventing  the  forces  on  the  south  side 
from  communicating  with  those  on  the  north.     The  Left 
wing  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  thus  placed  upon  its 
own  resources  for  its  defense  was    thought    by    the    rebel 
rulers  to  be  at  their  mercy.     But  the  rain  fell  alike  on  the 
just  as  on  the  unjust.    The  storm  which  swelled  the  Chicka 
hominy  impeded  the  movements  of  the  troops  of  the  rebel 
general  Huger,  and  in  the  summing  up  of  these  events  it  has 
been  sagely  observed  (see  Harper's  "History  of  the  Great 
Rebellion")  that  if  Huger  had  come  down  upon  the  Left  at 
any  time,  or  if  Smith  had  moved  only  an  hour  earlier  on 
the  Right,  Heintzelman  and  Keyes  must  have  been  utterly 
crushed.     Or,  had  the  full  flood  of  the  Chickahominy  come 
down,  as  was  expected,  four  hours  before,  instead  of  four 
hours  after  noon,  Sumner  could  not  have  crossed,  and  the 
Union  forces  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  would  have  been 
annihilated  in  plain  sight  of  the  whole  army  on  the  opposite 
Bank,  utterly  powerless  to  give  any  aid. 

There  is  another  period  in  the  history  of  the  world  where 
an  army  passed  from  one  bank  to  another  in  just  the  most 
convenient  time.  See  chapter  and  verse  in  the  Bible. 

THE  BATTERY  AT  THE   BRIDGE. 

It  was  hoped  that  the  next  move  would  be  direct  for 
Richmond,  and  until  that  order  came  the  weary  soldier 
would  rather  rest  in  camp,  but  at  9  o'clock  in  the  evening 


290  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Saturday  the  3ist  of  May,  the  repose  of  the  Battery  was 
broken  by  orders  to  go  down  and  protect  the  building  of 
a  bridge  half  a  mile  from  camp,  and  about  the  same  distance 
below  New  Bridge,  across  the  Chickahominy.  In  the  dark 
ness  Lieut.  Hyde  rode  over  a  bank  about  five  feet  high, 
bruising  his  arm  so  that  he  had  to  go  back  to  camp. 

A  MISS-STEP  IN  THE  DARK. 
NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  HYDE  REVISED  MAY  22,  1900. 

"Ordered  by  General  Griffin  to  take  my  Battery  in  the 
night  as  quietly  as  possible  to  a  point  under  a  cliff  where  the 
enemy  had  a  strong  fortification,  at  daylight  as  soon  as  it 
was  light  enough  to  discover  their  works  we  were  to  com 
mence  firing  in  that  direction;  the  object  being  to  draw  their 
fire  to  ascertain  what  they  had, — and  we  found  out! 

We  were  moving  along  on  what  seemed  in  the  darkness 
to  be  hard  ground,  and  I  was  riding  in  company  with  Cap 
tain  A.  P.  Martin,  when  before  I  was  aware  of  the  danger, 
my  horse  went  down  a  steep  bank  carrying  me  with  him,  and 
falling  upon  my  leg  and  right  arm,  injuring  me  consider 
ably,  and  I  was  compelled  to  leave  the  Battery  in  command 
of  Lieut.  Dillingham,  and  go  back,  Captain  Martin  kindly 
accompanying  me,  to  the  surgeon  of  the  44th  N.  Y.  Regt. 
He  examined  my  arm,  putting  it  apparently  in  the  best 
shape  possible,  placing  it  in  a  sling,  and  I  returned  to  the 
Battery,  having  been  absent  only  half  an  hour.  I  carried 
my  arm  in  the  sling  for  a  week  or  ten  days  after.  To  this 
day  (1900)  it  is  sensitive  to  the  touch,  very  crooked  and 
two  inches  shorter  than  the  left  arm;  the  hand  being  much 
smaller." 

The  Battery  was  stationed  in  a  large  low-level  clover 
field,  about  500  yards  from  the  river,  and  disposing  them 
selves  as  comfortably  as  possible  on  the  limber  boxes, 
officers  and  men  slept  all  night  in  the  mist  and  rain,  with 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  291 

the  Battery  in  position  just  on  the  line  of  our  advance 
pickets,  though  skirmishers  were  across  the  bridge  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  river.  Porter's  Fifth  Corps  of  20,000  men 
was  alone  upon  the  right  bank. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Saturday,  May  31,  1862.  At  2  this 
afternoon  sharp  musketry  and  heavy  firing  was  heard. 
Across  the  creek  our  troops  and  the  rebels  are  at  it  again. 
[This  was  the  attack  by  Johnston  on  the  Left  wing  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  commanded  by  General  Silas  Casey 
at  Fair  Oaks,  when  the  Union  forces  were  driven  back.] 
The  more  they  fight  the  sooner  it  will  be  over.  The  balloon, 
which  is  near  us,  went  up  this  afternoon,  and  discovered 
our  forces  at  Bottom's  Bridge.  We  have  orders  that  we 
may  be  called  before  morning.  At  l/4  past  9  this  eve,  we 
were  called  to  hitch  out  Guns  and  Caissons  to  go  to  a  bridge 
about  one  mile  from  camp,  and  guard  it.  At  10  we  started, 
leaving  all  our  things  behind  except  blankets  and  overcoats. 
We  got  on  to  the  wrong  road  and  got  lost,  and  did  not 
strike  the  right  and  get  to  the  bridge  till  K  past  3  in  the 
morning." 

June  ist,  1862,  the  Battle  of  Fair  Oaks  was  renewed  and 
resulted  in  the  repulse  of  the  rebels. 

GUARDING  THE  BRIDGES. 

In  the  valley  of  the  Chickahominy  the  engineers  labored 
under  great  disadvantage  owing  to  the  rising  of  the  river, 
which  overflowed  its  banks  until  the  meadows  were  all 
afloat,  and  the  completion  of  the  bridge  anticipated  on  Sun 
day  morning  June  ist  was  not  so  soon  accomplished.  The 
Battery,  however,  was  relieved  at  dark,  twelve  32  pdrs. 
having  come  out  during  the  day,  and  Colonel  Alexander 
chief  of  engineers  being  of  the  opinion  that  two  companies 
of  infantry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  were  enough  to  pro 
tect  the  bridge. 

The  day  was  hot,  and  very  "close"  and  "muggy,"  but 


292  HISTORY    OF    THE 

there  were  mitigating  circumstances  in  a  barn  near  by  con 
taining  several  tons  of  tobacco,  which  the  men  carried  back 
to  camp  on  the  Gaines  Farm,  each  carrying  as  much  as 
could  be  transported  in  his  arms. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Sunday,  June  i,  1862.  'As  dark  as 
pitch/  not  a  star  to  be  seen.  Unlimbered  and  went  into 
Battery.  This  is  the  Chickahominy  swamp,  and  a  bridge  has 
got  to  be  built  in  order  for  our  troops  to  cross.  At  l/2  past 
4  this  morning  I  laid  my  blankets  on  the  wet  grass  and 
clover  and  laid  down.  There  was  a  very  heavy  dew  and  then 
rain.  Got  up  at  6.  We  soon  moved  our  guns  farther  back 
so  we  can  get  good  range.  A  queer  business  for  Sunday ! 

Soon  after,  several  regiments  of  infantry  came  down  to 
protect  the  batteries  and  to  help  on  the  bridge.  They  soon 
,eot  themselves  to  work  and  then  we  were  dismissed  for  the 
rest  of  the  day,  to  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  we 
could  but  not  to  go  too  far  away, — to  be  within  hailing 
distance. 

This  is  a  beautiful  place,  a  large  plantation.  The  owner's 
name  is  Dr.  Laws.  He  is  under  arrest  being  one  of  the 
very  rankest  'Secesh.'  He  raises  mostly  tobacco;  has  a 
large  barn  about  100  ft.  from  our  piece,  and  in  it  is  about 
$5000  worth  of  cured  tobacco  in  the  leaf.  It  has  not  been 
pressed.  Our  officers  told  us  to  help  ourselves.  It  is  far 
superior  to  that  which  we  buy  at  home.  All  the  men  who 
smoke  have  plenty  of  cigars,  for  it  is  very  easy  to  roll  one 
out.  The  tobacco  is  packed  in  the  barn  all  over  the  floor, 
about  5  ft.  thick. 

The  sun  is  awful  hot  today,  but  I  have  kept  myself  in 
the  shade  of  the  Barn  most  of  the  time.  This  afternoon  I 
was  surprised  to  see  Whitcher,  who  formerly  belonged  to 
the  old  Battery.  He  is  now  a  lieutenant  in  the  ist  Maryland 
Battery.  We  have  not  had  any  occasion  to  fire,  as  yet. 
The  battery  on  our  right, — there  are  8  of  us, — has  fired 
about  20  shots  today.  Small  bodies  of  rebel  troops  keep 
showing  themselves  during  the  day,  along  the  edge  of  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  293 

woods,  but  a  shell  or  two  soon  scatters  them.  Our  supper 
was  brought  over  to  us  in  good  season,  and  about  an  hour 
after  we  got  orders  to  go  back  to  camp.  Arrived  soon  after 
dark.1' 

June  2d,  Monday  forenoon,  about  10  o'clock,  the  Battery 
went  down  again  to  guard  the  bridge. 

The  officers  had  fried  pork,  and  hasty  pudding  and 
molasses,  for  dinner,  over  which  they  discussed  the  situ 
ation,  while  heavy  firing  both  of  musketry  and  artillery 
resounded  on  the  left  of  the  line.  It  was  confidently  asserted 
in  the  privacy  of  camp  circles,  that  if  Porter's  Corps  had 
crossed  the  Chickahominy  on  Sunday,  June  ist,  1862,  it 
could  have  marched  straight  to  Richmond.  The  enemy's 
forces  were  then  coming  round  on  our  right  wing,  which 
was  held  by  Porter's  Corps. 

"This  continual  moving"  [back  and  forth  to  the  bridge] 
wrote  Lt.  Phillips,  "is  a  terrible  strain  on  sick  men,  and 
there  are  plenty  of  them  here.  Not  a  great  many  very  sick, 
but  a  large  number  troubled  with  slight  disorders,  enough  to 
render  them  unfit  for  duty.  The  country  is  not  so  healthy 
as  New  England,  by  any  means,  leaving  out  the  exposure. 
Yesterday  [3d]  we  remained  in  camp  all  day.  We  were 
ordered  to  go  out  into  the  field,  but  in  consequence  of  the 
storm,  I  suppose,  General  Morell  ordered  us  to  stay  in 
camp." — A  heavy  rain  flooded  the  road,  and  still  the  bridge 
was  impassable.  A  regiment  passed  down  with  shovels  and 
axes.  The  road  was  to  be  corduroyed. 

Grows'  Journal:  "Wednesday,  June  4,  1862.  We  are 
only  5  miles  from  Richmond,  and  we  will  have  to  fight,  I 
expect,  every  foot  of  the  ground,  before  we  can  get  into  the 
place  which  is  expected  to  be  the  winding  up  place  of  this 
war. 

Thursday,  June  5.  An  order  came  this  morning  about 
8  o'clock  to  go  on  picket.  About  noon  the  firing  on  the 
rebel  works  by  our  Battery  and  four  others  began." 

On  June  5,  1862,  Captain  Allen  went  home  sick,  on  leave 


294  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  absence,  and  the  Battery  left  camp  with  pieces  only,  about 
7  a.  m.,  and  went  down  to  the  clover  field  to  protect  the 
bridge.  Carlisle's  regular  batteries  20  pdr.  Parrotts,  were 
on  a  hill  in  the  rear,  and  a  Maryland  battery  was  on  the 
right  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  guarding  New  Bridge. 

At  8.15  a.  m.  the  Marylanders  commenced  firing  at  a  rebel 
battery  on  the  other  shore  and  unmasked  the  battery.  The 
Fifth  Massachusetts  from  its  position  could  not  see  the 
enemy,  and  only  fired  two  test  shots.  These  were  fired  by 
the  First  Detachment.  They  both  fell  short  as  did  the  solid 
shot  of  the  enemy. 

At  9  a.  m.,  a  brisk  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides,  which 
lasted  about  two  hours.  Carlisle's  batteries  threw  an  oc 
casional  shell  over  the  river  [This  was  the  Fifth  Brigade 
of  the  Artillery  Reserve,  Capt.  J.  Howard  Carlisle  com 
manding,  composed  of  Battery  E,  2d  U.  S.,  and  Batteries 
F,  and  K,  3d  U.  S.] 

Shortly  after  dinner  a  light  battery  on  the  other  shore 
supposed  to  belong  to  Sumner's  Corps,  which  crossed  lower 
down  the  river,  commenced  operations. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  afternoon  a  few  shells  were  fired 
from  the  twelve  32  pdrs.  brought  down  on  the  left  to  guard 
against  contingencies. 

LETTER    OF    LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

''June  6,  1862 :  Lately  I  have  had  a  chance  here  to  witness 
the  practical  effects  of  confiscation.  Near  by  the  position 
of  our  Battery  is  a  tobacco  store  house  belonging  to  Dr. 
Gaines.  .  .  .  When  \ve  first  came  here  this  contained 
several  tons  of  tobacco,  but  now  it  has  all  disappeared,  and 
I  am  afraid  Dr.  G.  will  have  some  difficulty  in  finding  any 
one  to  pay  for  it.  Yesterday,  as  if  not  content  with  this, 
the  engineer  officer  building  the  bridge  came  up  for 
material,  and  with  the  help  of  four  men  tore  the  boards  off 
one  side  and  end  and  took  out  a  lot  of  the  joists.  We  told 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  295 

him  if  he  wanted  the  whole  we  would  soon  have  it  down 
for  him,  but  he  had  got  all  he  wanted,  so  the  building  still 
stands,  though  I  think  its  existence  will  terminate  within 
a  few  days.  Dr.  G.  will  begin  to  experience  some  of  the 
suffering  which  he  and  those  like  him  have  brought  upon 
the  country,  but  not  so  much  as  I  would  like.  His  clover 
is  all  being  eaten  by  Union  horses,  and  pretty  much  every 
thing  growing  on  his  farm  will  be  consumed  or  trodden 
down  by  Porter's  Division.  Fence  rails  have  long  since 
disappeared  from  our  vicinity,  and  the  oak  woods  have  lost 
much  of  their  beauty:  15000  men  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  will  do  a  great  deal  of  mischief." 


GENERAL    ORDERS    JUNE    7,     1862. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S   OFFICE 

,  WASHINGTON,  June  7.  1862. 

General  Orders 
No.  61 

The  great  number  of  officers  absent  from  their  regiments  without 
sufficient  cause,  is  a  serious  evil  which  calls  for  immediate  correction. 
By  paragraph  177,  General  Regulations,  the  power  of  commanding  of 
ficers  to  grant  leaves  of  absence  is  limited  to  a  "time  of  peace."  In 
time  of  war,  leaves  of  absence  will  only  be  granted  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  except  when  the  certificate  of  a  medical  officer  shall  show, 
beyond  doubt,  that  a  change  of  location  "is  necessary  to  save  life,  or 
prevent  permanent  disability."  [Paragraph  186,  General  Regulation*.] 
In  such  case,  the  Commander  of  an  Army,  a  Department,  or  District, 
may  grant  not  exceeding  twenty  days.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
if  the  officer  be  not  able  to  travel,  he  must  make  application  to  the 
Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  for  an  extension,  accompanied  by  the 
certificate  of  a  medical  officer  of  the  army,  in  the  usual  form,  and  that 
he  is  not  able  to  travel.  If  it  be  not  practicable  to  procure  such  a  cer 
tificate,  in  consequence  of  there  being  no  army  physician  in  the  place 
where  the  officer  resides,  the  certificate  of  a  citizen  physician,  attested 
by  a  civil  magistrate,  may  be  substituted. 

All  officers  of  the  regulars  and  volunteers,  except  those  on  parole, 
now  absent  from  duty  with  leave,  will  be  considered  "absent  without 
leave"  [paragraph  1326,  General  Regulations,]  unless  they  are  found 
at  their  post,  within  fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  this  order,  or  are 


296  HISTORY    OF    THE 

authorized  by  orders  from  the  Adjutant  General  to  be  absent,  which  or 
ders  will  in  all  cases  be  based  on  a  certificate  as  above  described,  and 
must  be  exhibited  to  the  paymaster  before  payment  is  made  them. 

All  invalid  and  wounded  officers  who  are  able  to  travel,  although 
their  disability  may  not  have  been  removed  [paragraph  187,  General 
Regulations]  will  repair,  without  delay— those  from  the  East  to  An 
napolis,  to  report  to  the  General  Commanding  the  Camp  of  Instruc 
tion :  those  from  the  West  to  report  to  the  commanding  officer  of 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio.  At  those  points  they  will  remain  until  able  to  pro 
ceed  to  their  regiments,  or  until  an  examining  board  may  decide  ad 
versely  on  their  ability  to  return  to  duty  within  a  reasonable  time, 
and  orders  may  be  given  by  the  President  for  their  discharge. 

Their  Excellencies,  the  Governors  of  States  are  requested  to  make 
known  this  order,  and  to  contribute  to  its  execution,  as  may  be  in  their 
power.  Mustering  and  Recruiting  Officers  are  directed  to  do  the  same. 
Extra  copies  of  the  order  will  be  furnished  them  for  distribution. 

Failure  to  comply  with  the  above  regulations  will  be  reported  to  the 
Adjutant  General  by  Regimental  Commanders. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

L.   THOMAS 

Official:  Adjutant  General. 

Assistant    Adjutant    General. 


Sunday,  June  8,  1862,  the  Battery  was  in  camp  all  day: 
Lieut.  Dillingham  with  the  Right  Section  going  down  to 
New  Bridge  at  sunset  to  be  relieved  the  next  evening. 

June  Qth,  in  the  afternoon,  the  Fifth  Corps  was  reviewed 
by  General  McClellan  and  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  ac 
companied  by  General  Prim  [Gen.  Juan  Prim,  Count  de 
Reuss]  commander  of  Spanish  forces  in  Mexico,  who  was 
on  a  visit  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  a  host  of  officers  of 
lesser  rank  being  attached  to  the  reviewing  party. 

The  review  took  place  in  an  open  field  on  the  right  of 
the  road  from  Gaines  Mills  to  Mechanicsville. 

"We  hitched  up  four  pieces"  wrote  Lieut.  Phillips,  "two 
(the  Right  section)  being  out  on  picket,  and  marched  out 
into  a  large  field  where  the  rest  of  the  Division  were  drawn 
up.  We  formed  in  line  with  the  other  batteries,  and  waited 
for  the  great  individual  for  whose  satisfaction  we  were 
there. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  297 

Pretty  soon — 'Attention.  Present  sabre!' — and  we  pre 
sented  sabre,  while  General  Porter  and  General  Prim  rode 
by.  General  Prim  had  on  a  smoking  cap  very  much  like 
the  royal  diadem  which  you  see  on  the  stage.  What  it  was 
made  of  I  cannot  say:  otherwise  he  was  dressed  in  a  plain, 
dark  coat,  with  one  cross  and  star  on  His  breast.  In  the 
crowd  following  came  some  more  Spanish  officers,  with  the 
same  style  of  caps,  made  out  of  plaided  material,  and  with 
coats  befrogged  in  every  possible  place  and  style." 

THE   ARMY.— STRUCTURAL   UTILITY. 

Still  the  confiding  army,  in  ignorance  of  the  suspension 
of  McDowell's  orders,  were  looking  for  his  reinforcements. 
Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  in  this  letter  of  the  Qth  of  June: — 
"I  have  just  heard  that  General  McDowell  has  landed  at 
White  House  with  reinforcements,  and  though  we  need 
them,  it  will  not  do  to  wait  long  in  this  swamp  for  more 
men,  when  the  men  we  have  are  dropping  off  like  dead 
leaves  in  autumn.  The  popular  idea  is  that  soldiers  even 
when  suffering  the  most  are  provided  with  good  tents,  but 
our  soldiers  have  not  seen  the  inside  of  a  tent  since  we  left 
the  Potomac.  The  infantry  have  shelter  tents, — the 
French  tcntes  d'abri, — and  our  men  make  tents  for  the  oc 
casion  out  of  tarpaulins  and  rubber  blankets.  The  shelter 
tents  are  three  feet  high  and  some  of  our  tarpaulin  tents 
four  or  five  feet  high,  but  they  are  all  low  and  consequently 
dark  and  wet.  Add  to  this  the  natural  carelessness  of  a 
soldier,  the  hardships,  and  hard  fare,  and  a  swamp  full  of 
miasma,  and  you  will  be  able  to  understand  the  sickness 
which  prevails  here.  We  have  our  share  of  it.  This  morn 
ing  23  men  were  reported  unfit  for  duty.  Captain  Allen  is 
home  on  sick  leave,  and  Lieut.  Dillingham  temporarily  laid 
up  with  a  cramp,  which  came  on  this  forenoon  while  he  was 
out  on  picket,  owing  probably  to  the  coldness  of  last  night. 
I  hear  of  companies  who  turn  out  twelve  or  fifteen  men  on 


298  HISTORY    OF    THE 

parade,  and  the  Doctor  of  the  N.  Y.  44th  told  me  that  he 
thought  half  this  army  were  unfit  for  duty.  Our  numbers 
are  fast  diminishing,  and  it  will  not  do  to  wait  much  longer. 
Not  that  I  think  numbers  make  much  difference,  for  the 
rebels  suffer  as  much  or  more  than  we  do,  and  I  will  risk 
our  men  against  any  reasonable  odds,  but  I  like  to  spare 
our  men.  I  do  not  know  but  it  is  more  terrible  to  read  of 
500  killed  in  battle  than  of  2000  dying  of  disease,  but  as  this 
is  somewhat  a  matter  of  taste,  I  had  rather,  for  my  part, 
have  my  head  shot  off  by  a  cannon  ball,  than  shake  to  death 
with  fever  and  ague.  It  is  more  glorious,  besides  being 
more  comfortable." 

In  relation  to  organization  he  wrote  June  loth,  1862. 
Tuesday  evening: — "It  seems  to  me  that  we  have  enough 
regimental  organizations  and  officers,  and  the  best  plan  is  to 
recruit  up  to  the  maximum  standard  the  regiments  now  in 
service;  and  to  discharge  as  fast  as  possible  the  sick  and 
disabled  men  who  increase  our  strength  only  on  paper.  .  .  . 

It  has  now  become  quite  useless  to  estimate  the  strength 
of  an  army  by  the  number  of  regiments.  In  our  Division 
the  strength  varies  very  much.  The  22d  Mass.  800  men; 
9th  Mass,  [infantry]  as  much  or  more;  i8th  Mass.  700 
men;  25th  N.  Y.  200  men;  44th  N.  Y.  350  men  &c.,  the 
average  being  perhaps  450  effective  men  to  a  regiment. 
Massachusetts,  you  see,  comes  out  ahead.  So  this  Division, 
which  numbered  15000  men  is  really  reduced  to  an  effective 
6000  or  7000.  The  situation  and  weather  here  are  very 
bad,  the  ground  is  damp  and  miasmatic,  and  it  rains  as  a 
general  thing.  Luckily  our  tent  is  water  proof  and  an 
elaborate  system  of  outside  drainage  constructed  under  the 
pressure  of  a  former  storm,  keeps  the  floor  dry.  Then  I 
have  an  elegant  bedstead  constructed  of  four  crotches,  two 
fence  rails  and  a  secession  bed  sacking, — confiscated. 
Scott  has  a  regular  camp  bedstead,  but  it  is  not  half  so  warm 
and  comfortable  as  mine.  The  principal  trouble  about  this 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  299 

kind  of  living  is  that  you  have  to  get  on  the  bed  to  un 
dress,  and  hang  up  your  clothes  on  top  of  you  after  you 
have  got  to  bed.  In  fact  the  bed  is  a  universal  repository 
for  everything,  saddle,  sabre,  pistol,  spurs,  newspapers,  and 
everything  else  which  it  will  not  do  to  put  on  the  ground." 

June  n,  1862,  the  Centre  Section  was  on  picket  at  New 
Bridge;  on  the  I2th,  the  Left  Section. 

It  was  understood  that  the  rebels  on  the  opposite  shore 
were  firing  the  guns  they  captured  May  3ist  at  Fair  Oaks. 
When  they  did  any  good  shooting  they  were  always  using 
our  guns.  Their  practice  was  to  bring  a  gun  down  into  the 
woods,  fire  a  few  shots,  and  as  soon  as  our  batteries  replied 
they  would  limber  up  and  retire  or  open  in  some  new 
position.  Whenever  they  made  their  appearance  they  met 
with  a  lively  reception.  Every  day  a  balloon  went  up  and 
it  was  supposed  the  occupant  kept  a  good  lookout. 

With  the  pleasant  weather  the  flood  in  the  Chickahominy 
was  rapidly  falling,  and  about  half  a  mile  below  the  bridge 
the  Battery  had  been  guarding,  Smith's  Division,  by  the 
1 3th,  had  thrown  up  a  very  respectable  earthwork,  much 
stronger  than  a  mere  parallel  or  rifle  pit  and  as  strong  in  the 
estimation  of  Lieut.  Phillips  as  many  of  the  defenses  of 
Yorktown.  "From  a  tall  flagstaff,"  he  wrote,  "in  the  centre 
of  the  work  a  large  American  flag  floats  defiantly,  in  sight, 
I  should  think,  of  Richmond." 

IN  THE  EARTHWORKS. 

McClellan's  Head  Quarters  crossed  to  the  left  bank  of 
the  river.  Our  pickets  were  over  on  that  side,  and  Berdan's 
Sharpshooters  in  front  of  them  within,  in  some  cases, 
25  yards  of  the  rebel  pickets.  Lieut.  Phillips  was  ordered 
Saturday  morning,  June  I4th,  to  take  his  section  down  to 
New  Bridge  to  reinforce  Lieut.  Scott  and  the  Right  Section. 
The  route,  as  described,  followed  various  turnings  and 
twistings  until  out  of  the  field,  when  the  Battery  moved 


300  HISTORY    OF    THE 

down  a  hill,  across  a  brook,  up  a  hill  by  Dr.  Gaines's 
"gate  posts,"  the  fence  and  gate  having  disappeared  some 
time  since,  on  a  half  mile,  then  a  turn  to  the  left  and 
straight  ahead  for  a  mile.  Lieut.  Scott's  two  pieces  were 
in  a  new  earthwork  a  little  above  New  Bridge  close  by  the 
edge  of  the  swamp. 

The  line  was  120  ft.  long,  2  ft.  6  inches  high,  20  ft. 
thick.  There  were  beds  for  four  pieces,  on  each  side  of 
which  was  a  depression  3  ft.  deep,  into  which  the  limbers 
were  backed. 

The  swamp  was  full  of  trees,  so  that  nothing  could  be 
seen  from  their  position. 

Instructions  came  from  General  Porter  to  be  very  careful 
and  wide  awake.  The  enemy  had  made  a  demonstration  in 
the  rear — a  cavalry  attack — cutting  off  a  wagon  train,  and 
fears  were  entertained  for  one  of  the  wagons  with  George 
Shaw.  They  had  also  driven  in  the  pickets  at  one  bridge. 
The  Division  was  in  great  excitement  all  day  and  night. 
Martin's  Battery  starts  out  of  camp  three  times  and  re 
mains  harnessed,  ready  to  move.  Lieut.  Phillips  was 
relieved  at  9  p.  m.  on  the  I3th  by  Captain  Weeden  and 
returned  to  camp,  but  was  ready  to  move  all  night. 

Lieut.  Hyde  with  the  Right  Section  stayed  in  the  earth 
works. 

Captain  Griffin  had  been  promoted.  He  was  now  Briga 
dier  General. 

THE  FIRST  DEATH  IN  CAMP. 

Saturday,  June  14,  1862,  Corporal  Henry  C.  Parsons 
died  in  the  hospital,  in  the  afternoon,  of  typhoid  fever. 
Grows  helped  bring  him  into  camp.  He  left  a  wife  and 
three  children. 

The  next  morning  there  were  funeral  services  for  the 
first  time,  and  the  body  was  sent  to  White  House  Landing 
on  the  way  home  to  Maiden,  Mass.  The  camp  had  grown 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  301 

dreary  and  disagreeable.  The  grass  was  all  worn  off,  and 
old  boxes,  barrels  and  the  other  debris  of  a  camp  were 
strewn  around.  The  place  was  called  Gaines  Hill  and  the 
owner  Dr.  Gaines  was  under  arrest  in  one  of  the  buildings. 
He  owned  about  150  slaves.  George  Shaw,  who  started 
from  White  House  just  in  time  to  meet  the  rebels  on  their 
raid,  and  who  ought  to  have  arrived  with  his  wagon  load 
of  horse  shoes  &c.,  besides  provisions  for  the  officers'  mess, 
was  detained,  and  the  officers'  diet  was  salt  junk  and  hard 
bread  and  hasty  pudding,  with  on  one  occasion  a  few 
cherries,  and  at  others  a  glass  of  lemonade,  but  on  Sunday 
afternoon  the  I5th,  George  Shaw  with  the  wagon  rolled 
into  camp.  He  left  White  House  all  right,  and  had  got 
seven  miles  out  on  the  road  when  he  met  a  company  of 
cavalry  retreating  full  gallop,  so  he  turned  and  kept  his 
horse  on  the  gallop  till  he  reached  his  point  of  departure. 
Then  he  took  a  new  start  and  came  through  safely.  There 
was  a  train  of  50  other  teams  and  only  5  men  escaped  with 
their  lives.  Infantry  and  cavalry  were  ordered  out  in  pur 
suit.  The  officers  that  night  dined  on  boiled  ham  and  string 
beans. 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"June  1 6  1862,  Monday,  at  6  p.  m.  the  Battery  left 
camp  with  the  six  guns  only.  The  Right  section  under 
Lieut.  Scott  and  the  Centre  section  under  Lieut.  Phillips  in 
the  earthwork  at  New  Bridge,  Lieut.  Hyde  and  the  Left 
section  at  the  bridge  above.  Fourteen  hundred  yards  in 
front  of  our  earthworks  was  Lewis  Hill  covered  with  trees 
from  which  we  were  fired  upon,  our  men  in  response  aim 
ing  at  the  flash  of  their  guns  which  alone  was  visible. 

Four  of  Griffin's  pieces  were  in  the  battery  and  the  Fifth 
Mass,  delayed  its  approach  while  they  limbered  up  and 
came  out,  then  ran  the  guns  behind  the  breastworks,  the 
enemy's  shot  and  shell  flying  at  them;  the  fragments  of  the 


302  HISTORY    OF    THE 

shells  striking  under  the  horses  which  were  hurried  out  of 
the  way.  Their  guns  were  one  12  pdr.  and  one  3  inch 
Rifled  Gun.  For  two  hours  the  firing  was  incessant  with 
no  casualties  on  our  side.  One  piece  of  shell  broke  the 
sponge  staff  on  the  4th  piece  and  another  rolled  over  the 
parapet  on  to  Leach's  back,  but  did  no  harm." 

"We  used,"  [Chase's  Diary]  "4°  elevation,  and  3^  sec 
ond  fuze  while  firing." 

Phillips  wrote  "Corporal  Nye,  3d  piece,  made  some 
very  pretty  shots.  The  rebels  had  the  range  perfectly. 
As  far  as  the  proximity  of  shells  was  concerned  it  beat 
Yorktown  all  to  pieces,  but  there  was  in  reality  almost  no 
danger,  as  we  were  sheltered  completely  by  the  friendly 
pile  of  dirt  in  front  of  us.  The  rebels  fired  first  rate,  but 
if  we  had  had  as  fair  a  sight  at  them  as  they  had  at  us, 
somebody  would  have  got  hurt  at  their  guns." 

In  the  night  the  rebels  cut  down  the  trees  that  masked 
their  earthwork,  and  all  the  next  day  our  men  could  hear 
the  music  in  the  enemy's  camp. 

Grows  of  Charlestown  celebrated  the  anniversary  by 
buying  some  lemons  and  making  some  lemonade. 

At  eight  o'clock,  after  dark,  on  the  I7th,  the  Battery  was 
relieved  by  Captain  John  R.  Smead,  Battery  K,  5th  U.  S. 
artillery,  and  it  went  back  to  camp,  leaving  it  after  supper 
for  a  position  on  the  hill  by  Dr.  Gaines's  house,  where 
were  two  20  pdr.  Parrotts;  sending  the  horses  back  to 
camp. 

In  the  morning  of  the  i8th,  Martindale's  Brigade  and 
Griffin's  Battery  had  marched  to  Mechanicsville  and  re 
turned  in  the  evening.  Throwing  up  earthworks  was  the 
order  of  the  day  on  both  sides;  the  rebels  shovelling  dirt 
on  Lewis  Hill,  and  the  Union  soldiers  piling  it  up  on  their 
side  of  the  river. 

The  Battery  was  in  position  on  Gaines  Hill  where  it  had 
been  since  the  evening  of  the  I7th,  Lieuts.  Phillips  and 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  303 

Scott  in  charge  of  the  guns,  "turning  in"  under  a  tent  fly, 
when  at  noon  of  the  i8th,  General  Fitz  John  Porter  desired 
to  have  some  3  inch  Schenkle  percussion  shell  of  a  new 
pattern  tested,  which  process  Lt.  Phillips  thus  describes : — 

"We  aimed  one  piece  at  a  pile  of  dirt  which  the  rebels 
were  at  work  on,  close  by  Mrs.  Price's  house;  distance  2400 
yards,  elevation  7  1-20,  and  blazed  away.  The  shots  went 
first  rate,  all  bursting. 

The  first  shot  fell  a  little  short,  the  second  struck  right 
in  the  earthworks,  burst  beautifully,  and  five  more  gave  a 
similar  good  account  of  themselves. 

When  we  stopped,  the  rebels  commenced  firing  at  us 
with  a  ten  pounder  Parrott,  using  no  fuzes.  Their  shots 
went  first  rate,  one  striking  just  eighteen  yards  in  front  of 
the  Right  piece — for  I  paced  off  the  distance. — Another 
struck  about  20  feet  in  front  of  a  large  crowd,  who  had 
gathered  to  witness  the  sport,  whereupon  they  'skedaddled' 
in  lively  style,  but  before  General  Porter  and  his  attendant 
crowd  could  get  off  the  hill,  they  sent  a  dozen  shots  whiz 
zing  round  our  heads  from  one  of  our  o\vn  ten  pdr.  Parrotts 
captured  at  Fair  Oaks. 

During  the  afternoon  General  McClellan  and  staff  rode 
up  to  our  Battery,  took  a  look  at  things  and  rode  off. 
[See  p.  310  McClellan's  new  base.]  Toward  sunset  a  lively 
engagement  commenced  between  the  rebels  and  our  battery 
at  New  Bridge  and  I  thought  the  rebels  had  rather  the 
best  of  it,  putting  every  shell  just  where  they  wanted  it, 
but  our  20  pdr.  Parrotts  on  the  hill  in  the  rear  of  the  New 
Bridge  battery,  took  it  up  and  made  some  great  shots. 

The  balloon  went  up  to  do  the  observing,  and  the  enemy 
fired  two  shots  at  it  from  their  10  pdr.  Parrotts.  One  went 
sailing  over  our  heads  into  the  woods  near  our  horses  and 
ricocheted  into  the  infantry  camp,  and  the  other,  fired 
while  the  balloon  was  descending,  passed  close  to  it  and 


304  HISTORY    OF    THE 

struck  the  bank  between  the  balloon  and  Captain  Griffin's 
camp.     The  distance  must  have  been  5000  yards." 

REINFORCEMENTS. 

On  June  19,  1862,  the  Fifth  Corps,  still  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  was  reinforced  by  the  loth  N. 
Y.,  the  ist  Michigan,  McCall's  Division,  and  the  cavalry 
commands  of  Generals  Cooke  and  Stoneman. 

Grows'  Journal:  "June  19,  1862.  About  10  this  fore 
noon  some  new  shell  of  Schenkle  patent  came,  and  we  were 
ordered  to  fire  on  the  rebels  who  are  in  easy  sight.  Throw 
ing  up  breastworks  we  fired  five  rounds,  which  caused  them 
to  'skedaddle'  and  then  they  commenced  firing  at  us,  but 
did  not  do  any  hurt  or  good,  and  they  soon  'dried  up.' 

After  dinner  Harry  Simonds  and  I  went  into  one  of  the 
slave  cabins  to  get  some  water,  and  had  quite  a  chat  with 
the  old  woman  of  the  shanty.  They  are  a  very  peculiar 
class,  and  make  a  great  deal  of  money  by  this  war,  selling 
hot  cakes,  and  such  things,  to  the  soldiers." 

On  the  2Oth,  one  shell  fired  by  the  rebels  struck  in 
Captain  Weeden's  camp,  and  others  went  an  indefinite 
distance  over  the  woods.  Some  were  fired  at  the  20  pdr. 
Parrotts  on  the  hill,  in  the  rear  of  New  Bridge,  but  missed 
the  mark. 

Eleven  bridges  had  now  been  built  across  the  Chicka 
hominy  and  seven  were  available,  viz.,  Bottom's  Bridge, 
the  Railroad  Bridge,  the  Foot  Bridge,  Duane's  Bridge, 
Woodbury's  Infantry  Bridge,  Woodbury  and  Alexander's 
Bridge,  and  Sumner's  Upper  Bridge  or  the  Grapevine 
Bridge,  the  one  over  which  Sumner  had  crossed  to  win  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks. 

All  of  the  Army  of  100,000  men  had  passed  over  to  the 
south  side,  except  Porter's  Corps  and  McCall's  Division, 
While  McClellan  built  bridges  the  enemy  constructed 
earthworks. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  305 


LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Friday  morning,  June  20,  1862,  the  picket  relief,  return 
ing,  waked  up  the  rebel  10  pclrs.,  and  they  banged  away  in 
our  direction.  At  the  first  shot,  which  fell  short,  the  men 
looked  a  little  astonished,  not  knowing  what  to  make  of  it. 
At  the  second  shot  which  went  over  their  heads  a  loud 
laugh  went  up  from  the  whole  picket.  The  third  shot 
struck  close  to  them,  and  instantly  came  the  order  'Double 
Quick.  March!'  and  off  they  went.  The  rebels  have  at 
present  two  guns  mounted  in  this  battery  of  4  and  5  inches 
calibre  respectively,  throwing  shot  weighing  30  and  40 
pounds.  The  40  pdr.  is  the  heaviest  rifled  gun  they  have, 
and  is  the  same  as  the  guns  which  burst  at  Yorktown. 

A  deserter  who  came  in,  says,  I  am  told,  that  they  have 
four  or  five  more  40  pdrs.  which  they  are  going  to  mount, 
and  that  the  30  pdr.  is  a  Parrott  gun  which  they  took  at 
Bull  Run. 

Our  position  is  a  splendid  one  for  artillery  practice.  The 
meadows  on  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy  run  back  with 
out  rising  much  on  each  side  about  half  a  mile.  A  narrow 
belt  of  trees  lines  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  beyond  the 
low  plain  on  each  side  rises  a  line  of  wooded  hills,  with 
clearings  and  openings  here  and  there.  These  hills  are 
from  1500  to  4000  yd.s.  apart,  and  batteries  are  planted 
along  their  whole  length. 

The  rebel  guns  that  I  know  of  are  as  follows : — 

First  a  10  pdr.  Parrott  near  Mrs.  Price's  house,  then 
comes  a  long,  wooded  hill,  stretching  a  mile  perhaps  to  the 
westward.  Hidden  in  this  we  can  just  discern  the  outlines 
of  a  breastwork  apparently  running  the  whole  length  of 
the  hill  in  a  continuous  line.  How  many  guns  they  have 
here  we  do  not  know,  but  as  yet  they  have  fired  only  three, 
a  12  pdr.,  a  three  inch  Rifled  Gun  and  one  gun  near  the 
western  limit  of  the  hill,  whose  calibre  I  do  not  know.  Then 


306  HISTORY    OF    THE 

still  farther  to  the  west  comes  their  large  gun  battery  situ 
ated  on  the  top  of  a  bare,  sandy  hill,  and  sweeping  the 
whole  valley  of  the  Chickahominy  from  Mechanicsville  to 
Gaines  Hill. 

These  comprise  the  rebel  defenses  of  the  Chickahominy, 
but  only  a  short  distance  from  the  end  of  our  bridge  lies 
Smith's  Division  and  the  right  of  our  intrenchments, 
whose  high  parapet  and  deep  embrasures  give  warning  of 
what  is  coming.  And  on  our  side  we  are  not  idle.  Our 
light  guns,  placed  as  a  temporary  protection  to  bridges, 
have  been  withdrawn,  and  the  rebels  may  console  them 
selves  with  the  empty  satisfaction  of  having  driven  us  out 
of  sight:  but  to  do  it  they  have  disclosed  to  us  their  own 
strength,  told  us  the  calibre  and  position  of  their  guns,  and 
wasted  their  precious  ammunition  in  a  useless  game  of 
random  shots.  We  are  shovelling  dirt  diligently  and  when 
we  open,  the  rebels  will  find  that  they  have  something  more 
than  light  field  batteries  to  contend  against. 

When  it  comes  to  artillery  practice  the  odds  are  so 
tremendously  in  our  favor,  that  the  .result  will  not  long 
be  doubtful.  In  nothing  have  the  rebels  shown  themselves 
so  inferior  as  in  their  management  of  artillery.  They  have 
good  gunners,  but  their  artillery  officers  show  a  frivolity 
altogether  inconsistent  with  the  gravity  of  this  arm  of 
the  service.  Here,  as  at  Yorktown,  instead  of  husbanding 
their  resources  in  order  to  be  ready  at  the  decisive  moment 
with  that  concentration  and  continuity  of  fire  which  alone 
makes  artillery  useful,  they  use  up  their  ammunition  in  a 
kind  of  worrying  game,  which  might  be  useful  in  a  gue 
rilla  war,  but  is  not  likely  to  have  much  effect  upon  a  large 
army.  It  is  very  irritating  for  a  solitary  individual  to  find 
himself  a  target  for  a  40  pdr.  gun,  merely  because  he  walks 
across  a  field  in  front  of  the  enemy,  but,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
next  to  impossible  to  hit  him,  it  is  rather  a  waste  of  powder 
and  shot,  and  will  not  be  likely  to  drive  us  away  from 
Richmond. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  307 

For  the  last  few  days  they  have  been  firing  away  at  the 
battery  at  New  Bridge.  They  have  made  good  shots, 
struck  the  parapet  almost  every  time,  and  half  stifled  the 
men  inside  with  smoke,  but  what  damage  have  they  done 
us?  Broken  a  sponge  staff  and  a  few  spokes  to  a  wheel, 
and  at  any  time  we  choose,  we  can  put  a  battery  in  there 
again.  If  they  intend  to  demolish  the  battery  why  don't 
they  go  to  work  in  a  business  like  way  and  hammer  away 
for  eight  or  ten  hours  without  stopping,  and  finish  up  the 
job?  Instead  of  this  they  fire  forty  or  fifty  shots  and  then 
stop,  leaving  our  men  at  liberty  to  repair  damages." 

Of  the  firing  of  the  2Oth  Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  at  another 
time : — "For  half  an  hour  this  battery  was  the  hottest  place 
I  ever  saw !  Our  men  kept  well  under  cover,  and  though 
the  rebels  hit  the  parapet  almost  every  time,  I  have  not 
heard  of  anybody's  being  hurt." 

In  Chase's  Diary  it  is  stated  that  the  enemy  used  all 
sorts  of  shot  and  shell,  both  round  and  conical :  twenty, 
thirty-two  and  forty  pounders. 

Grows'  Journal:  "June  20,  1862.  Friday.  About  8  this 
morning  the  rebels  opened  upon  us  with  3  in.  10  Ib.  shell 
and  5  in.  32  Ib.  shell,  but  they  did  not  hurt  us  any  for  our 
little  tents  were  in  the  woods  out  of  the  way,  and  were  well 
protected  by  large  oak  trees.  The  second  shot  they  fired 
went  over  our  heads  and  struck  one  of  the  2d  Maine,  killing 
him  instantly.  'Jhe  poor  fellow  was  asleep  in  his  tent  at  the 
time,  and  he  never  awoke  again  in  this  world. 

We  soon  opened  upon  them  and  in  a  short  time  they 
stopped  firing.  We  could  hear  their  drums  beat,  and  see 
them  at  work.  They  are  about  i^  miles  from  us.  The 
infantry  throw  up  works  most  every  night.  Our  Battery 
is  held  back  to  protect  the  rear;  a  good  position,  but  we 
have  to  keep  in  the  woods,  out  of  sight.  We  have  been 
ordered  to  move  to  the  splendid  lawn  in  front  of  Dr. 
Gaines's  house.  It  is  well  shaded  with  large  oak  trees.  .  .  . 
After  supper  moved  our  quarters  to  the  Gaines  house." 


308  HISTORY    OF    THE 

On  this  ground  there  was  a  well  which  gave  the  only  good 
water  they  had  had  for  some  time. 

Grows'  Journal :  "Saturday,  June  21,  1862.  On  the  farm 
are  some  thirty  slaves:  all  the  rest  have  run  away.  They 
are  a  smart  looking  set.  After  supper  I  met,  and  talked 
a  little  with  Dr.  Gaines.  He  is  quite  an  old  man.  His  wife 
is  a  strong  Union  woman.  He  has  two  daughters  who 
are  'secesh'  to  the  backbone. 

Sunday,  June  22(1.  About  7  the  balloon  went  up  and 
the  rebels  began  shelling  it,  but  could  not  hit  it.  Then  they 
commenced  firing  where  we  were  stationed  on  picket. 
After  throwing  five  or  six  shells  they  stopped.  It  is  a  beau 
tiful  morning  and  everything  around  looks  nice.  Took  all 
the  things  out  of  my  tent  and  laid  them  on  the  grass  to  air." 

This  lawn  did  not  hold  the  Battery  but  a  very  short  time, 
for  the  enemy  constructed  a  battery  of  six  30  pdr.  Parrotts 
in  such  close  proximity  as  to  make  their  position  untenable, 
and  they  moved  nearer  to  the  river.  The  same  day  Dr. 
Gaines's  wife  and  one  of  his  daughters  with  what  few  slaves 
they  had  left,  moved  to  Gaines  Mills. 

Grows'  Journal.  "Monday,  June  23,  1862.  Was  called 
at  4  this  morning  and  went  on  post.  At  5  I  called  the 
Bugler  to  sound  the  Reveille.  Soon  after  heard  the  rebels 
beating  their  drums  to  call  the  men.  The  air  is  very  clear 
this  morning.  Got  orders  to  pack  up  immediately  after 
breakfast,  so  as  to  move  our  camp  out  of  the  range  of 
shells;  two  others  with  myself  were  left  behind  to  guard 
camp — to  look  after  the  stores  till  the  teams  came  to  carry 
them  to  our  new  camp.  Soon  after  dinner  the  ambulance 
came  over  and  began  taking  things  over  to  camp,  as  the 
teams  will  not  be  up  before  night.  .  .  .  After  supper  I 
went  to  see  the  new  intrenchments  the  infantry  are  throw 
ing  up.  They  are  splendid  works. 

A  short  distance  from  here  and  almost  back  of  Dr. 
Gaines's  house,  are  eleven  fresh  rebel  graves,  mostly  North 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  309 

Carolina  men  who  were  wounded  at  Hanover  Court  House. 
About  6  feet  from  our  cook  house  are  five  graves  of  our 
men  of  the  22d.  Mass.  One  died  of  fever,  the  others  of 
wounds. 

About  half  past  6,  I  went  over  to  our  new  camp,  about 
10  minutes'  walk,  in  a  delightful  place, — a  cleared  space 
surrounded  by  thick  and  tall  woods.  There  is  a  spring 
near  by  of  beautiful  water.  Found  my  tent  all  ready.  It 
had  been  pitched  by  Joe  Knox  out  in  the  Park.  All  the 
rest  of  the  tents  are  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  the  little 
road  they  have  cut  leading  to  them  is  beautiful." 

The  Battery  was  alone  in  the  new  camp,  and  had  all  the 
room  that  could  be  desired.  Chase  makes  the  note  in  his 
Diary : — "Changed  camp  to  a  delightful  grove  of  young 
trees,  and  begin  to  be  happy/'  But  the  very  first  night  there 
was  a  gale  and  heavy  rain. 

The  officers'  tents  were  on  top  of  a  hill  where  they  could 
get  the  benefit  of  whatever  breeze  was  blowing,  and  the 
first  evening  there  was  a  terrific  thunder  storm.  At  mid 
night  the  tents  blew  over.  The  next  day  they  were  obliged 
to  build  a  bridge  "to  connect  the  camp  with  civilization," 
which  they  accomplished,  having  the  usual  thunder  storm 
in  the  afternoon. 

THE  SITUATION. 

General  Porter's  command  had  been  distributed  as  fol 
lows: — Meade's  Brigade  at  the  Gaines  house  near  a  siege 
battery;  Sykes'  and  Morell's  and  McCall's  Divisions  with 
a  part  of  the  Cavalry  Reserve  camped  on  the  Gaines  Farm 
conveniently  located  for  a  movement  in  any  direction  their 
presence  was  required. 

Opposed  to  these  Union  forces  were  the  Divisions  of 
Jackson,  Ewell  and  Whiting,  at  least  double  their  number. 

Information    was    received    that    our    connection    with 


310  HISTORY    OF    THE 

White  House  Landing  was  threatened  by  the  rebel 
general  Jackson,  and  the  commander  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  began  planning  for  a  new  base  of  operations  on 
the  James  River  to  which  he  had  secured  a  safe  passage 
over  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  commissary,  quartermaster, 
and  ordnance  supplies  had  been  sent  to  the  new  base. 
[See  p.  253  McClellan's  choice.]  It  will  be  remembered 
that  on  a  previous  occasion  McClellan's  judgment  as  to  the 
base  had  been  overruled. 

The  Centre  and  Left  of  the  Army  were  now  instructed  to 
move  to  the  relief  of  the  Right  wing  in  case  of  attack. 

There  were  ten  heavy  guns  in  battery  on  the  banks 
of  the  Chickahominy;  five  30  pdr.  Parrotts  on  Gaines  Hill 
and  five  4^  inch  Rodmans  in  the  hill  battery  in  the  rear  of 
the  New  Bridge  battery. 

"June  25,  1862,  (Chase's  Diary)  the  whole  Battery 
went  on  a  junket  in  the  morning  near  New  Bridge  with 
pieces  only.  Left  camp  about  2  a.  m.  Dedicated  the  second 
fortification  by  shelling  the  enemy  early  a.  m.  The  enemy 
replied  to  our  fire  with  well  directed  shots,  throwing  6  and 
10  pounder  shots  and  shells  at  us,  but  as  we  had  good  forti 
fications  they  did  us  no  injury.  Heavy  cannonading  all 
day;  two  batteries  of  32  pounders  and  two  batteries  of 
10  pounders  shelling  the  enemy  with  short  intervals  of  cessa 
tion,  all  day.  Fired  97  rounds  from  the  whole  Battery 
today,  elevation  4^°  and  7^  second  fuze;  best  shot  4f° 
6^  second  fuze.  Picked  up  five  conical  shells  and  two  solid 
shot  fired  at  us,  and  started  a  bowling  alley  with  them  in 
the  afternoon.  Left  for  camp  at  eight  p.  m.  The  7th 
Georgia  Reg't  was  on  rebel  picket  line  today." 

Of  "Battery  No.  4"  Lieut.  Scott  has  written: — "Lieut. 
Hyde  was  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Lieut. 
Dillingham  had  been  transferred  from  the  Left  Section  to  the 
Right  Section;  Lieut.  Phillips  commanded  the  Centre  Sec 
tion;  it  devolved  on  myself  to  take  the  Left  Section.  The 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  311 

rebels  had  their  earthworks  opposite  New  Bridge,  which 
had  been  rebuilt,  to  oppose  any  crossing  by  our  forces.  Our 
pickets  held  the  Bridge  and  earthworks  were  thrown  up  to 
shield  our  batteries  which  also  did  picket  duty.  The  Fifth 
Battery  was  placed  behind  these  works  at  different  times, 
and  had  duelled  with  the  enemy.  We  took  good  care  to  go 
into  these  works  before  daylight  and  leave  them  after  dark, 
when  relieved.  We  remained  there  the  entire  day,  subject 
to  an  incessant  fire  from  the  rebel  guns  opposite.  We  only 
fired  our  guns  occasionally,  to  let  them  know  we  were  still 
there.  Of  course  horses  were  kept  at  a  safe  distance  in  the 
rear." 

Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  of  the  same  date,  June  25,  1862: 
"The  weather  had  become  settled  and  we  passed  into  the 
earthworks  covering  New  Bridge,  a  new  6  gun  battery 
No.  4.  The  work  is  quite  strong,  with  embrasures  and 
traverses  to  protect  us  from  the  flanking  fire  from  the  big 
gun  battery.  Four  pieces  from  some  battery  are  down  in 
the  old  earthwork  at  New  Bridge  which  has  been  strength 
ened  and  made  quite  secure;  the  parapet  having  been  raised 
and  embrasures  cut.  All  our  batteries  have  been  blazing 
away,  more  or  less.  One  gun  is  reported  burst  near  Mrs. 
Price's  house,  and  the  hill  battery  think  they  have  dis 
mounted  one  of  the  rebel  big  guns.  They  put  quite  a  num 
ber  of  shot  into  the  embrasure.  The  rebels  have  answered 
rather  feebly,  making  a  few  good  shots  in  our  vicinity. 
They  have  fired  3  inch  shot.  .  .  . 

Kearney's  Division  I  hear  attacked  the  rebels  today,  driv 
ing  them  a  mile. 

At  night  we  arrived  safely  in  camp  and  went  to  bed.  We 
have  received  200  rds.  Schenkle  3  inch  shell,  which  we  are 
now  packing.  .  .  . 

Our  pickets  report  that  we  made  excellent  shooting,  and 
that  after  a  few  shots  the  rebels  skedaddled  out  of  the  bat 
tery  into  Mrs.  Price's  house.  We  struck  the  house  twice." 


312  HISTORY    OF    THE 

THE  ARMY  OF  VIRGINIA. 

The  Army  of  Virginia  was  inaugurated  June  26,  1862, 
and  placed  under  command  of  General  John  Pope,  for  the 
protection  of  Washington,  and  for  aggressive  movements  in 
the  direction  of  Charlottesville,  and  the  relief  of  McClellan. 

This  army  was  composed  of  three  corps  under  Sigel, 
Banks,  and  McDowell. 

McClellan  wished  to  allow  Porter,  who  was  to  give  bat 
tle  to  the  enemy  and  enable  McClellan  to  hold  his  own  for  a 
few  hours,  and  insure  the  safety  of  his  trains  during  the 
change  of  base  to  the  James  River,  all  the  reinforcements 
which  could  be  spared  from  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and 
asked  each  commander  of  a  corps  for  all  he  could  spare  and 
sufficiently  protect  his  own  position  for  twenty-four  hours, 
but  they  believed  the  enemy  still  to  be  in  force  and  threat 
ening  their  positions  on  the  south  side  and  held  on  to  them, 
so  Porter  fought  it  out  alone. 

Thursday,  June  26,  1862,  in  the  afternoon,  the  enemy 
crossed  the  Chickahominy  in  several  columns  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mechanicsville  and  Meadow  Bridge,  flanked  the  Right 
wing  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  attacked  McCall's 
Division  at  Beaver  Dam  Creek  just  north  of  the  Mechanics 
ville  turnpike.  The  expected  had  happened  and  supplies 
were  cut  off  in  that  direction. 

The  morning  was  passed  in  quiet,  but  about  half  past  4 
p.  m.  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  broke  camp.  They  sent  their 
baggage  across  the  river  at  a  bridge  lower  down  held  by  our 
forces.  With  the  wagons  went  Lieut.  Dillingham,  a  sick 
man  and  unfit  for  duty.  They  marched  with  full  battery  in 
support  of  Cooke's  cavalry  and  General  Butterfield's  Bri 
gade,  according  to  the  orders,  to  repel  attack  at  Cold  Har 
bor. 

This  was  the  first  intimation  they  had  of  an  impending 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  313 

battle,  though  they  had  been  expecting  an  attack  at  Mechan- 
icsville  for  some  time.  They  had  heard  firing  all  day  but 
had  taken  no  notice  of  it,  as  it  was  nothing  unusual. 

After  marching  two  miles  in  the  direction  of  Cold  Har 
bor,  they  turned  and  marched  towards  Mechanicsville  to  the 
assistance  of  McCall  and  Sykes.  In  their  march  they  had 
made  the  complete  circuit  of  their  camp  and  bivouacked 
with  Butterfield's  Brigade  in  a  large  field  2^-  miles  short  of 
Mechanicsville,  and  f  of  a  mile  in  front  of  the  Gaines 
house.  They  could  see  the  shells  bursting  over  the  tops  of 
the  trees,  and  from  5  p.  m.  until  dark  they  could  hear  heavy 
cannonading  and  sharp  musketry  firing  towards  Mechanics 
ville  where  McCall's  Pennsylvania  Reserves  were  closely 
engaged. 

Grows'  Journal :  "June  26.  .  .  .  We  were  thus  moved 
about  till  dark  when  we  were  sent  near  to  our  old  camp,  but 
did  not  unhitch  till  about  n  o'clock  at  night.  Had  some 
supper  and  got  ready  to  lay  down,  but  was  told  I  would 
have  to  go  on  guard  at  2  in  the  morning.  Laid  down  but 
could  not  sleep." 

Perfect  silence  was  ordered,  and  officers  and  men  lay 
down  on  the  ground,  every  man  spreading  his  blanket 
alongside  his  piece  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  notice. 

They  had  three  days'  rations  in  their  haversacks.  Gen 
eral  McClellan  was  with  General  Fitz  John  Porter  at  the 
front  until  the  contest  at  Beaver  Dam  Creek  ceased  at  9 
p.  m.  with  our  troops  in  possession  of  the  field,  returning  to 
his  headquarters  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

At  3  a.  m.  of  June  27th,  orders  came  to  Porter  to  with 
draw  the  Fifth  Corps  to  the  vicinity  of  Gaines  Mills,  with 
both  flanks  resting  on  the  Chickahominy  covering  the 
bridges. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  GAINES  MILLS, 
JUNE  27,  1862. 

"And  now  I  come  to  speak  of  the  real  fighting  of  the  Peninsula. 
To  my  mind,  nothing  that  came  after  exceeded  it  in  the  valor  and 
tactical  merit  displayed,  or  in  reckless  charges  or  losses  in  a  given 
time." 

— BREVET  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  THOMAS  W.  HYDE. 

Longstreet,  commanding  the  rebel  forces,  was  at  Mechan- 
icsville  on  the  27th  of  June,  1862,  all  ready  to  move  down 
upon  either  side  of  the  Chickahominy.  He  was  then  close 
upon  Porter's  Fifth  Corps.  It  was  thought  by  McClellan 
to  be  necessary  to  fight  the  enemy  where  he  stood,  and  hold 
the  position  till  night,  his  mind  being  still  bent  upon  per 
fecting  his  arrangements  for  the  change  of  base  to  the 
James  River,  and  at  3  a.  m.,  General  Porter  received  orders 
directing  him  to  withdraw  his  command  to  a  semicircular 
line  east  of  Gaines  Mills,  and  behind  Boatswain's  creek,  the 
flanks  resting  on  the  Chickahominy,  and  including  in  its 
sweep  the  high  grounds  east  of  the  creek. 

In  front  were  the  ravines  of  the  creek,  on  the  east  woods 
and  underbrush,  on  the  north  and  west  swamps  and  wood 
land,  while  on  the  hills  to  the  north  was  cleared  ground 
crossed  by  fences  and  ditches.  The  bridge  approaches 
could  be  covered  by  the  positions  on  these  hills. 

No  fault  could  be  found  with  the  choice  of  this  line  but 
the  time  for  making  the  defenses  was  limited,  and  the  men 
and  means  were  inadequate,  to  carry  out  these  well  laid 
plans  for  a  line  two  miles  in  length.  The  action  at  Gaines 
Mills  commenced  about  2  p.  m.  During  the  afternoon 

314 


GA/NES  MILLS. 


COLD  HARBOR. 


7°»?: 


UNION 
•REBEL 


TRENT'S  FARM 


I.  General  Porter's  First  Head  Quarters.    Z  His  Second  Mead  Quarters. 
3.  MarH-nfaJe    4-.  Section  of  Weeded  lottery.  5.  Butterfield.     6.  Grjf/in. 
7.  tfa-r  fin's  Battery    fl.sc  3.  Ravines.     9*9.    5^  Mass.  Battery.        /O. 

Thickly    wooded, 7ow,  swampy    ground,   through     -wTricJh    /^e 
7?e6e7s   charged.   If.  Fir  s  t  q  t  ta  c  ~k  of  Re-tels  or/  Union   7iries,     /2. 
Other    Um'o-n  Batteries.    /3.    7* &~bel  Batteries.     J4.  Position    of- 

lotteries    -ujnert    tfie    repulsed  Cen/alry     rode.  t~hroTj<j~h  t??e.m 
and   put  them  in    disorder,    ancf  cavsecl  the  70tt  of-  many   gvns. 
/5.  first  b-rj'd^e.   destroyed.      16.    Second   ftrjtfge. destroyed- 
/7.  Gun  cn'me.dt  at  Gairies  House,  during  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  315 

McClellan  ordered  up  Slocum's  Division  to  the  support  of 
Porter;  also  the  brigades  of  French  and  Meagher  of  Rich 
ardson's  Division;  also  two  brigades  of  Peck's  Division,  but 
inasmuch  as  none  of  them  but  Slocum's  came  within  reliev 
ing  distance,  their  support  of  Fitz  John  Porter  at  the  battle 
of  Gaines  Mills  is  lost  to  history. 

At  first  the  3d  Brigade  held  the  position  on  the  extreme 
Left  of  the  line,  with  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Lieut.  Hyde 
in  command,  on  the  right  and  rear  of  the  brigade,  then  Gen 
eral  Morell  coming  up  with  the  remainder  of  his  Division, 
Martindale's  Brigade  was  placed  on  the  right  of  Butterfield, 
and  Griffin's  Brigade  on  the  right  of  Martindale's. 

Sykes  held  the  Right  of  the  line,  and  McCall  was  in 
reserve.  Martin's  Battery  was  on  the  right  of  Morell,  com 
manding  the  road. 

The  Left  extended  into  the  meadow  about  half  a  mile 
from  Woodbury's  Bridge. 

Porter's  Right  was  first  engaged. 

The  forces  immediately  opposed  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Bat 
tery  are  believed  to  have  been  a  brigade  of  five  Alabama 
regiments. 

General  Porter's  headquarters  first  at  the  Adams  house, 
were  later  at  the  Watts  house  on  a  hill  near  the  front. 
Among  his  volunteer  aides  were  the  Prince  de  Joinville, 
Captain  Louis  Philippe  (Comte  de  Paris)  and  Captain  Rob 
ert  d'Orleans  (Due  de  Chartres).  The  new  line  had  been 
safely  reached  and  occupied,  defenses  and  barriers  were 
erected  of  whatever  material  was  available,  and  Porter  ex 
pected  to  hold  it.  Most  of  the  artillery  was  formed  in  line 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  infantry.  For  an 
hour  the  firing  had  continued;  at  3  o'clock  the  enemy  had 
charged  and  been  repulsed,  but  not  until  four  o'clock,  when 
the  battle  had  been  raging  two  hours,  was  Porter's  appeal 
for  more  troops  answered  by  the  arrival  of  Newton's  Brigade 
of  Slocum's  Division,  which  moved  to  the  right  of  Griffin. 
Still  the  line  remained  unbroken,  but  at  last,  massing  their 


316  HISTORY    OF    THE 

superior  numbers,  from  60,000  to  70,000  supported  by  80 
pieces  of  artillery  to  our  25,000  at  most  fighting  men,  on  the 
Left,  the  rebels  bore  down  the  broken  regiments  of  Butter- 
field's  Brigade. 

Captain  William  B.  Weeden,  on  duty  as  chief  of  artillery, 
ist  Division,  promoted  from  the  command  of  Battery  C,  ist 
Reg't.  R.  I.  Light  Artillery,  reports : —  ...  "The  smoke 
had  filled  the  whole  field  to  the  woods  and  it  was  impossible 
to  direct  the  fire.  The  batteries  were  limbering  to  the  rear 
in  good  order,  to  retire  and  renew  the  fire  from  the  brow 
of  the  hill,  when  the  cavalry,  repulsed,  retired  in  disorder, 
through  and  in  front  of  the  batteries.  The  caissons  were  ex 
changing  limbers  with  the  pieces  and  it  was  impossible  to 
limber  up  and  withdraw  them.  Men  were  ridden  down  and 
the  horses  stampeded  by  the  rush  of  the  cavalry.  The  whole 
line  of  artillery  was  thrown  into  confusion.  Commands 
could  be  neither  heard  nor  executed,  and  different  batteries 
were  mingled  in  disorder.  One  piece  of  my  battery  mired 
in  the  woods.  Other  caissons  in  front  and  rear  of  the  same, 
having  been  abandoned  by  the  drivers,  it  was  impossible  to 
rescue  the  piece.  The  remainder  of  the  battery  crossed 
Woodbury's  Bridge  at  dark,  and  encamped  on  Trent's 
farm." 

REPORT  OF  GEN.  GEO.  W.  MORELL. 

(June  27th.)  "The  Third  and  First  Brigades  were  each 
in  two  lines,  with  small  intervals;  the  Second  in  one  line, 
with  one  regiment  in  reserve.  Martin's  Battery  was  in  the 
open  field  between  my  Division  and  General  Sykes's  on  my 
right,  mine  being  on  the  extreme  left. 

A  section  of  Weeden's  (Fourth  R.  I.)  under  Lt.  Buckley, 
was  placed  at  an  opening  through  the  timber  in  General 
Martindale's  line,  and  a  section  of  Allen's  (Fifth  Mass.)  in 
a  like  position  in  General  Butterfield's.  The  rest  could  not 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  317 

be  brought  into  action.  .  .  .  The  enemy  approached  through 
the  woods  from  the  direction  of  New  Cold  Harbor,  and 
made  their  first  serious  attack  about  12  o'clock  upon  the 
Right,  which  was  handsomely  repulsed  by  Griffin's  Brigade. 

The  second  attack  was  made  about  2.30,  and  the  third 
about  5.30  o'clock,  each  extending  along  my  entire  front, 
and  both,  like  the  first,  were  gallantly  repulsed.  At  the 
fourth  and  last  about  6.30  o'clock,  they  came  in  irresistible 
force,  and  throwing  themselves  chiefly  against  the  Centre 
and  Left,  swept  us  from  the  ground  by  overwhelming  num 
bers,  and  compelled  us  to  retire.  Lt.  Bucklev  lost  his  two 
guns  yet  without  discredit,  for  he  fought  them  to  the  last 
moment,  having  but  three  men,  including  non-commissioned 
officers,  left  to  each  piece,  when  the  infantry  gave  way. 

As  we  retired  the  artillery  opened  fire  from  the  Left  and 
Rear,  but  the  pressure  was  so  great  that  the  troops  could 
not  be  rallied,  except  in  small  bodies,  to  support  it.  Besides, 
General  (Philip  St.  George)  Cooke's  cavalry,  having  been 
repulsed  in  a  charge  upon  the  enemy's  Right,  rode  at  full 
speed  obliquely  through  a  large  portion  of  the  artillery,  car 
rying  men  and  horses  along  with  them.  The  cavalry  re 
formed  under  the  hill  beyond  the  reach  of  musketry,  and 
advancing  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Adams  house  im 
parted  some  steadiness  to  the  infantry  near  them." 


REPORT  OF  BRIG.  GEN.  DANIEL  BUTTERFIELD. 

(June  27.)  "The  following  was  the  disposition  of  my 
brigade:  Eighty-third  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  on  the 
creek,  with  its  right  connecting  with  General  Martindale's 
left  (First  Michigan  Regiment).  Forty-fourth  New  York 
to  the  left,  and  on  the  same  line  of  Eighty-third:  Twelfth 
New  York  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  in  rear  of  and  supporting 
the  Eighty-third :  Sixteenth  Michigan  back  of  crest  of  hill, 


318  HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  rear  of  and  supporting  the  Forty- fourth :  Allen's  Fifth 
Massachusetts  Battery  to  the  right  and  rear  of  my  position, 
so  situated  as  to  be  used  at  any  point  of  the  line  I  might 
wish.  Skirmishers  from  the  Eighty-third  and  Forty-fourth 
Regiments,  together  with  the  sharpshooters  of  the  Six 
teenth  Michigan,  were  thrown  well  forward  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill,  commanding  our  entire  lines.  .  .  .  The  first  at 
tack  of  the  enemy  in  force  on  my  brigade,  took  place  at 
about  2.30  o'clock  p.  m.,  it  having  been  preceded  by  a  like 
attack  on  the  Right  and  Centre  of  the  general  line.  So 
soon  as  it  began  I  ordered  a  section  of  Allen's  Battery  to 
take  a  position  opposite  to  and  fire  through  an  interval  in 
the  woods  commanding  the  hill  in  front  of  my  centre.  Their 
fire  proved  very  destructive  to  the  assaulting  column.  .  .  . 

.  .  .  The  second  attack  of  the  enemy,  preceded  as  in  the 
first  one  by  an  attack  on  the  Right  and  Centre,  took  place  at 
about  5.30  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  was  more  severe,  but  so  far  as 
the  result  is  concerned  met  with  a  like  reception  and  repulse. 
I  brought  forward  my  two  reserves  and  had  all  my  force 
engaged." 

Of  the  third  and  last  assault  which  took  place  shortly 
after  6  p.  m.  he  says : — "So  emboldened  were  the  enemy  by 
their  success  in  getting  on  all  sides  of  my  command,  that  a 
regiment  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  Eighty-third,  demanding 
their  surrender.  This  was  indignantly  refused,  and  the 
regiment  expended  its  last  round  of  ammunition  in  fighting 
its  way  out.  A  large  portion  of  these  succeeded  in  forming 
in  good  order  on  the  hill  in  rear  of  the  batteries,  and  with 
other  fragments  of  commands,  aided  by  the  Prince  de  Join- 
ville,  Captain  Hoyt  and  Major  Webb  of  the  regular  artillery, 
and  Colonel  Roberts,  Second  Maine,  two  good  lines  of 
troops  were  formed  with  some  degree  of  precision.  The 
firing  of  the  artillery  closed  the  scene  and  saved  us  all  from 
destruction." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  319 

OFFICIAL    REPORT    OF    LT.    JOHN    B.    HYDE. 
ORIGINAL    COPY. 

CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 
July  5,  1862. 

CAPT.  WEEDEN, 

Chief  of  Artillery  Gen.  Morell's  Division. 

I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  as  regards 
the  Battery  under  my  command. 

June  26th  was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Butterfield, 
and  proceeded  with  his  Brigade  in  direction  of  Coal  Har 
bor,  and  was  subsequently  ordered  back  to  a  field  near  Gen. 
Morell's  Head    Quarters,  took    position    near   the    woods; 
afterwards  was  ordered  to  the  field  formerly  occupied  by 
the  Reserve  Artillery,  remained  there  until  3  a.  m.  of  the 
27th,  was  then  ordered  to  take  position  "in  Battery"  to  the 
Left  and  near  Dr.  Gaines's  House  to  command  the  bridge  in 
front  [see  notes  of  Captain  Hyde  May  22,  1900  p.  320]  and 
to  cover  the  retreat  of  our  troops,  and  then  to  retire  after  all 
were  over  and  the  bridge  destroyed;  this  being  accomplished 
took  position  again  on  the  other  side  of  a  bridge,  on  a  hill 
about  100  yards  from  the  woods,  and  was  again  ordered  to 
take  positon  at  the  edge  of  the  woods  by  General  Butter- 
field  [see  notes  p.  321]  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  Brigade, 
drove  the  enemy  back  several  times  in  great  disorder,  after 
which  we  resumed  our  position  on  the  hill,  and  remained  in 
readiness  for  the  enemy  to  come  out  of  the  woods,  then  to 
give  them  double  canister,  which  we  did  with  great  effect 
until  our  support  gave  way  and  we  were  obliged  to  limber 
up  and  retire,  which  we  did  in  good  order,  with  all  the 
pieces  except  one,  the  horses  of  which  having  been  previ 
ously  killed,  I  was  obliged  to  leave.    We  had  proceeded  but 
a  short  distance,  when  the  fire  of  the  enemy  became  so  in- 


320  HISTORY    OF    THE 

tense,  that  the  horses  on  three  of  the  pieces  were  killed, 
thereby  preventing  their  removal  from  the  field. 

Our  loss  was  four  pieces,  twenty-two  horses  and  har 
nesses. 

Corp'l  A.  F.  Milliken  shot  through  the  head. 
Private  Chas.  D.  Barnard  shot  through  the  breast. 
E.  F.  Gustine  shot  in  the  breast. 
Wm.  H.  Ray  wounded  in  the  breast. 
"       John  Agen   wounded  in  the  side. 
"       L.  D.  Brownell  wounded  in  ankle. 
Richard  Heyes  missing,  prisoner. 
"       E.  F.  Smith  missing,  prisoner. 

After  having  retired  from  the  field,  crossed  the  Chicka- 
hominy  River  and  encamped  near  General  McClellan's  Head 
Quarters  for  the  night.  Amount  of  ammunition  expended 
was  one  hundred  shell  and  twenty-five  canister. 

NOTES  OF  LT.  HYDE  MAY  22,  1900. 

"We  were  retreating  towards  the  James  River.  We — our 
Battery — were  the  last  to  cross  the  bridge  below  Dr. 
Gaines's  house  on  the  way  to  cross  the  Chickahominy.  This 
bridge  was  built  of  logs  and  planks  and  was  about  twenty 
feet  wide  and  about  thirty  feet  long.  After  we  had  passed 
over  that  bridge  our  guns  were  placed  'in  Battery,'  facing 
towards  the  enemy  who  were  coming  that  way  in  pursuit  of 
our  army,  to  hold  them  in  check  if  necessary.  After  all  the 
troops  had  passed  over,  the  colonel  of  the  infantry  regiment 
was  ordered  to  destroy  the  bridge. 

During  the  work  of  destruction  I  discerned  coming  down 
the  hill  at  great  speed  several  mounted  men,  whom  by  my 
glass  I  made  out  to  be  members  of  the  Signal  Corps.  I  at 
once  told  the  Colonel  in  charge  to  have  the  planks  of  the 
bridge  replaced  as  members  of  the  Signal  Corps  were  com 
ing  down  the  hill  like  lightning.  He  at  first  doubted  it  and 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  321 

said  they  were  rebels.  I  insisted,  handing  him  my  glasses, 
and  having  looked  he  said  sure  enough  it  was  the  Signal 
Corps,  and  ordered  the  planks  to  be  put  down  over  which 
they  passed  and  went  to  the  rear.  I  afterwards  received  a 
complimentary  letter  from  Lieut.  Tompkins  who  was  one 
of  the  number. 

After  this  bridge  had  been  removed  we  proceeded  to  the 
next  bridge  which  was  wider  and  much  longer,  reaching 
from  the  bottom  of  a  ravine  to  the  top  of  a  cliff  or  plateau, 
and  after  our  Battery  had  passed  over  it  this  bridge  was 
destroyed  by  being  blown  up.  We  were  the  last  to  go  over. 
This  took  place  in  the  afternoon. 

It  was  the  last  stand  taken,  and  it  was  there  we  lost  our 
guns. 

General  Butterfield' s  order  was  to  place  two  of  my  guns 
in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  fire  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy. 

Our  position  was  on  the  plateau  about  200  feet  from  the 
edge  of  the  woods  where  our  guns  again  faced  the  enemy — • 
the  forces  of  Stonewall  Jackson  who  were  directly  in  our 
front  across  the  ravine — without  support,  which  it  was  im 
possible  to  obtain,  all  the  infantry  being  engaged  as  I  was 
informed  by  General  Butterfield  when  I  asked  for  it.  All 
the  batteries  were  formed  in  a  semi-circle  the  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery  being  on  the  extreme  left.  Directly  in  front  of  the 
batteries  was  the  ravine  20  feet  in  depth.  The  firing  all  the 
afternoon  and  until  dark  was  terrific,  and  the  engagement  is 
said  by  General  Butterfield  to  have  been  one  of  the  severest 
battles  of  the  war. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  afternoon  in  a  cross  fire, 
from  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Chickahominy  where  the 
rebels  had  placed  their  guns,  with  the  swamp  in  between  us. 
one  of  the  shells  passing  under  my  horse — not  'Black  Char 
ley,'  one  of  'Uncle  Sam's'  horses, — and  tearing  up  the 
ground  for  quite  a  distance,  exploded  without'  injury  to 
any  one,  but  the  shock  made  my  hair  stand  on  end." 


322  HISTORY    OF    THE 


GRIFFIN  TO  HYDE. 

HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

July  17,  1862. 
LT.  J.  B.  HYDE. 
Dear  Sir, 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  testify  to  your  good  conduct 
whilst  under  my  command;  always  showing  a  desire  to  exe 
cute  all  orders  with  alacrity,  and  in  a  cheerful  manner. 
Very  Respectfully, 

CHAS.  GRIFFIN, 

Brig.-Gen'l. 
HOYT  TO  HYDE. 

HD.  QRS.  30.  BRIGADE. 
MORELL'S  DIVISION 
5TH  PROV.  CORPS. 
HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

July  17,  1862. 
LT.  J.  B.  HYDE, 

5th  Mass.  Batt. 
Lieutenant. 

In  the  absence  of  General  Butterfield  it  affords  me  great 
pleasure, — having  witnessed  your  conduct  at  the  Battle  of 
Chickahominy, — to  give  my  testimony  to  the  soldier  like, 
brave,  and  efficient  manner  in  which  throughout  the  day 
you  managed  your  battery.  The  effect  of  the  fire  of  half  of 
it  on  three  occasions  on  that  day,  proved  of  the  greatest  as 
sistance  to  our  Brigade,  and  when  later  in  the  day  all  seemed 
lost,  you  willingly  reported  for  duty  with  your  last  pieces, 
you  gave  evidence  by  the  act,  that  you  had  done  all  any  one 
could  for  the  preservation  of  those  lost. 

Please  accept  my  best  wishes  for  your  success, 

and  Believe  me  sincerely  &c. 

WM.  J.  HOYT, 
Asst.  Adj't  Gcn'l. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  323 


FROM    PHILLIPS'    LETTERS. 

"Before  daylight  on  Friday  June  27,  1862,  we  were  round 
and  prepared  to  move. 

Then  to  our  surprise  we  commenced  a  retrograde  move 
ment  :  backward  went  the  whole  Division,  and  as  we  came 
into  the  road  we  found  our  heavy  siege  guns  moving  along 
with  us. 

Then  the  fact  that  we  were  retreating  became  apparent  to 
us,  and  all  the  time  we  could  hear  the  enemy  thundering  on 
our  rear. 

At  6  o'clock  we  passed  the  Gaines  house,  and,  crossing  a 
little  brook,  came  into  battery  on  the  hill  beyond.  Here  we 
were  ordered  to  wait  till  all  our  troops  had  crossed,  and  the 
bridge  cut  away.  So  we  waited  for  two  or  three  hours. 
Finally,  the  last  of  our  column  passed,  and  the  ruins  of  the 
bridge  soon  fell  into  the  stream,  and  no  enemy  had  appeared. 

I  had  one  of  my  pieces  aimed  at  Dr.  Gaines's  house,  all 
ready  to  knock  it  down  at  the  slightest  demonstration.  As 
soon  as  the  bridge  was  down  we  limbered  up  and  retired 
across  the  field,  over  a  bridge  in  the  middle  of  a  piece  of 
woods  traversed  by  a  deep  ravine  and  brook,  and  into  the 
field  beyond,  where  we  came  into  battery  for  the  second  time. 

Three  hundred  yards  in  front  of  us  stretched  the  woods 
that  were  to  witness  a  terrible  conflict.  Right  behind  us  the 
ground  sloped  down  into  the  level  meadows  that  border  the 
Chickahominy. 

Butterfield's  Brigade  and  our  Battery  were  on  the  extreme 
Left,  the  enemy  being  prevented  from  flanking  us  on  that 
side  by  the  fire  of  Smith's  heavy  guns  across  the  Chicka 
hominy. 

Then  came  Weeden's  Battery,  then  Martin's.  There  we 
stood,  waiting  an  attack. 

About  noon  the  enemy  attacked  our  right,  but  only  to  be 
driven  back. 


324  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Again  he  attacked  and  this  time  our  Left,  and  the  bullets 
whistled  round  our  heads  pretty  lively,  but  the  result  was 
the  same.  A  third  time  he  tried  to  get  through  the  woods, 
and  a  third  time  our  troops  drove  him  back;  but  their  ranks 
were  thinned  as  they  came  out  of  the  woods,  and  it  was  evi 
dent  that  unless  reinforcements  arrived  our  wearied  men 
could  not  stand  another  attack  from  the  fresh  troops  the 
rebels  were  constantly  receiving. 

But  on  they  came  for  the  fourth  time,  and  with  a  more 
determined  charge  than  before. 

Lieut.  Hyde  sent  my  section  down  into  the  edge  of  the 
woods  .  .  .  and  I  blazed  away. 

But  this  time  the  thundering  volleys  of  musketry  told  us 
that  the  hottest  work  of  the  day  was  before  us. 

All  along  the  line  it  was  one  continuous  roar,  while  mixed 
with  it  came  the  heavy  reports  of  artillery,  as  Weeden  and 
Martin  thundered  away  on  our  Right.  But  it  was  of  no 
use :  advancing  at  trail  arms  in  one  unbroken  mass,  they 
rushed  through  the  woods  over  the  brook,  now  filled  with 
dead  bodies,  closing  their  ranks  as  fast  as  our  nre  mowed 
them  down. 

The  woods  were  full  of  smoke,  and  the  bullets  buzzed 
round  our  heads  like  a  swarm  of  angry  bumble  bees  :  still  our 
artillery  thundered  away. 

My  horse  had  a  bullet  in  his  flank  and  one  sergeant's  horse 
lay  dead  on  the  ground.  As  yet  no  men  were  hit,  but  louder 
and  louder  roared  the  musketry,  and  thicker  and  thicker 
buzzed  the  bullets,  and  suddenly,  out  poured  our  infantry  in 
disorder,  frightened  and  reckless, — they  made  an  attempt 
to  rally,  rushing  out  right  in  front  of  the  muzzles  of  our 
guns,  which  were  not  ten  feet  from  the  trees,  but  broke  and 
retreated. 

Still,  as  long  as  there  was  any  hope  I  blazed  away  till  all 
our  men  had  retreated  beyond  me.  Then  I  limbered  up  and 
carried  my  section  into  the  field  alongside  of  our  other  pieces. 

As  far  as  I  could  see  the  hill  was  covered  with  our  men. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  325 

running  in  groups  of  two  or  three  or  alone,  each  one  looking 
out  for  himself,  while  200  yards  in  front  stretched  the  long 
line  of  rebel  infantry,  which  had  formed  between  us  and  the 
woods,  their  red  flags  flying,  and  their  muskets  sending  the 
bullets  flying  round  our  heads  after  all  the  infantry  had  left. 

I  unlimbered  and  fired  one  round  of  canister  at  a  regiment 
with  a  red  flag  within  less  than  three  hundred  yards.  We 
could  see  the  gaps  made  at  each  discharge  instantly  filled  up 
by  fresh  troops,  and  still  on  they  came. 

Reluctantly,  we  limbered  up  and  commenced  our  retreat. 
I  got  both  my  pieces  off  the  field  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
h'ill  (and  all  the  caissons  got  off  safely,)  and  none  too  soon, 
for  at  the  right  piece,  more  exposed  than  the  others,  down 
went  all  the  horses  (four)  and  Corporal  Albert  F.  Milliken 
fell,  shot  through  the  head,  then  Private  Edward  F.  Gustine, 
at  Peacock's  piece,  shot  in  the  neck  and  breast,  Private 
Charles  D.  Barnard  shot  in  the  side,  then  Wm.  H.  Ray  fell 
at  Smith's  piece  with  a  bullet  through  his  shoulder,  but  man 
aged  to  get  off  the  field. 

So  down  the  hill  we  went  at  full  gallop,  but  before  we 
reached  the  bottom  Peacock's  and  Simonds's  pieces  were  left, 
with  the  horses  dead  in  the  traces.  George  F.  Manchester 
one  of  the  drivers  on  Sergt.  Peacock's  piece  had  his  off  horse 
shot  but  cut  his  nigh  one  loose  and  escaped.  When  he  got 
to  the  bottom  of  the  hill  he  took  up  a  wounded  officer  in 
front  of  him,  but  in  passing  under  the  fire  of  our  Reserve 
Artillery,  one  of  their  shells  blew  the  officer's  head  off,  and 
Manchester  said  he  felt  frightened  for  the  first  time.  So  far 
both  of  my  guns  were  safe,  but  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  a 
fence  stopped  us  a  little,  and  while  passing  through  the  gap 
we  experienced  the  hottest  fire  of  all. 

The  rebels  by  this  time  lined  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  poured 
a  murderous  fire  into  our  retreating  soldiers.  As  Blake's 
piece  went  through  the  gap,  down  went  one  horse  with  a 
bullet  in  his  jaw,  throwing  his  rider,  but  the  other  horses 
pulled  him  through  and  saved  the  gun.  As  Page's  piece 


326  HISTORY    OF    THE 

passed  through  down  went  four  horses  at  one  volley,  and  I 
told  the  men  to  leave  the  piece.  The  rebels  were  following 
at  double  quick,  and  there  was  nobody  to  support  us. 

I  had  hardly  gone  a  hundred  yards  when  with  the  next 
volley  my  horse  fell,  shot  through  the  leg,  and  as  I  tumbled 
off  I  saw  the  rebel  flag  planted  on  my  gun ! 

I  was  compelled  reluctantly  to  abandon  my  saddle  and 
bridle,  blankets,  pocket  testament,  brushes  &c.  to  the  rebels, 
and  taking  my  overcoat,  revolver  and  brandy  flask,  trav 
elled  along  on  foot. 

By  this  time  all  was  confusion,  the  road  was  full  of  fugi 
tives,  the  officers  in  vain  trying  to  rally  their  men,  and  the 
thunder  of  artillery  and  musketry  incessant.  • 

The  bullets  buzzed  around  our  heads  thicker  than  ever, 
but  I  trudged  on  with  a  sullen  desperation. 

Our  Reserve  Artillery  was  blazing  away  over  our  heads, 
the  shells  coming  in  dangerous  proximity  to  our  caps,  keep 
ing  the  rebels  back  somewhat,  and  soon  our  reinforcements, 
the  Irish  Brigade,  came  up,  too  late,  alas,  for  us. 

Still  we  pressed  on  until  we  had  crossed  the  Chicka- 
hominy,  and  reposed  once  more  in  safety. 

Blake's  piece  got  off.  Corporal  Spear's  got  stuck  in  a 
ditch,  but  they  hauled  it  through.  Simonds's  piece  was  lost : 
Sergt.  Smith  got  a  bullet  through  his  cap,  taking  off  some  of 
his  hair,  and  raising  a  little  swelling  on  the  top  of  his  head : 
John  Agen  had  his  jacket  torn  and  his  side  bruised  by  a  piece 
of  shell,  while  spent  bullets  struck  around  very  thick. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  although  my  horse  was  struck  three 
times;  once  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  once  in  the  leg  as  we 
were  retreating,  and  a  third  time  as  he  fell,  throwing  me  off, 
I  cannot  find  any  bullet  marks  on  me  or  my  clothes. 

I  have  seen  enough  of  retreats,  and  my  only  consolation 
is  that  no  efforts  of  mine  could  have  altered  the  result.  We 
did  not  leave  the  field  till  the  whole  of  Butterfield's  Brigade 
had  broken;  and  after  our  horses  were  shot  we  could  not 
save  our  pieces.  Had  the  infantry  rallied  I  would  have 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  327 

stayed  as  long  as  any  of  them,  but,  as  it  was,  15  seconds' 
delay  would  have  lost  everything,  guns,  men  and  horses. 

We  were  the  last  battery  on  the  field. 

Our  men  fought  well  against  superior  numbers,  and  did 
not  retreat  till  they  had  lost  half  their  men,  used  up  their 
ammunition,  and  were  wearied  out,  and  when  the  rebels 
came  on  the  last  time  it  was  useless  to  fire  at  them.  We 
could  not  kill  them  as  fast  as  they  came  up.  Had  we  had  a 
battery  of  12  pdrs.  a  regiment  of  dead  men  would  have  cov 
ered  the  field  before  they  could  have  got  our  guns,  but  our 
little  pieces  do  not  throw  canister  much  larger  than  a  mus 
tard  box,  and  were  never  meant  for  that  kind  of  work.  As 
it  was,  however,  we  could  see  the  gaps  made  in  their  ranks, 
as  we  threw  in  double  charges  of  canister,  but  they  filled 
them  up  as  fast  as  they  were  made. 

No  description  can  convey  an  accurate  idea  of  the  peculiar 
sound  the  bullets  make  as  they  buzz  around  one's  head. 
You  must  hear  it  to  appreciate  it.  It  approaches  nearly  the 
buzzing  of  a  swarm  of  bees,  intermingled  with  a  few  sharper 
notes.  First  it  is  buz-z-z-,  then  te-oou,  very  sharp.  Inter 
mingled  with  these  is  the  sharp  click  when  a  bullet  strikes  a 
tree.  Of  course  there  is  nothing  very  pleasant  in  the  sound, 
but  after  a  man  gets  used  to  it,  he  can  listen  to  it  with  great 
composure,  and  I  troubled  myself  as  little  as  possible  about 
the  'humming  birds'  as  the  men  call  them. 

We  kept  on  the  retreat  as  fast  as  possible,  the  road  being 
filled  with  artillery  and  infantry,  wounded  men  on  litters, 
and  wounded  men  supported  by  their  comrades.  I  do  not 
want  to  see  such  a  sight  again. 

That  night  we  got  over  the  Chickahominy  and  by  mid 
night  we  went  into  park  somewhere  [Trent's  Farm]  near 
Weeden's  remaining  three  pieces  and  three  caissons.  Scott 
and  I  lay  down  side  by  side,  on  a  pile  of  hay,  and  I  slept 
sweetly  till  long  after  daylight. 

The  next  day,  June  28th,  with  the  remains  of  our  Battery, 
we  commenced  our  march,  with  the  retiring  army,  towards 


328  HISTORY    OF    THE 

James  River;  other  Divisions  covering  our  retreat  and  fight 
ing  all  the  way. 

I  hear  that  the  Irish  Brigade  drove  the  rebels  back  into  the 
woods,  spiked,  buried,  and  otherwise  disabled  our  guns  (left 
on  the  field)  and  held  the  ground  till  everything  had  crossed, 
when  they  came  over  and  blew  up  the  bridge.  About  noon 
that  day  (28th)  we  heard  an  explosion,  and  an  immense 
cloud  of  smoke  announced  the  destruction  of  our  bridges 
over  the  Chickahominy.  A  large  house  near  us  was  used 
as  a  hospital,  and  the  grounds  all  round  were  covered  with 
wounded  men.  Lt.  Mortimer,  a  fine  fellow,  ist  Lt.  of  Mar 
tin's  Battery  was  in  the  house  dying  from  a  bullet  wound. 
[Caleb  C.  E.  Mortimer  see  p.  56  "In  Sixty-One."] 

In  the  afternoon  we  started  and  marched  to  Savage's  Sta 
tion  on  towards  the  James  River.  Troops,  baggage  teams 
&c.  crowded  the  roads. 

At  sunset  we  camped  in  a  very  pleasant  spot  on  top  of  a 
hill.  Close  by  was  a  beautiful  house  and  grounds  but  as 
usual  orders  came  not  to  touch  the  fences.  I  am  happy  to 
state,  however,  that  by  the  next  morning  all  the  rails  in  our 
vicinity  had  disappeared,  carried  off  probably  by  some  of  the 
infantry  regiments,  as  it  would  have  been  my  duty  to  stop 
any  of  our  men.  Here  we  found  our  wagons  again  and 
slept  under  a  tent,  and  washed  our  faces. 

The  next  morning  (29th)  we  again  took  up  our  line  of 
march.  As  yet  we  knew  nothing  of  our  destination.  The 
country  was  new,  and  had  evidently  not  been  traversed  much 
by  troops.  The  roads  were  excellent  and  we  kept  right  on. 
Still  in  our  rear,  though  intermittently,  the  firing  went  on, 
but  we  cared  nothing  for  that.  At  9  in  the  evening  we 
reached  our  camp,  pitch  dark,  so  I  cannot  describe  the  lo 
cality.  Our  wagons  had  now  fallen  to  the  rear,  so  we 
spread  our  blankets  and  turned  in.  The  next  morning,  June 
30,  1862,  we  started  before  daylight  and  with  frequent  halts 
kept  on  our  way.  About  noon  we  crossed  a  large  wheat 
field,  and  then  crossed  a  still  larger  field  on  a  high  table  land, 
and  came  in  sight  of  the  James  River." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  329 

THE  LAST  STAND. 
FROM  SCOTT'S  NOTES. 

"The  morning  of  the  27th  of  June  (1862)  opened  beauti 
fully.  Brightly  the  warm  sun  began  its  course,  to  go  down 
scarcely  seen  through  the  smoke  and  dust  of  the  battle  that 
would  be  raging. 

The  Divisions  and  Brigades  of  General  Porter's  Corps- 
were  moving  past  to  the  last  stand  and  line  of  battle  down 
the  river. 

All  the  other  Corps  of  the  Army  had  crossed  the  river  to 
the  south  side.  The  5th  only  remained  on  the  north  side 
for  it  could  not  cross  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  Back  of  the 
river  flats  the  country  was  rolling,  with  more  or  less  woods; 
the  depressions  between  the  hills  were  favorable  for  the 
enemy  to  form  their  lines  out  of  sight. 

The  Left  of  our  line  of  battle  was  less  than  |-  a  mile  from 
the  river,  at  the  thin  edge  of  a  skirting  line  of  woods  that 
bordered  a  small  stream  running  east  and  west  to  the  river, 
in  a  depression  which  would  be  a  rushing  torrent  after  an 
hour's  rain,  but  now  nearly  dry.  A  temporary  log  bridge 
crossed  near  this  point  where  most  of  the  Corps  had  passed. 

The  line  of  battle  following  the  Creek  a  short  distance  east, 
curved  to  the  south,  passing  swampy  ground  at  the  centre, 
then  curving  west  to  the  river  where  the  Right  of  the  line 
rested,  thus  forming  a  semi-circle. '  Behind  the  line  of  battle 
formed,  was  an  undulating  open  country  to  the  river,  which 
was  crossed  by  three  narow  bridges,  one  of  them,  called  the 
Grape  Vine  bridge,  being  held  in  place  by  ropes  made  fast  to 
trees  up  stream.  The  approaches  to  one  of  these  bridges 
was  nearly  1400  yards  long. 

The  Battery  took  up  its  line  of  march  about  9  o'clock  from 
near  the  Gaines  house,  moving  down  the  river,  and  going 
into  battery  covering  the  rear  guard. 


330  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Once  on  its  way  all  was  silence,  except  the  firing  of  the 
rebel  skirmishers  driving  in  our  Pickets. 

Limbering  up  our  guns  we  crossed  the  log  bridge,  the  last 
battery  to  cross,  and  soon  the  bridge  was  taken  up  and  de 
stroyed.  Going  into  battery  on  low  ground  near  a  peach 
orchard  in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  we  could  not  see  the 
movement  of  troops  on  our  Right,  nor  the  brigades  on  our 
Left  Front,  as  Butterfield's  and  Martindale's  brigades  were 
beyond  the  wood,  the  extreme  Left  of  the  line  on  lower 
'ground.  Following  the  creek  they  had  felled  trees,  and 
formed  what  protection  they  could  to  shield  themselves  from 
the  enemy's  fire. 

The  line  of  battle  formed  extended  a  mile  and  a  half  or 
more,  held  by  Fitz  John  Porter's  Corps  of  30,000  men. 
Early  in  the  fight  he  called  for  reinforcements  which  were 
not  promptly  sent. 

The  rebels  proved  to  have  had  more  than  double  that 
number. 

At  this  point  we  waited. 

Being  on  the  Left  of  the  Battery  I  hardly  knew  what  was 
going  on  at  the  Right.  The  sun  poured  down  upon  us  in 
force,  and  while  here  the  U.  S.  mails  were  distributed,  and 
many  read  letters  from  home  and  friends  for  the  last  time. 

Meantime  the  enemy  were  forming  their  lines  around  the 
5th  Corps.  They  thought  they  had  us  in  a  trap.  Spent 
bullets  came  dropping  on  the  sand,  raising  a  puff  of  dust, 
the  patient  horses  pricking  up  their  ears  and  shaking  their 
heads. 

Still  we  ate  our  hard-bread  and  drank  our  hot  water.  Not 
a  breath  of  air  was  stirring,  and  two  miles  away,  across  the 
river,  the  smoke  and  dust  of  the  fierce  battle  raging  could  be 
seen  during  that  afternoon,  but  not  a  gun  was  heard  by  the 
rest  of  the  army  at  that  distance. 

About  12  o'clock  General  Daniel  Butterfield  of  the  brigade 
came  down  the  slope  to  my  section,  and  wanted  me  to  train 
one  of  my  guns  to  fire  over  the  skirting  of  woods  before 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  331 

which  his  brigade  was  located.  I  said  that  the  ground  rose 
so  rapidly  that  in  firing  it  at  so  high  an  elevation  we  might 
find  it  on  the  ground. 

He  wanted  to  sight  the  gun  himself,  and  the  gun  being 
trained  to  suit  him,  he  commenced  its  elevation.  At  that 
moment  'the  ball  opened,'  and  he  left  suddenly,  as  the  rebels 
were  charging  his  brigade.  The  rebel  batteries  opened  on 
the  Right,  throwing  a  raking  fire  through  the  woods,  in 
front  of  which  his  brigade  was  located  with  the  infantry 
which  had  commenced  firing.  We  could  hear  the  quick 
popping  of  a  rapid  firing  gun.  We  had  seen  this  gun  before. 
It  was  fixed  on  a  tripod,  and  by  turning  a  crank  it  spit  out 
bullets,  and  was  supposed  to  annihilate  anything  in  its  front. 
The  rebels  captured  it  before  the  fight  was  over. 

An  order  came  to  Lt.  Hyde  to  send  up  one  gun.  Why  the 
whole  battery  was  not  sent  up  I  never  knew.  The  Lieuten 
ant  ordered  me  up  with  the  left  gun  of  my  section.  Away 
we  went  and  took  our  position  at  the  edge  of  the  wood.  We 
could  not  see  the  brigade  below  us,  but  could  see  the  rebels 
through  the  woods  and  brush,  moving  for  a  charge.  We 
opened  fire  and  plied  them  well  with  our  one  gun. 

No  artillery  was  to  the  left  of  us  nor  could  we  see  the 
army  to  our  right :  the  peach  orchard  seemed  to  cover  us. 
The  noise  from  the  rebel  batteries  raking  the  woods,  to 
gether  with  the  fire  of  musketry,  was  terrific. 

A  second  charge  by  the  rebels  on  Butterfield's  and  Mar- 
tindale's  brigades,  was  repelled,  then  came  a  lull  in  front, 
the  firing  had  swept  to  the  Right  of  the  line  of  battle. 

I  was  ordered  back  to  the  rest  of  the  Battery  down  the 
slope.  We  had  taken  our  place  with  the  Battery  but  a  short 
time,  when  Longstreet,  who  had  reformed  his  lines  with 
fresh  troops  came  on  again. 

Four  guns  were  ordered  up.  We  limbered  up  the  Left 
Section,  and  away  we  went  to  the  woods,  followed  by  the 
Centre  Section,  Lt.  Phillips,  who  took  position  on  our  right. 
These  four  guns  were  not  idle.  It  would  be  hard  to  explain 


332  HISTORY    OF    THE 

one's  feelings  at  such  a  moment,  but  we  felt  that  as  long  as 
we  were  not  hit  we  were  not  hurt,  and  every  one  worked  to 
do  his  best"  now  we  had  the  chance. 

Through  the  woods  we  could  see  only  parts  of  the  rebel 
lines.  If  we  did  not  cut  some  of  them  down  we  did  the 
small  trees  in  our  front,  as  they  fell  as  if  cut  with  a  scythe. 

Charge  after  charge  was  repelled  by  the  brigade  in  front 
of  us,  but  human  endurance  could  not  withstand  the  more 
than  double  force  pitted  against  us.  Our  brigades  'were 
exhausted,  ammunition  gone,  and  all  the  Reserves  had  been 
thrown  into  the  fight. 

The  left  of  Martindale's  Brigade  had  been  turned  and  the 
rebels  were  flanking  us. 

We  kept  up  our  fire  with  the  guns  unaware  of  what  had 
happened.  Enveloped  with  smoke  we  could  not  tell  what 
was  going  on  far  from  us. 

At  this  point  the  infantry  of  our  brigade  came  struggling 
up  between  our  guns. 

Anxious  to  know  how  the  fight  was  going  on  I  said  to  a 
soldier : 

'What's  the  trouble  below?' 

Trouble  enough;  he  said.  'The  rebels  are  crossing  the 
ditch  on  our  right.' 

Looking  to  our  left  we  saw  an  officer  mounted  on  a  stone 
heap  waving  a  flag.  He  cried  out :  'For  God's  sake,  men, 
stand  by  your  colors !' 

It  was  of  no  use,  men  were  moving  stubbornly  off  to  the 
rear,  and  soon  after  as  we  moved  down  the  slope,  the  bri 
gade,  what  was  left  of  them,  had  melted  awray,  and  I  do  not 
remember  to  have  seen  a  Union  soldier. 

We  received  orders  to  retire  in  haste,  which  we  did.  Lim 
bering  up  our  guns  with  Phillips  leading,  we  moved  quickly 
down  the  slope  to  where  we  had  left  the  Right  section  of 
the  Battery,  unaware  that  the  guns  were  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  333 

To  my  surprise,  Lt.  Phillips  as  he  came  up  with  the  Right 
section  continued  on  at  a  trot.  He  had  taken  in  the  situa 
tion.  As  my  section  came  on,  I  saw  something  was  wrong 
with  the  guns,  but  I  passed  quickly  by.  Phillips  still  leading 
passed  to  the  right  of  a  foot  hill  which  formed  the  last  stand 
of  the  Corps  at  night,  thus  exposing  our  flank  to  the  enemy, 
who  were  now  near  the  bridge  we  had  crossed  in  the 
morning. 

Moving  in  this  line,  I  was  amazed  to  see  the  right  piece  of 
my  section  going  pell  mell  past  the  left  of  the  hill  into  a 
hollow  below.  Leaving  my  left  piece  to  follow  Phillips  I 
turned  about  to  look  it  up,  passing  near  the  guns  already 
captured.  Then  I  saw  our  plight.  Overtaking  the  gun, 
which  was  but  a  short  distance  ahead,  I  saw  it  was  fast  stuck 
in  a  ditch.  The  situation  looked  anything  but  pleasant. 
In  front  of  us,  on  the  last  rise  of  ground  before  reaching  the 
river,  was  posted  a  line  of  artillery,  throwing  their  united 
fire  into  the  rebel  lines.  Their  shot  were  flying  in  range  of 
my  head.  I  dismounted,  choosing  a  lower  elevation. 
Looking  back  to  where  the  Right  section  had  stood,  we  saw 
the  guns  had  been  turned  towards  us,  the  rebel  colors  flying 
over  them,  and  their  lines  forming  away  to  their  Left.  Not 
far  from  us  in  front  of  their  lines  was  a  piece  of  rebel  artil 
lery,  which  the  drivers  had  driven  over  a  bluff,  and  which 
seemed  to  be  thrown  into  a  confused  heap.  I  thought 
their  condition  was  even  worse  than  ours.  Why  we  were 
not  molested  while  in  the  ditch  I  do  not  know,  but  suppose 
with  their  success  so  far,  they  felt  sure  of  our  capture.  They 
could  easily  have  shot  the  horses,  but  so  sure  were  they  that 
we  were  fast,  doubtless  they  preferred  live  horses  to  dead 
ones.  It  was  death  or  capture  to  us  if  we  remained,  but  with 
a  final  effort,  the  gun  came  out  of  its  bed,  and  we  lost  no 
time  in  moving  but  a  short  distance  up  between  the  guns  of 
the  posted  artillery,  where  we  again  went  into  action.  [See 
p.  340  Serg't  Wilson.]  If  any  one  wants  to  live  a  lifetime  in 


334  HISTORY    OF    THE 

a  few  moments,  he  must  be  placed,  as  we  were,  between  the 
fire  of  two  contending  armies ! 

Leaving  my  sergeant  in  charge  of  the  gun,  I  rode  to  the 
rear  in  search  of  my  left  piece.  Here  was  'confusion  worse 
confounded.'  I  found  Phillips  and  Hyde  with  the  men  of 
the  Battery  dismayed  but  not  discouraged.  We  could  not 
do  more  than  we  had  done.  The  rebels  with  their  superior 
force  and  flushed  with  victory,  had  driven  the  forces  of  Por 
ter  to  the  river.  Cavalry  were  stationed  with  drawn  swords 
to  prevent  the  panic  stricken  men  and  teams  from  blocking 
the  bridge. 

About  sunset  the  Irish  Brigade,  with  other  troops,  crossed 
the  bridge  to  the  support  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  night  com 
ing  on  the  Corps  was  saved  from  a  complete  rout. 

Never  was  night  more  welcome.  I  can  never  forget  the 
scene  as  we  viewed  it  that  sultry  afternoon. 

I  learned  from  Lt.  Phillips  that  after  I  left  him  near  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  the  enemy  had  a  flank  fire  on  him  from 
the  woods  vacated  by  our  brigade.  His  horse  was  shot 
from  under  him  and  the  horses  of  two  pieces  shot,  and  the 
guns  had  to  be  abandoned. 

My  left  piece  was  lost.  I  gave  my  sergeant  credit  for 
saving  my  right  piece  in  taking  the  course  he  did,  had 
he  followed  me  with  Phillips,  which  was  his  duty  to  do, 
the  fate  of  the  gun  and  ourselves  might  have  been  far 
different.  My  right  piece  joining  us,  between  us  we  had 
two  guns  left,  and  strange  as  it  may  seem  we  had  not  lost 
a  man  of  the  Centre  or  Left  sections.  The  men  did  their 
duty  manfully. 

Lt.  Hyde  reported  that  the  enemy  came  down  through 
the  peach  orchard  on  his  two  guns,  and  he  only  had  time 
to  fire  one  round  when  he  was  overwhelmed.  Corporal 
Milliken  and  Edward  Gustine  of  New  Bedford,  were  killed 
at  their  posts.  Five  men  were  taken  prisoner,  three  of  them 
badly  wounded,  the  rest  escaped,  taking  sponge  staffs  with 
them. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  335 

As  we  waited  near  the  bridge  at  dark  for  a  chance  to 
cross  the  Chickahominy,  we  were  a  sorry  set.  We  had 
fought  our  first  battle,  when  would  the  next  one  be?  Men 
had  done  their  duty,  and  we  did  not  feel  that  we  were  en 
tirely  responsible  for  our  loss  of  guns,  but  the  artillery 
man's  defence  is  his  guns,  and  their  loss  is  deeply  felt. 

Why  we  met  with  no  loss  in  our  first  engagement  at  the 
first  line  of  battle,  was  that  no  artillery  in  front  was  posted; 
the  flanking  fire  we  received  from  their  batteries  passed 
harmless  over  our  heads,  in  fact  the  noise  of  our  own  was 
so  heavy  that  we  did  not  notice  the  shrieking  noise  they  had 
caused  in  their  flight  through  the  woods.-  The  brigade 
being  below  us  the  enemy's  infantry  fire  was  against  them; 
the  woods  and  the  orchard  protected  us.  If  we  had  been 
in  view  as  the  enemy  passed  us  beyond  the  orchard  we 
would  likely  have  been  captured  where  we  stood.  The 
Fifth  Corps  lost  24  guns.  One  of  Martin's  guns  was  cap 
sized,  crossing  the  bridge,  bottom  up,  and  had  to  be  aban 
doned.  They  also  lost  three  of  their  caissons,  the  horses 
being  killed.  His  ist  Lt.  (Mortimer)  was  taken  across  the 
river  wounded,  and  died  the  next  day.  Five  thousand  pris 
oners  were  taken  by  the  enemy  and  nearly  four  thousand 
were  killed  and  wounded  on  our  side. 

The  rebel  loss  in  killed  exceeded  ours. 

Demoralization  seemed  to  possess  all,  but  it  is  remark 
able  how  soon  men  recover  from  such  scenes. 

The  Fifth  Corps  crossed  the  river  during  the  night,  the 
bridges  were  blown  up  and  destroyed,  and  the  enemy  were 
left  to  count  their  spoils. 

Dr.  Gaines  was  kind  enough  to  say  that  he  would  will 
ingly  give  his  whole  farm  as  a  burial  place  for  Yankee 
soldiers. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  (June,  1862,)  the  Battery 
took  up  its  line  of  march  with  the  5th  Corps,  passing  Sav 
age's  Station,  where  the  fields  around  were  covered  with 
the  wounded  from  thje  previous  battle,  and  the  corps  of 


336  HISTORY    OF    THE 

surgeons  were  doing  their  best  to  relieve  suffering  hu 
manity.  It  was  a  gruesome  sight  to  us,  and  we  felt  thank 
ful  we  were  not  numbered  with  them.  The  Battery  moved 
on,  not  knowing  where  we  were  going.  It  was  rumored 
that  McClellan  was  making  a  'masterly  retreat'  to  the 
James  River. 

As  the  5th  Corps  had  been  so  roughly  handled  it  was  put 
on  the  advance,  while  the  other  Corps  were  left  to  bring  up 
the  rear  with  a  victorious  army  soon  in  pursuit. 

Passing  through  White  Oak  Swamp,  the  Corps  moved 
as  rapidly  as  the  roads  would  permit,  the  way  being  lined 
with  baggage  teams,  droves  of  cattle,  and  artillery;  the 
enemy  attacking  our  flank  whenever  they  could  get  a 
chance.  We  saw  no  enemy  near  us  in  this  movement,  but 
often  heard  cannonading  at  different  times  at  various  points. 

Camping  one  night  in  a  large  opening  with  the  Corps, 
with  teams  in  harness,  we  sought  sleep  on  the  ground.  No 
lights  were  permitted.  We  eat  our  'hard  tack'  but  not 
much  sleep  did  we  get.  The  night  was  black,  with  heavy 
claps  of  thunder,  and  sharp  flashes  of  lightning.  The 
enemy  were  said  to  be  near  us.  Some  army  mules  stam 
peded;  a  mule  flying  through  the  Battery  among  the  sleep 
ers,  a  small  panic  ensued.  Every  one  was  on  his  feet,  and 
a  few  shots  were  heard,  but  soon  things  quieted  down  and 
we  tried  to  sleep  again. 

Nothing  impeded  our  march,  and  the  last  day  of  June 
found  the  5th  Corps  camped  on  Malvern  Hill  near  the 
James  River." 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  SCOTT. 
FEB.  22,  1901. 

"I  had  charge  of  the  Left  section  that  day,  as  Lieut. 
Dillingham  was  sick  across  the  river.  Lieut.  Hyde's  Right 
section  was  captured  where  it  was  placed  in  Battery. 

I  fired  the  first  Gun  of  the  Battery  at  Gaines  Mills.     On 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  337 

the  morning  of  the  2/th  I  was  ordered  up  to  the  woods  with 
-  one  Gun,  and  it  was  served  the  best  we  knew  until  ordered 
back  to  the  Battery,  by  whom  I  do  not  know.  I  had  no 
more  than  taken  my  place  in  the  Battery,  than  Phillips  and 
myself  were  ordered  up  with  the  two  sections  of  the  Battery. 
As  I  had  been  up  on  the  line  before,  Phillips  followed  me, 
and  went  into  position  on  my  right.  While  here  the  rebels 
captured  Hyde's  two  Guns,  and  when  we  were  ordered  to 
the  rear  Lieut.  Phillips  led,  and  I  followed.  As  we  came 
to  Hyde's  Guns,  the  rebels  had  them.  Phillips  passed 
quickly  by  and  my  right  piece  being  in  the  rear  left  Phillips' 
line  and  passed  to  the  left  and  was  stuck  in  the  mud.  Here 
is  where  I  went  back  to  see  what  had  become  of  it.  As  I 
took  in  the  situation,  with  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  so  near, 
I  then  thought  the  lives  of  the  men  were  of  more  impor 
tance  than  the  Gun.  As  I  could  not  see  how  we  could  re 
main  there  5  minutes,  I  told  Serg't.  Spear  to  take  the  horses 
and  abandon  the  Gun,  and  left  to  look  after  my  left  piece, 
which  I  never  saw.  It  was  a  miracle  or  Interposition  of 
Providence  that  any  of  us  escaped." 

LETTER  OF  CORPORAL  SPEAR. 
"HARRISON'S  LANDING,  JAMES  RIVER, 

l6    MILES    BELOW    RICHMOND,    VA. 

Friday,  July  4,  1862. 

One  week  ago  today  the  Right  wing  of  Gen'l  McClellan's 
Army  before  Richmond  gave  way  at  Mechanicsville  before 
the  Confederate  Army,  and  came  retreating  down  across 
Gaines  Farm  to  the  Chickahominy  River. 

Our  Battery  was  ordered  to  the  top  of  a  high  hill  above 
a  bridge  to  assist  in  covering  the  retreat  of  our  Army. 
This  hill  was  on  the  left  of  the  Gaines  house,  near  the  river. 
The  last  to  cross  the  bridge  were  two  batteries  of  flying 
artillery,  and  after  they  had  crossed,  the  bridge  was  torn 


338  HISTORY    OF    THE 

up,  and  we  were  ordered  to  'Limber  to  the  Rear'  and  retire. 
After  retreating  half  a  mile,  we  found  our  Division  viz. 
Porter's,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  in  a  dense  wood,  with  a 
nice  barricade  in  front  of  it,  and  everything  in  readiness  to 
meet  the  Confederates'  advance. 

After  passing  through  the  woods,  the  order  came  Into 
Battery'  and  hold  ourselves  in  readiness.  We  remained 
'In  Battery,'  without  firing  a  gun,  until  about  3  o'clock,  when 
the  rebels  formed  in  line  of  battle  and  down  they  came  upon 
us,  both  on  our  right  and  left.  The  second  time  they  ad 
vanced  the  Left  section  was  ordered  into  the  woods,  and 
we  were  soon  in  sight  of  the  rebel  line,  and  in  a  short  time 
were  throwing  shot  and  shell  amongst  them. 

Again  the  rebels  were  repulsed,  for  the  second  time,  and 
we  limbered  up  and  went  'Into  Battery'  in  our  former  posi 
tion,  but  were  not  allowed  to  remain  silent  long,  for  in  less 
than  fifteen  minutes  they  came  down  upon  us  with  a  double, 
aye,  thrible  force.  Then  the  Centre  section  \vas  ordered 
to  move  down  into  the  woods;  also,  the  left  piece  of  the 
Left  section,  and  all  three  pieces  commenced  firing  shot  and 
shell.  The  fight  was  general  the  length  of  our  lines,  and 
such  a  ring  of  artillery  and  musketry !  Shall  I  ever  forget 
it? 

No :  but  it  was  no  use,  our  troops  gave  way,  and  down 
came  the  Confederates  upon  our  batteries.  The  5th  Mass. 
Battery  was  on  the  extreme  left,  and  when  our  infantry  line 
gave  way  in  front  of  the  three  remaining  pieces,  we  fired  2 
rounds  of  double  canister  and  were  ordered  to  'Limber  to 
the  Rear,'  and  save  the  Gun  and  ourselves  if  a  possible 
thing,  for  the  rebels  were  now  only  a  few  rods  from  us. 

As  the  men  of  my  Detachment  were  limbering  up  the 
gun,  I  could  see  the  rebels  advancing  upon  us  with  their 
little  red  flags  to  the  front,  and  it  was  then  that  I  put  spurs 
to  my  horse  and  ordered  the  drivers  on  the  Gun  to  do  like 
wise  and  follow  me.  I  took  a  quick  glance  over  to  my  right 
where  our  artillery  and  infantry  were  fleeing,  and  I  saw  that 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  339 

the  road  was  completely  choked  up,  and  that  if  I  wished  to 
save  the  piece  and  the  men's  lives  I  must  go  in  some  other 
direction.  So  I  started  across  the  field,  but  had  not  gone 
more  than  3  rods,  before  we  landed  in  a  deep  ditch,  and  then 
the  Lieutenant  came  up  and  ordered  us  to  leave  our  piece 
and  cut  traces,  as  it  was  impossible,  he  said,  to  attempt  to 
try  and  pull  the  piece  out  from  the  ditch.  But  instead  of 
cutting  the  traces  we  started  the  horses  up,  and  they  becom 
ing  so  terrified  and  frightened,  as  quick  as  lightning  pulled 
the  piece  out,  and  were  soon  directly  in  front  of  our  artil 
lery,  which  had  re-formed,  and  were  blazing  away  at  the 
rebels  as  they  came  down  upon  our  retreating  Division. 

On  reaching  the  hill  where  the  line  of  artillery  was 
formed,  under  command  of  Gen'l  Charles  Griffin,  we  were 
ordered  to  open  upon  the  Rebs.,  and  after  firing  ten  or 
twelve  rounds  the  order  came  for  us  to  'Limber  up'  and 
retreat;  this  being  the  second  time  within  fifteen  minutes, 
or  perhaps  less.  And  such  a  retreat!  Everything  was 
confusion,  no  regularity.  Men,  artillery,  infantry  and  cav 
alry,  all  mixed  up! 

After  retreating  about  half  a  mile  they  formed  in  line  of 
battle,  and  we  came  'Into  Battery'  again,  and  fired  a  few 
rounds.  Then  reinforcements  came  up  and  completely 
routed  the  rebels,  and  drove  them  back  from  the  ground 
which  they  had  gained  within  the  short  space  of  one  hour. 

That  night  we  crossed  the  Chickahominy  River  and  en 
camped,  and  the  next  morning  I  found  the  remnant  of  the 
Battery,  and  when  we  came  to  sum  up  what  was  left,  ascer 
tained  that  all  our  pieces  were  lost  except  Serg't.  Blake's 
and  mine;  that  4  men  were  killed,  4  or  5  wounded,  and 
about  30  horses  killed  and  disabled. 

There  were  two  Quincy  Boys  in  the  fight,  besides  myself, 

-W.  H.  H.  Lapham  and  H.  E.  Shaw.     They  both  came 

out  all  right.     Lapham  was  acting  cannoneer,  and  Shaw 

was  driving  the  pole  horses  on  the  piece  which  were  shot 

from  under  him." 


340  HISTORY    OF    THE 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  SPEAR 
JULY  24,  1901. 

"The  greatest  credit  for  the  saving  of  the  Gun  of  which 
I  was  acting  Sergeant,  should  be  given  Corporal  Warren, 
Charles  Jay  leading  Driver,  the  Swing  Driver,  I  forget  his 
name,  and  Brownell  the  Pole  Driver,  all  of  whom  thought 
only  of  their  favorite  gun  and  its  safety. 

When  we  commenced  to  retire  with  our  Gun  the  Confed 
erates  were  at  the  Right  piece  of  the  Battery, — Corporal 
Milliken's  Gun, — and  had  planted  one  of  their  battle  flags 
on  it,  and  as  we  left  our  position  we  were  obliged  to  pass 
parallel  with  the  guns  left,  and  for  a  short  time  were  not 
five  hundred  feet  from  the  rebel  skirmishers  advancing." 

NOTES  BY  SERG'T.  E.  T.  WILSON. 

With  relation  to  the  gun  which  was  pulled  out  of  the 
ditch,  Sergt.  Edward  T.  Wilson,  who  was  No.  6  on  the 
Gun  that  clay,  says  in  a  note  dated  New  Bedford,  Mass., 
September  8,  1900: — 

"It  was  the  right  piece  of  the  Left  section.  Billy  War 
ren,  a  Boston  boy,  was  the  gunner.  The  drivers,  all  but 
the  one  on  the  swing  horses,  remained  by  them.  L.  D. 
Brownell  was  on  the  pole.  Charles  Jay  had  the  lead  horses, 
and  upon  him  a  great  deal  depended.  His  horses  got  a  foot 
ing  on  the  other  side  of  the  ditch,  and  although  the  swing 
and  pole  horses  were  pretty  well  mixed  up  in  the  ditch,  we 
managed  to  pull  the  old  gun  out.  It  was  during  this  mix- 
up  that  Lieut.  Scott  ordered  us  to  leave  the  gun.  In 
scrambling  across,  Brownell  fractured  a  bone  in  his  right 
leg,  one  of  his  horses  was  hit  by  a  Minie  ball,  which  mad 
dened  the  animal,  and  at  one  time  it  looked  as  though  we 
would  have  to  quit.  But  Brownell  pluckily  stuck  to  his 
horses,  and,  reaching  firm  footing,  we  made  for  a  battery 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  341 

that  was  located  on  a  hill  just  ahead  of  us.  It  proved  to 
be  the  Fourth  Rhode  Island,  and  reaching  the  hill  we  placed 
the  gun  in  position  and  again  began  firing  at  the  enemy. 

This  was  one  of  the  two  guns  which  were  saved,  and 
nearly  every  man  who  was  in  that  detachment  was  from 
New  Bedford.  William  Warren  was  not  a  New  Bedford 
man,  and  one  other  I  do  not  remember  about,  whether  he 
was  from  New  Bedford  or  not,  or  what  his  name  was. 

At  Savage's  Station  Brownell  was  sent  on  a  hospital  train 
for  surgical  aid,  and  with  others  was  captured  and  placed 
in  Libby  Prison." 

NOTES    OF    FRANCIS    P.    WASHBURN. 

Francis  P.  Washburn,  a  driver  on  No.  6  gun,  Sergt.  Har 
rison  O.  Simonds,  the  left  piece  of  the  Left  section,  every 
horse  attached  to  which  was  killed,  obliging  the  men  to  seek 
a  place  of  safety  with  all  possible  speed,  recalls  in  Notes 
written  in  New  Bedford  Mass.  October  9,  1900,  a  remark 
of  General  Fitz  John  Porter  in  relation  to  the  loss  of  the 
guns  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

Washburn  was  sick  but  on  duty  all  through  the  Seven 
Days'  Battles.  A  man  was  not  sick  in  those  days  as  long 
as  he  could  sit  in  a  saddle  or  stand  on  his  feet.  During  the 
inspection  that  followed  at  Harrison's  Landing  he  was  sit 
ting  with  the  sick  and  wounded  under  a  tarpaulin  put  up 
for  shelter,  and  when  General  Porter  came  to  them,  he  as 
well  as  the  other  officers  dismounted  before  a  group  of  of 
ficers  and  men, — "General  Porter,"  writes  Washburn,  "was 
a  man  among  men," — and,  among  other  things,  the  General 
said — "If  I  could  have  sold  all  my  guns  at  the  price  paid 
for  those  four,  I  would  have  been  in  Richmond  tonight." 

A  day  or  two  later,  Washburn  was  sent  to  the  General 
Hospital  at  Harrison's  Landing,  and  was  subsequently  put 
on  board  the  hospital  ship  "S.  R.  Spaulding,"  and  taken  to 


342  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  Episcopal  Hospital  in  Philadelphia.     Afterwards  he  re 
turned  to  the  Battery. 

LETTER  FROM  SERG'T.  PELEG  W.  BLAKE. 
"JAMES  RIVER  July  4,  1862. 

17  MILES  BELOW  RICHMOND. 

I  wrote  three  letters  on  the  26th,  but  could  not  send 
them,  for  we  were  ordered  to  Old  Church.  Our  forces  let 
the  rebels  cross  the  river  12,000  strong  at  Mechanicsville, 
and  our  troops  fell  back  to  Dr.  Gaines's  plantation,  where 
we  were  encamped — our  Right  wing.  Two-thirds  of  our 
army  were  across  the  Chickahominy.  Porter's  Division 
and  McCall's  30,000  engaged  70,000  under  the  rebel  gen 
eral  Jackson.  The  rebel  general  Jackson  is  said  to  have 
been  shot. 

I  have  been  in  my  saddle  for  eight  days  and  nights,  only 
getting  about  two  hours  sleep  at  midnight.  The  battle 
commenced  the  26th  when  we  were  ordered  out.  It  was  a 
strategic  movement  to  fall  back  and  join  the  main  army 
across  the  river. 

Our  Battery  guarded  the  bridge  at  Dr.  Gaines's  till  the 
last  thing  crossed  the  stream,  and  that  was  the  mounted 
artillery.  The  bridge  was  then  destroyed  and  we  limbered 
up,  and  crossed  another  stream,  and  then  we  had  to  hold 
our  position;  this  being  the  27th  day  of  June.  At  3  o'clock 
they  attacked  General  Porter's  Division,  and  General  He- 
Call's  Division,  30,000  troops. 
Three  times  we  drove  the  rebels. 

Every  time  the  rebels  came  up  they  had  fresh  troops, 
every  time  filled  with  \vhiskey  and  gunpowder,  drunken 
devils,  but  we  mowed  them  down  by  the  thousands.  The 
fourth  time  they  came  up  the  whole  force  of  the  rebels, 
70,000  strong  against  30,000  of  ours,  was  a  hard  struggle. 
They  turned  our  Left  flank  where  our  Battery  was,  and 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  343 

our  troops  had  to  fall  back,  but  we  stayed  a  few  minutes  too 
late  and  lost  four  pieces,  that  were  close  to  the  woods,  of 
our  Battery,  within  100  feet  of  the  rebels.  Our  horses  were 
shot  down  so  we  had  to  leave  four  of  our  pieces. 

I  came  into  Battery  and  fired  three  shots  after  the  other 
pieces  left,  but  my  horses  did  not  happen  to  be  shot,  and  I 
was  the  only  sergeant  of  our  Battery  who  saved  his  piece 
that  afternoon,  but  2  o'clock  at  night  Serg't.  (Charles  H.) 
Morgridge's  piece  in  charge  of  Corporal  Spear  came  up,  so 
we  had  two  pieces,  out  of  six,  left. 

I  lost  two  men  of  my  Detachment,  Edward  F.  Smith  and 
Richard  Heyes,  Englishmen,  who  worked  in  the  Wam- 
sutta  mills  [in  New  Bedford]  'dresser  tenders.' 

[The  following  marked  "Continued,  3d  page"  though 
found  detached  among  Lieut.  Blake's  papers  is  presumed  to 
be  a  continuation  of  the  foregoing: — ] 

As  I  came  down  the  hill  the  rebels  had  planted  their  flag 
on  the  hill  and  were  firing  down  upon  us.  The  whole  six 
pieces  started :  one  went  one  way  and  one  another,  and  so 
did  the  whole  six.  I  happened  to  see  the  right  way,  but 
four  of  them  were  run  up  to  a  deep  ditch,  and  drove  into 
the  ditch,  and  only  one  escaped. 

Serg't.  Page  who  followed  me  had  his  horses  shot  and 
lost  his  piece. 

As  I  came  down  the  hill  one  of  my  swing  horses  stumbled, . 
throwing  my  swing  driver  20  end  over  end  down  the  hill, 
but  I  could  not  stop  for  him  to  mount,  so  I  left  him,  and 
kept  right  along  on  the  dead  run,  driving,  dragging  his  nigh 
horse  up  on  to  his  feet,  I  got  towards  the  bottom  of  the  hill. 

General  Butterfield  says,  'For  God's  sake  come  into  Bat 
tery  and  fire  on  that  rebel  flag!' 

I  says  to  the  General,  'My  men  have  all  left  me  but  the 
Gunner.' — 

That  was  Corporal  E.  B.  Nye,  the  fruit  dealer  who  used 
to  be  on  Second  street  (New  Bedford),  he  is  my  Gunner 


344  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  he  makes  the  best  shot  of  any  of  the  gunners  in  the 
Battery. 

When  reinforcements  came  from  across  the  river  our 
forces  drove  them  the  fifth  time  way  past  our  camping 
ground.  The  stream  or  ditch  ten  feet  deep  in  front  of  the 
woods  where  we  were, — about  a  hundred  feet  through  these 
woods, — was  filled  with  rebels  who  were  killed,  so  that  they 
did  not  have  to  build  any  bridge  to  come  across  on,  but  we 
fell  back  and  crossed  the  Chickahominy  towards  the  James 
and  joined  the  main  army  on  the  Left.  The  next  day  we 
.  started  for  the  James." 

NOTES   OF   LOUIS    E.    PATTISON. 
Nov.  2,  1901. 

"The  Left  section  got  across  the  run  first,  and  the  Centre 
and  Right  sections  had  to  wait  to  cross,  and  the  horses  were 
shot  in  their  tracks  by  the  rebel  infantry.  The  saving  of 
the  guns  was  simply  accident,  as  every  gun  was  limbered, 
but  could  not  get  over  the  run, — a  dry  water  course  8  or  10 
ft.  deep  and  when  they  crossed  filled  up  with  rails. 

Blake  was  all  right,  a  brave  and  cautious  man." 

FROM    CHASE'S    DIARY. 

"June  27,  1862.  Packed  up  all  our  equipage  and  pre 
pared  to  leave  about  2.30  a.  m.  Were  soon  ready  and  left 
our  bivouac  and  proceeded  to  the  brow  of  the  hill  just  in 
the  rear  of  the  camp  we  left  yesterday  to  cover  the  retreat 
of  our  forces.  Placed  our  guns  'In  Battery'  and  remained 
there  till  all  the  artillery  had  crossed  the  millstream  and  de 
stroyed  the  bridge.  Cannonading  and  musketry  com 
menced  again  this  morning  at  daylight.  The  enemy's  fir 
ing  sounds  nearer  and  nearer  and  their  battery  of  32  pdrs. 
throws  several  shots  at  us  but  made  wild  shots. 

After  the  bridge  was  destroyed  we  limbered  up  and  went 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  345 

about  half  a  mile  farther  to  the  rear  and  placed  our  guns 
'In  Battery'  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  and  changed  our  position 
several  times  on  the  same  ground. 

The  enemy  gradually  advanced  and  drove  in  our  skir 
mishers  and  charged  on  our  front  at  least  three  times  and 
were  repulsed. 

The  infantry  felled  the  trees  in  front  of  us  to  prevent  the 
advance  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  cavalry.  Our  infantry 
met  and  repulsed  the  enemy  in  the  woods  in  front  of  us. 

Our  batteries  and  guns  from  the  forts  of  General  Smith's 
Division  shelled  the  enemy  vigorously,  and  the  enemy's  shot 
and  shell  struck  all  around  us;  musket  balls  whizzing  like 
bees  over  and  round  us,  and  a  spent  ball  hit  the  writer's 
elbow — and  brought  home. — The  Left  section  advanced 
and  fired  canister  into  the  enemy  when  they  made  their  sec 
ond  charge  on  our  front. 

About  6  p.  m.  the  enemy  again  rallied,  and  attacked  us 
on  the  front  and  left  and  an  awful  battle  ensued.  The  in 
fantry  checked  them  for  a  while,  and  in  the  mean  time  the 
Lett  and  Centre  sections  took  a  new  position  at  the  edge  of 
the  wood  behind  the  infantry,  and  commenced  firing  shrap- 
nell  at  the  enemy  with  one  second  fuze,  and  at  last  the  in 
fantry  in  front  of  us  began  to  yield  to  the  enemy's  murder 
ous  fire,  and  a  general  and  most  disorderly  retreat  com 
menced.  We  poured  the  shrapnell  into  the  enemy  until 
they  were  almost  upon  us,  then  limbered  up  and  drove  off. 

The  enemy  closely  followed  up  our  retreating  army,  and 
kept  up  a  most  destructive  fire,  which  made  great  havoc 
with  our  forces.  Horses  and  guns  were  left,  and  the  whole 
army  was  panic  stricken. 

Many  of  our  horses  were  shot  and  four  guns  left  on  the 
field.  The  whole  of  the  retreating  army  crossed  the  Chick- 
ahominy,  and  the  fragments  of  the  different  regiments  and 
batteries  bivouacked  near  General  McClellan's  headquar 
ters  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  .  All  the  caissons 


346  HISTORY    OF    THE 

were  sent  across  the  Chickahominy  early  in  the  afternoon, 
and  were  all  saved. 

June  28,  1862.  Another  false  alarm  in  camp  tonight 
caused  by  some  loose  horses  running  about  camp.  Bugles 
were  blown  and  the  infantry  ordered  in  line  to  repulse  the 
supposed  guerillas.  It  proved  only  a  'scare'  and  soon  all 
was  again  quiet. 

A  false  alarm  in  camp  this  morning  occasioned  by  the 
infantry  firing  their  guns  previous  to  cleaning  them.  Left 
camp  about  12.30  p.  m.  with  the  remains  of  our  Battery, 
and  marched  about  eight  miles  towards  the  James  River." 

NOTES    OF   PRIVATE   LOUIS    E.    PATTISON. 
OCT.   i,  1901. 

"At  the  battle  of  Gaines  Mills  the  Battery  was  placed  in 
position  on  a  knoll,  with  General  Daniel  Butterfield's  Penn. 
Reserves  in  the  woods  directly  in  front.  To  get  to  this 
position  a  bridge  was  made  over  a  run,  or  dry  water  course, 
with  a  rail  fence,  only  wide  enough  for  one  team  to  cross 
at  a  time,  which  as  we  were  to  fall  back  behind  another  line 
of  battle  on  a  hill  in  our .  rear,  showed  gross  negligence 
either  of  our  own  officers  or  some  one  higher  in  command. 

When  the  time  came  our  Battery  commenced  firing,  and 
very  soon  the  Reserves  commenced  falling  back  through 
our  guns,  saying  that  we  were  shelling  them,  and  they  were 
followed  up  by  the  enemy,  and  as  the  enemy  came  out  of 
the  woods  we  gave  them  three  or  four  rounds  of  canister, 
and  then  came  orders — 'Limber  to  the  rear,'  and  all  the 
guns  were  limbered  and  getting  out  of  position  as  fast  as 
possible,  but  the  enemy  followed  up  so  quickly  that  only  two 
guns  got  over  the  run  and  were  saved,  the  other  four  being 
captured,  some,  if  not  all,  being  spiked. 

The  right  detachment  under  Sergt.  Wm.  B.  Pattison  had 
a  hard  time,  nearly  all  the  men  being  killed,  wounded  or 
captured.  Lieut.  Phillips  had  command  of  our  section, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  347 

Mason  W.  Page  was  serg't.  of  our  detachment,  William 
H.  Baxter  gunner,  and  George  O.  Proctor,  Louis  E.  Patti- 
son  and  Amos  Blanchard  drivers  on  gun  in  the  order  named. 
The  outcome  of  the  loss  of  their  guns  was  the  resignations 
of  Lieuts.  Hyde  and  Dillingham,  leaving  only  Lieuts.  Phil 
lips  and  Scott." 

NOTES  OF  D.  HENRY  GROWS. 

"Friday,  June  27,  1862.  Went  on  post  at  2  this  morn 
ing.  At  3,  an  order  came  to  pack  up  and  fall  back  to  a  hill 
in  the  rear  of  our  old  camp.  Arrived  there  at  about  half 
past  4,  and  went  into  battery,  with  orders  that  as  soon  as 
our  flying  artillery  passed  the  bridge  to  tear  it  up  and  open 
on  the  rebels  with  shrapnell  and  canister.  After  waiting 
two  hours  the  artillery  passed.  We  then  tore  up  the  bridge- 
and  waited  for  the  rebels,  but  they  did  not  make  their  ap 
pearance.  So  we  limbered  up  and  fell  back  about  i-J  miles, 
and  went  into  battery.  In  about  an  hour  the  'Secesh' 
opened  on  the  Right,  but  were  repulsed,  in  this  way:  they 
tried  the  Centre  and  Left,  but  could  not  break  them.  About 
5  this  afternoon  they  received  fresh  troops,  and  threw  them 
on  to  the  Left  where  we  were  stationed.  For  three  times 
they  tried  us,  and  were  driven  back,  but  at  the  fourth  time 
they  turned  our  Left,  and  we  opened  upon  them  with  can 
ister,  our  troops  falling  back  all  the  while.  The  last  round 
we  fired  was  at  35  yards,  a  double  charge  of  canister.  It 
mowed  their  ranks  awfully.  The  order  came  to  limber  up 
and  fall  back.  We  did  so,  but  they  were  close  upon  us. 
We  lost  four  of  our  pieces  and  twenty-five  horses.  Three 
of  our  men  were  shot  dead :  Charles  Barnard,  Corporal  Mil- 
liken,  and  E.  F.  Gustine.  Seven  others  are  either  killed 
or  taken  prisoners.  The  bullets  flew  like  hail.  I  kept  up 
with  the  gun  till  I  was  knocked  down  by  a  rail  into  a  deep 
ditch.  I  was  helped  out,  and  kept  on  my  way  looking  for 
the  caissons  that  were  in  the  rear.  I  soon  found  them  and 


348  HISTORY    OF    THE 

sat  down  to  rest.     Saw  James  Tuttle :  he  was  safe.     Harry 
Simonds  lost  his  piece,  and  was  struck  with  a  piece  of  shell. 

About  8  o'clock  we  crossed  the  Chickahominy,  and  laid 
ourselves  down  to  sleep. 

I  received  a  letter  from  my  wife  today  during  the  battle ! 

Saturday,  June  28,  1862.  Got  up  feeling  very  sore,  had 
some  water  to  drink.  I  was  awfully  dry.  My  face  and 
hands  are  black  with  powder  and  sweat,  and  I  have  no 
chance  to  wash. 

About  8  this  morning  we  fell  back  about  a  mile,  and 
there  found  two  of  our  guns;  the  other  four  having  been 
taken  by  the  rebels.  Most  all  the  men  are  tired  out.  The 
buildings  near  by  are  used  for  hospitals,  and  are  filled  with 
the  wounded.  It  is  an  awful  sight.  About  noon  we 
hitched  up  and  fell  back.  At  Savage's  Station  there  were 
a  great  many  cars  loaded  with  the  wounded  who  are  being 
moved  away.  The  roads  are  lined  with  sick  and  stragglers. 
Got  into  camp  about  n  o'clock.  Was  routed  out  at  3 
o'clock  in  the  morning." 

Reviewing  this  Diary  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  October  i, 
1900,  Grows  added  the  following: — 

"There  is  one  thing  I  did  not  mention :  It  was  how  the 
gun  I  worked  on  at  Gaines  Mills  was  saved.  A  bullet 
struck  the  right  wheel  horse,  while  the  gun  was  stuck  in  a 
rut,  the  pain  caused  the  horse  to  jump  to  the  right,  and  the 
driver  struck  the  off  horse,  and  the  wheels  of  the  limber 
were  free.  And  so  we  got  out  of  a  bad  place." 

NOTES  OF  CHARLES  D.  BARNARD. 
FEBRUARY  i,  1901. 

"I  was  wounded  at  Gaines  Mills,  June  27, 1862.  While  try 
ing  to  save  the  gun  we  held,  we  got  into  the  woods.  The  Con 
federates  had  charged  3  times  on  us  before  they  got  the  gun. 
When  Corporal  (Albert  F. )  Milliken  sent  up  the  last  charge 
to  the  gun,  he  sent  word  to  the  gunner  Corporal  (Charles) 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  349 

Macomber,  that  that  was  all  the  canister  he  had.  Corporal 
Macomber  told  us  that  when  we  had  fired  he  should  give  the 
order  'by  hand  to  the  rear/  as  we  only  had  one  horse  stand 
ing,  he  being  the  nigh  pole  horse,  the  other  5  horses  were 
down,  having  been  shot. 

As  soon  as  we  had  fired,  the  order  was  given : — 

'By  hand  to  the  rear!' 

We  each  sprang  to  our  posts. 

No.   i,  between  the  Wheel  and  Gun. 

No.  2,  opposite,  between  the  Wheel  and  Gun. 

No.  3,  grabbed  the  Wheel. 

No.  4,  the  opposite  Wheel. 

The  rest  of  the  gunners  ran  to  the  trail. 

No.  2,  William  H.  Ray  had  a  ball  pass  through  him. 

No.  3,  was  myself.  The  ball  entered  the  right  thigh 
coming  out  -J-  inch  from  the  spine.  The  force  of  the  ball 
threw  me  over  the  trail  into  No.  4  man's  place.  I  got  up 
standing  on  one  leg,  and  said  to  Corporal  Macomber  :— 

They  have  shot  my  right  leg  off,  Charley!' 

At  that  William  Ray  came  running  up  with  a  sponge 
staff,  and  Corporal  Macomber  said : — 

'Billy,  you  are  wounded.' 

Billy  said  no,  but  upon  unbuttoning  his  jacket  the  blood 
began  to  show,  and  Billy  says : — 

The}/  can't  have  this  sponge  staff  to  use  on  us.' 

This  was  the  only  sponge  staff  \ve  had  left.  So  he  took 
it,  and  when  he  came  to  the  ditch  in  going  to  the  rear,  he 
made  3  pieces  of  it  and  threw  it  into  the  ditch. 

Then  Corporal  Macomber  came  to  me,  and  I  threw  one 
arm  over  his  neck  and  he  tried  to  take  me  to  the  rear,  and 
as  we  were  trying  to  go  to  the  rear  he  said  to  me  :— 

'Help  yourself  all  you  can,  Charley,  for  there  lays  poor 
Corporal  Milliken.' 

We  both  looked  down  on  him.  The  ball  had  struck  him 
in  the  head,  killing  him  instantly.  There  was  no  mark  of 


350  HISTORY    OF    THE 

blood  on  him.  Corporal  Macomber  and  myself  were  the 
2  last  men  of  our  Battery  that  ever  saw  Corporal  Milliken. 

We  had  not  gone  50  feet  from  him  when  a  ball  struck 
me  in  my  left  foot  and  stopped  under  my  knee,  the  force 
of  the  ball  throwing  me  out  of  Corporal  Macomber' s  arms 
to  the  ground.  He  bent  over  me  and  said : — 'Charley,  I  am 
going  to  throw  you  over  my  shoulder.' 

I  said,  'No,  Charley,  there  is  only  one  of  us  to  be  killed, 
and  I  am  that  man.  You  run  around  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
under  the  protection  of  our  heavy  guns  that  are  on  the  hill.' 

'No,'  he  says,  'I  am  going  to  shoulder  you.'— 

I  fainted  away  from  the  loss  of  blood,  and  he  got  to  the 
Battery  and  reported  me  killed. 

WITHIN    THE    ENEMY'S    LINES. 

The  first  sound  I  heard  was, — 

'Don't  tread  on  that  man!' 

I  looked  over  my  shoulder,  and  saw  coming  towards  me 
a  solid  line  of  Confederates,  and  as  they  came  up  to  me 
they  opened  enough  to  pass  me.  Not  a  man  touched  me.  In 
a  short  time  the  stragglers  began  to  come  back.  I  was 
choking,  and  as  they  came  near  me  I  begged  for  water. 
Some  of  them  said  they  had  no  water;  others  took  no  notice 
of  me;  others  cursed  me.  At  last  when  I  did  not  care  what 
they  did  to  me,  a  very  tall  Confederate  came  along,  and 
said  he  had  no  water,  but  would  give  me  some  whiskey  and 
water.  He  knelt  down  and  passed  me  his  canteen,  and  said 
'Drink  all  you  want.'  A  little  seemed  to  quench  my  thirst. 
I  told  him  I  was  a  thousand  times  obliged  to  him,  that  was 
all  I  could  do,  but  he  said  that  was  not  all  I  could  do,  I  could 
'the  first  time  I  had  a  chance  do  the  same  thing.' 

I  shall  never  forget  his  words  and  have  tried  to  do  so. 
I  lay  where  I  fell  the  second  time  about  2  hours,  then  a  Con 
federate  officer  and  a  Private  came  along.  The  officer  said 
to  me — 'Come,  get  up!' 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  351 

I  said  'I  can't.  I  am  wounded  in  both  legs.' — He  said, 
'You  can't  play  any  of  your  Yankee  tricks  on  me.  If  you 
don't  get  up,  I  will  cut  you  down.' 

I  told  him  if  he  would  give  me  2  sticks  I  would  try  to 
walk,  but  I  put  one  arm  on  each  of  their  shoulders,  as  the 
Private  asked  me  to,  and  they  carried  me  through  the  gap 
where  we  had  repulsed  them  3  times  that  they  had  charged 
on  us,  into  the  yard  where  there  was  a  large  house,  and  as 
we  entered  the  yard  there  was  a  number  of  Confederates 
making  coffee.  They  began  to  make  fun  of  me  and  I 
answered  them  back.  Then  it  was  the  Private  who  was 
helping  me  told  me  to  take  all  that  they  might  say,  for  I 
was  a  prisoner  and  it  was  better  not  to  answer  back. 

I  thanked  him  and  afterwards  found  out  that  he  was 
right.  They  laid  me  under  a  tree  and  a  doctor  came  and 
put  some  cotton  in  my  wound  near  my  spine,  and  put  a 
bandage  round  me.  In  a  few  minutes  the  bandage  was  up 
under  my  arms.  He  said  he  would  come  in  the  morning 
and  take  off  my  leg. 

THE   RED   BLANKET. 

I  was  cold,  and  asked  a  Confederate  if  he  had  a  blanket 
he  would  lend  me.  He  said  'yes/  if  I  would  give  it  to  him 
the  next  morning.  I  told  him  I  would,  so  he  lent  me  one. 
Next  a  man  came  along  and  wanted  to  know  who  wanted 
water.  I  did,  and  had  found  a  canteen,  and  he  took  it,  filled 
it,  and  brought  it  back  to  me.  I  then  dropped  off  to  sleep, 
and  in  the  morning  when  I  awoke  I  saw  that  I  had  a  red 
blanket.  I  looked  it  over,  and  found  the  name  of  Serg't. 
William  B.  Pattison  sewed  on  it!  When  the  Confederate 
called  for  his  blanket,  I  told  him  that  it  was  one  of  my 
Serg't's  blankets.  He  said, — 'You  promised  to  give  it  to 
me  this  morning.' 

I  told  him  that  I  should  do  as  I  told  him  I  would,  and  he 
took  it,  and  I  don't  know  as  I  ever  saw  him  again.  They 


352  HISTORY    OF    THE 

gave  us  that  morning  for  breakfast  boiled  rice,  and  it  did 
taste  good.  About  8  or  9  in  the  morning,  an  old  man  with 
long,  white  hair  came  and  sat  down  and  commenced  to  talk 
with  me.  He  asked  me  where  I  was  wounded,  and  I  told 
him.  He  asked  me  how  my  leg  felt,  and  I  told  him  it  felt 
'queer.'  I  could  not  move  my  foot,  and  it  felt  like  a  foot 
that  wras  'asleep';  kind  of  prickly.  He  then  tolcl  me  he  was 
a  doctor,  and  asked  me  what  I  was  going  to  do.  I  told 
him  I  had  asked  the  doctor  to  take  it  off  for  me,  but  he  ad 
vised  me  not  to  have  it  taken  off,  and  asked  me  if  I  wanted 
to  go  home.  I  said  yes,  as  I  was  no  good  to  the  army  now. 
'Then,'  he  said,  'tell  them  when  they  come  after  you  that  you 
have  concluded  not  to  have  it  done,  and  they  won't  take  it 
off.  It  is  better  than  a  wooden  leg,  and  if  they  take  it  off, 
they  have  got  to  unjoint  it  at  the  hip,  as  it  will  do  no  good 
to  take  it  off  below  the  wound.' 

He  then  said  that  the  ball  had  cut  the  leaders  to  my  foot, 
which  caused  the  foot  to  drop,  and  had  injured  the  sciatic 
nerve,  which  caused  paralysis,  and  that  it  would  always 
trouble  me,  that  many  times  I  would  be  hurrying  along  and 
would  stub  my  toe,  as  the  foot  had  dropped  and  caused  me 
to  fall.  This  I  have  done  a  great  many  times.  He  said, — 
'You  may  think  it  strange  for  me  to  give  you  advice,  but  if 
you  ever  want  to  go  home  don't  have  your  leg  taken  off, 
for  there  is  only  one  chance  in  a  thousand  of  your  living.' 

I  took  his  advice,  and  his  words  have  proved  true  in  re 
gard  to  my  leg. 

THE   DEATH   OF  PRIVATE   GUSTINE. 

Soon  after  he  left  me,  one  of  our  own  surgeons  came 
along  and  said  to  me : — 

'One  of  your  boys  is  over  there.' 

'What  is  his  name?'  I  asked.  He  said  he  did  not  know 
but  would  go  and  see.  He  came  back  and  said  his  name  was 
Gustine.  I  raised  myself  up  on  my  elbow  and  asked  Gustine 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  353 

how  he  was  wounded.    'O,  Charley.    I  am  wounded  through 
my  left  lung.     I  can't  stand  it  a  great  while.' 

'Don't  give  up  so/  I  said,  but  he  answered : — 'O,  Charley, 
I'm  a  goner.  I  can't  talk  any  longer.'  He  laid  down  and 
I  never  saw  him  again  to  talk  with  him.  The  next  day  I 
saw  2  men  carrying  an  artilleryman  into  the  next  field  to 
bury  him.  I  think  it  was — poor  Gustine. 

TALKING  IT  OVER. 

That  day  a  Confederate  came  and  sat  down  by  me  and 
said : — 

'Well,  Yank,  what  do  you  think  of  the  war  ?' 

'Well,'  I  said.     'Did  you  start  it?' 

'No.' 

'Neither  did  I.     Can  you  stop  it  ?' 

'No.' 

'Neither  can  I.    You  won't  agree  with  me?' 

'No.' 

'Neither  will  I  with  you.  Now  we  are  good  friends,  what 
is  the  use  of  our  arguing  the  question?  Neither  you  nor  I 
can  stop  it.' 

'You're  right,'  he  said,  and  from  that  time  out,  as  long  as 
he  was  there,  he  would  come  every  day  and  ask  me  to  lend 
him  my  pipe.  He  kept  me  in  tobacco  as  long  as  he  was 
there.  I  was  then  moved  into  the  cellar  of  the  house,  and 
put  into  a  little  room  with  2  others.  One  man's  name  was 
Smith.  He  belonged  to  a  New  York  regiment.  He  was 
terribly  wounded,  and  kept  calling  for  his  wife  and  children 
all  the  time.  They  came  after  him  to  take  off  his  legs  a 
number  of  times,  and  he  would  keep  putting  them  off,  say 
ing,  'Let  me  lay  a  little  longer,  please,  I  am  so  comfortable.' 
At  last  two  attendants  came  in  and  said  'The  Doctor  says 
bring  you,  dead  or  alive.' 

'Well,  please  give  me  a  drink  of  water.' 

They  gave  him  water,  he  drank  a  little,  and  then  for  the 


354  HISTORY    OF    THE 

first  time  in  my  life  I  heard  the  death  rattle.    They  carried 
him  out. 

HANDY   WITH   HIS   NEEDLE. 

I  lay  in  that  cellar  3  days.  Then  they  took  me  out,  and 
laid  me  under  a  tree  on  the  other  side  of  the  house,  where 
I  heard  2  Confederates  talking  about  the  poor  fellows  who 
had  legs  and  arms  taken  off,  how  they  suffered  pain  and  had 
nothing  to  rest  the  stumps  on.  I  called  them  and  told  them 
if  they  would  bring  me  some  old  bags  so  I  could  cut  them 
up  into  smaller  ones,  or  some  cloth,  so  I  could  make  some 
small  bags  out  of  that,  they  could  stuff  them  with  grass,  and 
they  could  lay  their  stumps  on  them  and  it  would  ease  the 
pain.  They  did,  and  I  made  a  number  of  them.  I  made  the 
bags  for  Confederates  as  well  as  Union  men.  I,  being  a  har 
ness  maker,  was  handy  with  my  needle,  and  I  always  carry 
my  thimble  in  my  pocket,  even  today.  I  still  have  my 
needle-book  that  I  carried  with  me  in  my  jacket  pocket. 

I  enlisted  as  an  artificer,  and  when  we  were  in  Washing 
ton,  encamped  on  Capitol  Hill,  the  paymaster  came  and  said 
that  the  Government  only  allowed  2  artificers,  a  blacksmith 
and  a  harness-maker,  and  as  I  was  the  second  one  to  enlist 
as  a  harness-maker,  I  could  take  my  discharge  and  go 
home.  But  I  preferred  to  stay,  so  asked  Serg't.  (O.  B.) 
Smith  if  I  could  have  No.  3  man's  place  on  the  gun,  which 
he  gave  me. 

I  was  the  first  man  wounded  in  the  Battery,  and  the  first 
badly  wounded  man  to  return  to  New  Bedford. 

TO  RETURN  TO  THE  PRISON  YARD. 

Next  a  very  tall  Confederate  came  to  me,  and  said: — 
'Yank,  where  did  you  enlist?' 

I  told  him  I  enlisted  in  New  Bedford,  but  I  was  a  Nan- 
tucket  boy. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  355 

'New  Bedford?  Why,  I  used  to  be  a  coaster,  and  I  have 
been  there.' 

He  then  told  me  all  about  that  city,  and  how  pretty  it 
looked  at  night  all  lit  up,  as  you  come  up  the  river.  Every 
day,  as  long  as  I  was  there  at  Gaines  Farm,  he  would  come 
along  and  put  something  under  my  blanket  and  say,  'Don't 
touch  that  till  after  I  am  away.'  I  would  find  either  crack 
ers,  or  a  piece  of  'salt  horse'  as  we  used  to  call  corned  beef. 

THE  NO.  i  GUN. 

There  was  on  the  day  of  the  Malvern  Hill  fight,  a  little 
boy  came  and  said  to  me,— 'You  ones  will  be  taken  back 
before  long,  for  you  ones  are  driving  our  men.  What  gun 
was  that  that  held  the  gap  in  the  woods?' 

I  told  him  it  was  No.  i  gun  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 
I  asked  him  how  they  got  by  that  gun,  and  these  are  exactly 
his  words : — 

'General  Jackson  rode  up  and  asked  the  general  in  com 
mand  "Why  don't  you  go  on?"  The  general  answered  "I 
can't.  I  have  got  a  piece  of  artillery  I  can't  pass.  I  have 
charged  three  times  on  it,  and  have  been  repulsed  each 
time." 

Jackson  told  him  to  'Charge,  Halt,  Fire,  and  then 
Charge  in  your  smoke!' 

By  charging  before  the  smoke  rolled  away  their  advance 
was  unobserved,  and  that  is  how  No.  i  gun  was  lost. 

THE  CORN-POPPER. 

'How  is  it?'  asked  the  little  boy,  'You  ones  kill  our  men 
and  we  only  wound  yours.  You  ones  did  not  play  it  on  we 
uns  did  you?  You  ones  left  a  trap  for  us,  but  we  did  not 
touch  it.  What  did  you  do  with  it?  You  ones  came  and 
took  it  away.' 

It  seems  that  it  was  what  we  boys  used  to  call  the  'Corn- 


356  HISTORY    OF    THE 

popper/  a  gun  that  you  put  the  cartridges  into  a  hopper,  and 
by  turning  a  crank  the  cartridges  would  fall  into  the  barrel 
of  a  rifle  attached  to  it,  and  did  good  work.  They  thought 
it  a  trick  we  were  playing  on  them,  and  did  not  dare  go 
near  it,  and  our  men  came  and  recovered  it. 

A  CONSULTATION. 

While  the  boy  and  myself  were  talking,  a  number  of  offi 
cers  rode  into  the  yard  and  stopped  a  little  way  from  where 
I  lay  and  held  a  consultation.  I  should  think  they  talked  a 
half  an  hour  or  so,  then  they  galloped  off,  some  in  one  direc 
tion,  some  in  another.  In  a  little  while  from  that  they 
turned  our  men  and  won  the  day. 

A  soldier  from  a  Maine  regiment  lay  near  me,  and  every 
morning  he  would  ask  me  to  lend  him  my  testament  which 

1  did.     One  morning  after  he  passed  back  my  testament, 
some  'Johnnies'  came  along  and  began  to  plague  him.     He 
commenced  to  swear,  and  called  them  .everything  he  could 
think  of,  and  when  he  got  them  as  mad  as  they  could  be, 
they  threatened  to  kill  him  and  he  laid  back  and  commenced 
to  sing.     Well,  he  was  one  of  the  best  singers  I  ever  heard, 
and  after  that  they  would  come  every  day  and  stir  him  up, 
and  it  always  ended  in  his  singing. 

TO    SAVAGE'S    STATION. 

We  were  put  into  army  wagons  and  sent  to  Savage's  Sta 
tion  where  an  officer  came  and  asked  what  our  names  were. 
After  that  we  were  put  on  flats — such  as  we  send  wood  into 
Boston  on — and  sent  to  Richmond.  When  the  cars  stopped, 

2  Confederates  came  to  the  car  where  I  lay,  and  asked  me  if 
I  had  anything  to  eat.     I  told  them  I  had  2  hard  tacks  and 
that  was  all.    They  begged  me  to  give  them  to  them.    I  told 
them  I  would  if  I  thought  I  could  get  anything  to  eat  in  the 
city.     They  said  They  will  feed  you  ones  when  they  won't 
feed  us.'    They  said  *O,  we  are  so  hungry !' — 


FIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  357 

I  told  them  I  would  give  them  one  and  keep  the  other 
for  myself.  When  I  opened  my  havresack  I  found  I  had  3 
hard  tacks,  so  I  gave  each  one  of  them.  They  were  mouldy, 
and  wet,  as  it  had  rained  hard  all  day,  but  you  should  have 
seen  them  eat,  and  then  they  begged  for  the  other  one.  I 
told  them  I  had  done  the  square  thing  by  them  and  wanted 
the  other  for  myself.  They  said  they  knew  it  but  they  were 
so  hungry.  They  did  not  take  the  one  I  had  left,  but 
thanked  me  for  what  I  had  given  them.  Soon  2  Confeder 
ates  put  me  on  a  litter  and  carried  me  into  the  depot,  laying 
me  down  on  the  narrow  platform  near  the  engine.  When 
they  had  lain  me  down  I  found  they  had  left  my  havresack 
and  asked  them  to  get  it  for  me,  offering  them  a  ring  I  had 
on  my  finger  if  they  would  bring  it  to  me,  as  I  had  my 
mother's  and  sister's  pictures,  and  some  few  things  I  wanted 
to  save.  They  went,  and  soon  returned  with  it,  and  wanted 
to  see  the  pictures.  I  showed  them  and  then  took  off  the 
ring  and  offered  it  to  them.  They  were  looking  at  the  pic 
tures,  and  when  I  offered  them  the  ring  they  said,  'What  do 
you  take  us  for?  Put  the  ring  on  vour  finger  again.' 

Soon  a  little  boy  came  to  me,  about  12  vears  old,  and 
said, — 

'Soldier,  what  can  I  do  for  you?' 

I  had  just  had  another  hemorrhage  and  asked  him  to  get 
me  some  cotton  to  stop  it.  He  did,  and  then  found  me  a 
small  dry  twig  for  me  to  keep  the  flies  off.  He  then  got  me 
a  fresh  canteen  of  water.  After  that,  every  morning  he 
would  come  and  get  me  a  fresh  canteen  of  water.  One 
morning  he  came  and  put  his  hand  under  my  blanket  and 
said  'Don't  touch  it  till  I  am  p-one.  It  is  something  Mother 
sent,  and  there  she  is  on  the  back  of  that  car/ 

I  looked,  and  all  I  could  do  was  to  bow  to  her.  After  he 
had  gone,  I  found  a  nice,  clean,  white  crash  towel,  and  while 
I  was  looking  at  it,  an  officer  came  up  and  wanted  to  know 
where  I  got  that.  I  told  him  some  one  dropped  it  and  I 
picked  it  up.  He  took  it  from  me  and  when  the  boy  came 


358  HISTORY    OF    THE 

again  I  told  him,  and  he  said,  'Some  one  told  on  Mother, 
yesterday,  and  she  liked  to  got  caught.' 

The  last  morning  he  came  he  left  something-  under  my 
blanket  and  said  'Mother  sent  you  that.'  He  said  all  the 
badly  wounded  were  to  be  sent  north,  and  the  slightly 
wounded  were  to  be  sent  to  Belle  Isle,  and  true  enough  about 
the  middle  of  the  forenoon  they  commenced  to  load  up. 

I  heard  an  officer  say  'Well,  that's  all.'  I  began  to  holler 
and  the  officer  got  mad,  and  told  two  men  to  'take  the  fool 
and  lug  him  off.' 

They  put  me  in  an  open  wagon  with  springs  under  it.  I 
made  the  6th  one.  When  the  team  got  to  the  outskirts  of 
the  city,  the  driver  turned  round  and  said — 'I  am  a  Union 
man.  I  have  got  2  boys  down  to  the  steamer  looking  out 
for  good  places  for  you/  He  told  us  that  they  came  after 
him  to  take  us  to  the  steamer,  and  he  told  them  he  would  not 
take  a  Yankee  in  his  wagon.  He  said  they  paid  him  $10  a 
piece  in  Confederate  money,  to  take  us  to  the  steamer. — 
'But,'  he  said,  'I  would  have  taken  all  I  could  carry  for  noth 
ing,  only  I  dare  not  say  so/ 

On  our  way  we  went  through  a  Confederate  camp,  and 
there  was  a  bread  cart  standing  near  some  tents.  The  team 
ster  stopped  his  team  and  said  he  was  going-  to  buy  some 
bread  for  us.  While  he  was  gone,  an  officer  rode  up  and 
wanted  to  know  where  the  driver  was.  I  told  him  he  was 
buying  bread.  He  asked  'Are  you  hungry?' — I  said  'No, 
my  friend,'  and  he  swore  and  said  'I  am  no  friend  to  you.' 
He  followed  us  almost  to  the  boat.  The  driver  gave  us  each 
a  loaf  of  bread,  and  said  the  officer  was  watching  him.  He 
had  a  ten  dollar  U.  S.  bill  and  said  he  would  give  that  for 
a  picture  of  A.  Lincoln,  if  either  of  us  had  one,  but  none  of 
us  had  one.  We  finally  reached  the  steamer,  and  as  we  got 
where  we  could  see  it  and  'Old  Glory,'  what  a  shout  went 
up !  I  could  not  keep  back  the  tears,  and  great,  stout  men 
cried  like  babies  to  see  the  dear  old  flag  again.  One  who 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  359 

never  was  deprived  of  the  sight  cannot  realize  how  good  it 
is !     The  joy  was  beyond  describing. 

Well,  true  enough  2  stout  young  men  came  running  up 
and  said,  'Father,  we  have  got  some  nice  places  for  your 
men/  I  was  the  last  one  to  be  taken  out  of  the  wagon,  and 
I  was  placed  in  the  gangway  of  the  steamer.  A  man  came 
in  and  sang  out, — 'Are  there  any  Massachusetts  men  here?' 
I  hollered  out  'Yes,  come  here.' 

He  came  and  asked  my  name  and  put  it  in  a  little  book. 
I  asked  him  if  he  knew  W.  W.  Caswell  of  the  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery.  He  said  'Yes.'  I  said  'Tell  him  that  Charley 
Barnard  is  badly  wounded,  bound  north.'  He  went  to  one 
of  the  streets  of  the  Battery  and  hollered  out : — 'Does  any 
one  know7  Charley  Barnard  ?'  Ephraim  B.  Nye  was  writing 
a  letter  at  that  time  to  his  wife.  He  stepped  out  of  his  tent 
and  said, — 'Yes,  I  know  him.'  He  then  gave  him  my  mes 
sage,  and  he  wrote  it  to  his  wife,  and  that  was  the  first  that 
any  one  knew  that  I  was  living. 

I  was  taken  to  Baltimore,  put  in  the  Hospital,  No.  80 
Camden  St.  One  day  a  gentleman  came  in  and  looked  at  the 
card  over  my  head  and  says — 'From  New  Bedford?' — 'Yes, 
sir.'  'Well/,  he  says,  'So  am  I,  my  name  is  Rodman  (Ed 
mund  Rodman)  and  I  am  going  back  in  a  few  days.' 

Then  I  asked  him  if  he  would  go  and  see  my  mother  and 
tell  her  just  how  he  found  me.  Some  one  had  told  her  that 
I  had  had  a  large  piece  of  my  hip  taken  off,  and  they  only 
took  out  about  three  inches.  She  was  worrying  about  me. 
He  went  to  see  my  mother  and  told  her,  and  I  never  shall 
forget  his  kindness." 

THE    FIELD    REVISITED. 

In  letters  dated  South  Boston,  September  24th  and  Octo 
ber  3,  1900,  Corporal  Thomas  E.  Chase  thus  refers  to  a 
recent  visit  to  this  battlefield : — 

"I  have  just  returned  from  Richmond,  Va.  and  the  old 


360  HISTORY    OF    THE 

battle  ground  of  the  seven  days'  fights.  I  could  not  make 
it  seem  possible,  as  I  watched  the  farmer  tilling  the  battle 
fields,  that  the  last  time  I  was  there  all  was  the  roar  of  artil 
lery  and  the  rattle  of  musketry.  Strange  thoughts  came  to 
me  as  I  strolled  over  that  quiet  square  mile  of  peace, — 
Gaines  Mills, — with  only  seven  people  in  sight,  as  I  pointed 
out  to  wife  and  daughter  where  sixty-five  thousand  Con 
federates  fought  fifteen  thousand  of  our  men  that  sultry 
afternoon  of  June  27th,  1862,  for  Nature  is  doing  her  best 
to  hide  the  scars  and  lines  of  battle,  but  I  had  no  trouble 
finding  our  positions." 


MALVERN  HILL. 


/  Dr.  J.H.  fialler-t'-S    "house,  Headquarters  of  Gen.  fiorell   2.ffore7Js    o-nd 

Griffin's    -poaTfrcn.    3-  <^y*e s'  position.   4.  Hvrttfs  fte.3e.rve.  Art;     5.   Cc7er?e7 

TyyerJSie.ge  g-vns.  6.  GeneraJ Fro-nkJiTfc  Co-mmOTlcI.    7.  Ge.77.  Po rte. r*s Co m-nv- 

o-nJ.    8.~9  Hein tjelrnan's  fc  Keyes1  CoTmnaTHJS.  (0.  CovcJi's  Co-mnnmcl.     /t.Ge-n. 

Mgr-fin&ale.'s  Co'>r>mcin3.  /Z.^Svwnerls  CovrimanclTi?  7te.se.rise.  /3.   ~Place  it/here. 

fa'-ngsl-ury's  **  /frne^'s    "batteries.  /7.  Morfjn's./S.  Wee-efet 
2"* position,  also  K-rngslvry's.  2O.  FiJUi  Mass. 


CHAPTER   XL 

THE  BATTLE  OF  MALVERN  HILL. 
JULY  i,  1862. 

"Forget  not  our  wounded  companions  who  stood 

In  the  days  of  distress  by  our  side ; 

While  the  moss  of  the  valley  grew  rich  with  their  blood, 
They  stirred  not,  but  conquered  and  died." 

— Thomas  Moore. 

It  now  became  the  duty  of  the  Fifth  Corps  to  guard  the 
roads  leading  from  Richmond  toward  the  White  Oak 
Swamp,  over  which  they  had  passed  on  June  28,  1862,  and 
on  the  next  day  to  proceed  to  Turkey  Bend  on  the  James 
River,  cover  the  Charles  City  road  to  Richmond,  and  open 
communication  with  the  gunboats  on  the  James. 

Porter's  orders  were  to  move  by  the  direct  road  to  Mal- 
vern  Hill,  an  elevated  plateau  a  mile  and  a  half  long  and 
about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  broad,  free  from  any  growth 
of  timber.  Towards  the  north  and  east  it  sloped  gently  till 
it  reached  a  thick  forest.  On  the  west  was  a  deep  ravine 
running  down  to  the  James  River.  Along  the  front  the 
land  is  uneven,  making  the  hill  difficult  to  approach  except 
by  roads  built  across  the  low  places.  Porter  was  to  select 
and  hold  this  position,  continuing  the  line  to  the  right. 
Time  was  lost  by  the  guide  mistaking  the  road,  and  the  ist 
Division  did  not  reach  James  River  until  10  a.  m.  of  the 
3Oth.  The  Divisions  of  Morell  and  Sykes  were  given  the 
Left  of  the  position,  with  Colonel  Henry  J.  Hunt's  Artillery 
Reserve  and  Colonel  Robert  O.  Tyler's  siege  guns  on  Mal- 
vern  Hill;  Porter's  command  holding  the  Left  and  Left 

361 


362  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Centre  of  our  forces  upon  which  the  enemy  made  a  most 
determined  attack.  This  was  successfully  resisted  by  the 
infantry,  which  the  superior  position  and  strength  of  the 
artillery  placed  so  as  to  sweep  all  the  approaches,  and,  to 
some  minds,  the  proximity  of  the  gunboats,  made  invincible. 
Brig.  Gen.  William  F.  Barry,  in  his  account  of  the  opera 
tions  of  the  Artillery  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from 
July  25th,  1 86 1,  to  August  29,  1862,  dated  September  i, 
1862,  says: — 

"For  the  artillery  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  it  is  but  simple  jus 
tice  to  claim  that  in  contributing  its  aid  to  the  other  two  arms,  as  far 
as  lay  in  its  power,  it  did  its  whole  duty  faithfully  and  intelligently, 
and  that  on  more  than  one  occasion,  the  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill  par 
ticularly,  it  confessedly  saved  the  Army  from  serious  disaster." 

If  the  "lay  of  the  land"  had  been  more  in  his  favor  Mc- 
Clellan  might  have  here  shown  the  advantage  of  the  co 
operation  of  the  water  with  the  land  forces,  as  first  sug 
gested  by  him,  and  which  he  endeavored  to  demonstrate  as 
soon  as  it  was  in  his  power. 

Some  time  previous  to  this  battle,  he  had  consulted  with 
Commodore  John  Rodgers,  and  it  was  supposed  that  he 
knew  what  position  could  be  taken  on  the  river,  for  con 
veniently  opening  fire  upon  the  flank  of  the  enemy  attacking 
our  forces  at  Malvern  Hill. 

General  William  B.  Franklin  held  the  Right  resting  on 
the  James  River,  General  Fitz  John  Porter  the  extreme 
Left :  General  E.  D.  Keyes  and  General  S.  P.  Heintzelman 
the  Centre,  and  General  E.  V.  Sumner's  Corps  was  in  re 
serve. 

The  Right  was  to  be  supported  by  the  gunboats  "Galena" 
and  "Jacob  Bell,"  the  duty  of  whose  loo-pounders  it  was  to 
sweep  the  woods  and  prevent  the  advance  of  rebel  reinforce 
ments.  But  it  has  been  confidently  asserted  that  the  co 
operation  of  the  gunboats  at  this  point  was  of  doubtful 
utility  on  account  of  the  height  of  Malvern  Hill,  which 
obstructed  the  view  of  the  troops  from  the  river;  in  other 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  363 

words  the  Hill  was  in  the  way.  And  yet,  it  would  be  hard 
ly  fair,  perhaps,  to  say  that  the  gunboats  were  of  no  advan 
tage,  especially  as  the  victory  was  ours  and  nobody  was  to 
be  blamed. 

Grows'  "Journal"  :  "Sunday,  June  29,  1862.  Packed  up, 
and  at  4  were  on  our  way :  went  about  3  miles  and  stopped, 
on  account  of  some  trouble  ahead.  It  is  very  hot.  In  about 
a  couple  of  hours  we  got  under  way  and  went  a  short  dis 
tance,  when  we  stopped  and  rested  till  4  o'clock  this  after 
noon  when  we  began  the  march  again,  and  arrived  in  camp 
about  7,  put  up  tents  and  turned  in. 

Monday  June  30,  1862.  Broke  camp  about  4  this  morn 
ing  and  started  to  go  ten  miles  to  City  Point  on  the  James 
River,  but  did  not  go  more  than  three,  when  we  went  into 
park  on  a  place  called  Turkey  Island,  put  up  our  tents  in 
the  edge  of  the  woods  and  laid  down.  I  am  very  hungry, 
for  I  have  not  tasted  meat  for  a  number  of  days. 

I  soon  fell  asleep  and  awoke  to  find  that  we  were  on  the 
move  again  to  get  out  of  the  way,  as  a  battle  was  going  to 
be  fought.  We  moved  about  one  mile.  After  getting 
there  we  rested  a  little.  In  a  very  short  time  the  fight  be 
gan,  and  never  did  I  hear  such  noise! — the  cannonading 
was  awful.  In  about  an  hour  the  firing  on  the  rebel  side 
ceased." 

General  McClellan  stayed  with  the  Fifth  Corps  all  night 
on  the  3Oth  and  inspected  the  line  at  8.30  next  morning. 

REPORT  OF  GEN.  GEORGE  W.  MORELL. 

General  Morell's  Report  dated  Harrison's  Bar,  Va.,  July 
21,  1862,  has  the  following: — 

"At  daylight  on  the  3Oth  June,  1862,  Monday,  I  started 
for  Turkey  Bridge  and  James  River  via  the  Quaker  road 
and  Malvern  Hill,  and  bivouacked  about  10  a.  m.  on  the 
bank  of  the  river  below  the  bridge,  but  was  soon  recalled  to 
Malvern  Hill,  as  the  enemy  was  approaching.  ...  On  the 


364  HISTORY    OF    THE 

west  edge  of  the  field,  not  far  from  the  Richmond  road,  and 
overlooking  the  field  and  valley,  is  a  large  white  house, 
Dr.  J.  H.  Mellert's,  which  was  my  headquarters.  My  Di 
vision  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  and  in  this  field 
bore  its  part  in  the  battle  of  Malvern." 

General  Charles  Griffin  was  charged  by  General  Fitz  John 
Porter  with  a  general  supervision  of  the  artillery  line,  in  ad 
dition  to  the  command  of  his  brigade;  Captain  William  B. 
Weeden  retaining  the  immediate  command  of  the  artillery 
attached  to  the  Division.  In  his  report  General  Griffin, 
after  designating  the  artillery  engaged,  says: — "The  bat 
teries  were  excellently  served.  The  greatest  coolness  and 
bravery  were  displayed  by  officers  and  men,  and  my  only 
regret,  is  my  inability  to  mention  the  officers  by  name." 

General  Morell,  in  his  acknowledgments  for  his  indebted 
ness  to  certain  officers,  includes  Captain  Weeden  whom  he 
says  "besides  performing  his  peculiar  duties,  joined  me 
whenever  he  could  do  so,  and  acted  as  one  of  my  staff." 

A  RECENT  COMPLIMENT. 

In  a  letter  dated  Providence,  R.  I.  September  19,  1899, 
Captain  William  B.  Weeden  says: — 

"A  section  of-  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  under  Lieut.  Phil 
lips,  was  posted  next  Battery  C.,  R.  I.  then  under  my  imme 
diate  command,  in  the  heaviest  shock  of  the  battle  of  Mal 
vern  Hill.  It  did  excellent  service,  both  command  and 


men." 


REPORT  OF  GEN.  JOHN  H.  MARTINDALE. 

General  John  H.  Martindale  in  his  official  account  of  the 
battle,  after  referring  to  the  retirement  of  the  rear  guard 
of  the  day  before,  which  left  Porter's  Corps  and  Couch's 
Division  to  cover  the  front,  describes  the  conflict  as  "an 
affair  of  artillery,"  and  proceeds  to  say, — "None  of  Porter's 
Corps  had  yet  engaged  the  infantry.  Couch,  however,  was 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  365 

pressed  severely  on  the  right,  but  held  his  ground.  I  had 
encountered  artillery  before,  but  now  it  opened  as  I  had 
never  yet  seen  it.  It  was  obvious  that  the  whole  Army 
of  the  Potomac  was  resting  there  for  safety  on  the  steadi 
ness  of  the  portion  of  it  which  was  then  confronting  the 
enemy.  I  went  along  the  line  of  my  regiments,  and  told 
them  my  dispositions  for  battle,  and  reminded  them  that  a 
retreat  would  be  annihilation.  It  would  be  better  to  face 
the  enemy  to  the  last,  than  to  retire, — that  there  was  no 
.Washington  to  fall  back  on  as  at  Bull  Run,  no  Chicka- 
hominy  to  cross  as  at  Gaines  Mills.  We  must  be  victorious 
or  perish!" 

FROM  THE  REPORT  OF  BRIG.  GEN.  DARIUS  N. 

COUCH. 

HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

July  5,  1862. 

"At  9  o'clock  [July  i,  1862]  Berdan's  sharpshooters 
were  driven  in.  The  rebels  were  driven  off  by  artillery 
alone.  From  this  time  until  about  i  p.  m.  the  contest  was 
on  both  sides  in  the  hands  of  the  artillerists;  then  they 
pushed  forward  a  column  to  carry  the  Left  of  the  line  held 
by  Griffin.  They  were  driven  back  disorganized  and  cut  up 
by  our  artillery  alone.  Their  batteries  played  upon  us  with 
out  intermission,  but  owing  to  the  care  used  in  masking  the 
men,  our  loss  from  it  was  not  serious,  with  the  exception  of 
a  battery  to  the  right,  that  enfiladed  my  position.  .  .  . 

At  about  4.30  p.  m.,  after  an  incessant  cannonade,  they 
boldly  pushed  forward  a  large  column  from  their  Right  in 
the  open  field  to  carry  Griffin's  position.  The  fire  of  three 
batteries  was  concentrated  upon  them.  Kingsbury's  [Bat 
tery  D,  5th  U.  S.]  battery  having  been  withdrawn  for  am 
munition,  was  relieved  by  three  guns  of  Battery  C,  Rhode 
Island  Artillery  and  two  guns, — Allen's  Fifth  Massachu 
setts,— under  Captain  Weeden.  The  attacking  column  kept 


366  HISTORY    OF    THE 

on,  continually  reinforced  until  within  range  of  Griffin's 
Rifles,  when  it  was  stopped  and  formed  line. 

From  this  time  until  8  p.  m.  there  was  enacted  one  of  the 
sublimest  sights  ever  presented  in  war,  resulting  in  a  glo 
rious  victory  to  our  arms." 

The  action  now  became  general  and  General  Couch  as 
sumed  command  of  the  entire  line  for  the  time,  ordering  up 
the  reserves  etc.  etc. 

"Night  closed  in  upon  us,"  he  continues,  "still  righting; 
the  opposing  forces  only  known  by  their  lines  of  fire,  that  of 
the  rebels  gradually  slackening  until  8.30  p.  m.,  after  which 
an  occasional  cannon  shot  from  our  batteries  only  broke  the 
stillness  that  pervaded  this  bloody  field. 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  which  caused 
great  carnage  and  demoralization  among  the  best  divisions 
of  the  enemy,  with  comparatively  small  losses  on  our  side. 
.  .  .  Having  received  orders  from  General  McClellan  to 
fall  back,  my  troops  were  gradually  withdrawn  from  the 
field.  Captain  Benson  [Captain  Henry  Benson  Battery  M, 
2d  U.  S.]  who  had  relieved  the  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island  batteries  after  dark,  left  one  section  of  his  artillery. 
.  .  .  Both  armies  retreated,  the  one  because  it  was  beaten, 
the  other  because  it  was  a  part  of  the  plans  of  our  general." 

Powell's  History  says  of  Allen's  [Fifth  Mass.]  and 
Weeden's  [Fourth  R.  L]  Batteries: — "About  4  p.  m.  July 
ist,  [the  hour  at  which  the  assault  on  Morell's  lines  was  ex 
pected,  information  to  that  effect  having  reached  Porter's 
Head  Quarters,]  the  Fourth  R.  I.  Battery  [Weeden's]  com 
manded  by  Lt.  Richard  Waterman,  was  withdrawn  from 
the  left,  and  later  on,  in  connection  with  Lt.  [John  B.] 
Hyde's  section  of  Allen's  Battery,  relieved  Kingsbury's 
[Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.]  Battery,  on  General  D.  N.  Cottch's 
left,  and  rendered  admirable  service,  having  a  whole  com 
pany  of  experienced  gunners  to  man  his  three  guns." 

At  4.30,  McClellan  came  upon  the  field  again  to  consult 
with  Porter  at  his  Head  Quarters,  the  Malvern  house.  At 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  367 

9  p.  m.  the  battle  was  over  and  McClellan  had  a  consultation 
with  Commodore  Rodgers  in  relation  to  the  movement  to 
Harrison's  Landing  which  was  then  decided  upon.  So  very 
pleased  was  he  with  the  outcome  of  this  encounter,  that  he 
closed  his  official  report  with  the  following  words : — 

"My  mind  cannot  coin  expressions  of  thanks  and  admiration  warm 
enough  or  intense  enough,  to  do  justice  to  my  feelings  towards  the 
Army  I  am  so  proud  to  command. 

To  my  countrymen  I  confidently  commit  them,  convinced  they  will 
ever  honor  every  brave  man  who  served  during  those  seven  historic 
days  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  ...  I  will  simply  call  attention 
to  the  invaluable  services  rendered  by  the  artillery,  and  say  that  its 
performances  have  fully  justified  my  anticipations,  and  prove  it  to  be 
our  policy  to  cherish  and  increase  that  arm  of  the  service." 

FROM  "RHODE  ISLAND  IN  THE  REBELLION." 

"The  battle  began  at  3  o'clock  p.  m.  by  a  heavy  musketry 
fire  from  the  rebels  upon  our  centre,  and  soon  a  general  en 
gagement  ensued.  Our  line  was  in  the  form  of  a  semi 
circle.  For  several  hours  the  conflict  raged  with  unmiti 
gated  fury.  Here,  as  at  Gaines  Mills,  Porter's  Corps  did 
some  splendid  fighting.  ...  At  half-past  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning  the  three  remaining  guns  of  Battery  C, 
(Weeden's)  with  a  section  of  Allen's  Massachusetts  Bat 
tery,  all  under  the  command  of  Captain  Weeden,  moved  to 
the  hills  and  proceeded  off  to  the  Left  of  the  line  to  protect 
the  left  flank.  The  Battery  (Weeden's)  with  Allen's  sec 
tion,  was  stationed  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  and  commanded  a 
plain  below.  A  sharp  look-out  was  kept  along  the  edge  of 
the  woods  beyond  the  plain,  to  see  that  no  rebels  came  out, 
and  if  they  did,  to  give  them  a  becoming  reception.  Shot 
and  shell  from  the  rebel  batteries  on  our  right  were  con 
stantly  flying  over  our  heads,  but  we  had,  for  the  moment, 
less  to  fear  from  them  than  from  some  of  our  own  guns  on 
the  extreme  Left  of  the  line,  which  were  obscured  from  our 
view  by  woods,  and  were  shooting  over  our  heads.  Some 


368  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  their  shells  were  fired  at  too  short  range,  and  a  32- 
pounder  shell  burst  close  by  one  of  our  pieces,  instantly  disab 
ling  six  of  its  men,  and  fatally  wounding  Lieut.  Waterman's 
horse  and  that  of  Serg't  Hunt.  It  was  little  less  than  mi 
raculous  that  their  riders  escaped.  Two  of  the  men  were 
instantly  killed,  and  four  wounded,  one  severely. 

The  explosion  was  stunning.  Shells  were  coming  from 
Right,  Rear,  and  Left,  and  our  position  being  too  hot  we 
were  ordered  to  retire :  and,  moving  farther  to  the  right, 
very  soon  relieved  Griffin's  Battery,  which  had  expended 
all  its  ammunition.  After  getting  in  battery,  firing  was 
commenced,  dropping  shells  in  various  directions  in  the 
woods  in  front  of  us.  A  rebel  battery  somewhere  in  front 
of  us,  responded  to  our  civilities,  and  sent  us  specimens  of 
their  ordnance  stores,  but  as  most  of  them  overreached,  no 
injury  was  done. 

In  a  short  time  a  rebel  regiment  was  seen  coming  down  a 
road  to  our  left  and  'front  and  deploying  into  the  field  as 
skirmishers.  Attention  was  also  arrested  by  a  rebel  battery, 
just  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  in  the  rear  of  the  regiment, 
whose  position  could  be  discerned  only  by  the  smoke  of  its 
discharge.  A  few  well  directed  missiles  put  a  stop  to  im 
pertinences,  and  firing  from  that  quarter  soon  ceased.  Most 
of  its  shots  overreached  and  did  comparatively  little  damage. 
One  was  made,  however,  which  told  on  our  ranks.  A 
shrapnell  burst  splendidly, — for  so  are  death  missives  often 
viewed  on  the  battle  field, — and  one  of  the  fragments  struck 
Corporal  William  B.  Thompson  in  the  thigh,  making  a 
mortal  wound.  Another  man,  working  the  guns,  was 
struck  in  the  arm  by  a  piece  of  the  same  shell,  and  died  in 
twenty  minutes.  The  rebel  infantry  came  within  300  yards 
of  our  Battery,  but  we  could  not  poke  canister  at  them  from 
fear  of  wounding  our  own  men  in  front,  so  we  gave  them 
shrapnell,  shells  filled  with  sixty  bullets  and  nearly  as  de 
structive,  which  were  fired  over  the  heads  of  the  infantry. 

The  batteries,  in  their  several  positions,  mowed  down  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  369 

rebels  with  terrible  certainty,  as  did  our  infantry  along  the 
entire  line,  but  life  seemed  of  no  consequence  to  their  of 
ficers,  and  relying  on  their  superior  numbers  they  filled  every 
breach  made  in  their  ranks  with  fresh  men,  maddened  and 
made  reckless  by  whiskey  and  gunpowder. 

Though  they  numbered  three  to  our  one  it  was  in  vain 
that  they  rushed  upon  our  men.  It  was  only  to  meet  cer 
tain  death  and  final  repulse. 

Our  men  stood  up  bravely  to  the  work,  as  they  did  six 
days  before,  and  when  they  saw  the  rebel  infantry  deploy 
ing,  cheered  and  waved  their  hats;  crying  'Give  it  to  them!' 
'Give  it  to  them !'  and  it  was  done.  .  .  . 

About  half  past  seven  o'clock  we  were  relieved,  and  re 
turned  to  the  camp  we  left  in  the  morning.  Late  in  the 
night  the  Battery  proceeded  on  its  way  to  Harrison's  Land 
ing  where  it  arrived  at  4  o'clock  a.  m.,  very^much  exhausted. 

At  midnight  terminated  a  week  of  battles,  the  enemy 
driven  back,  and  the  Federal  army  holding  the  field.  The 
Federals  captured  twenty-nine  cannon  and  lost  twenty - 
eight." 

THE  SEVEN  DAYS  BATTLES. 
REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  JOHN  B.  HYDE. 

"I  was  ordered  by  Captain  Weeden  to  take  my  remaining 
pieces,  with  his  Battery,  to  the  front  and  on  the  brow  of  a 
hill  about  2000  yards  from  the  enemy  who  were  in  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  with  artillery  and  infantry.  We  began  to 
shell  them,  and  after  about  half  an  hour,  in  connection  with 
other  batteries,  silenced  the  enemy,  and  was  then  ordered 
with  Weeden's  Battery  to  take  position  in  the  field  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road,  and  again  began  firing  in  the  direc^ 
tion  of  the  enemy.  This  was  kept  up  till  dark,  when  we 
were  relieved  and  returned  to  camp. 


370  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Amount  of  ammunition  expended,  300  rounds. 
Robert  King  wounded  in  breast. 
Jacob  Peacock  wounded  in  the  leg. 
Three  horses  shot. 

During  the  engagement  all  the  men  behaved  remarkably 
well. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted 

JOHN  B.  HYDE  Lieut. 
Commanding  Battery." 

FROM  PHILLIPS'  DIARY  AND  LETTERS. 

"Monday,  June  30,  1862.  Marched  at  3  a.  m.  to  the 
James  River  and  camped  at  noon  on  Turkey  Island  near 
Malvern  Hill. 

The  whole  army  is  coming  this  way. 

About  noon  as  we  passed  through  a  wheat  field,  the  wheat 
was  stacked  all  over  the  field,  and  we  took  advantage  of  this 
to  secure  some  feed  for  our  hungry  and  tired  horses.  Send 
ing  our  cannoneers  over  the  fence  the  wheat  travelled  in  a 
very  short  period  on  to  our  caissons,  while  the  owners  looked 
from  their  windows,  rather  startled  at  this  demonstration  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  I  am  happy  to  say  I  saw  no 
guard  over  the  property.  The  next  field  was  an  immense 
corn  field,  the  corn  already  four  feet  high.  Intermixed  with 
the  corn  were  most  delicious  blackberries,  which  tasted 
sweetly  after  a  diet  of  hard  bread  and  water.  Arrived  at  the 
farther  limit  of  this  field  we  stopped  and  rested  awhile;  our 
men  pulling  up  the  corn  to  fodder  their  horses.  On  Tues 
day  night  [July  ist,  after  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill]  I 
could  not  see  a  blade  of  corn  in  the  whole  field.  Close  by 
us  was  a  large  cherry  tree,  but  this  was  soon  stripped.  Some 
of  our  men  brought  me  some  cherries  from  a  tree  by  the 
house  close  by,  black,  dead  ripe,  and  delicious.  After  a 
short  delay  we  marched  on  do\vn  the  hill  and  came  into  park 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  371 

in  a  very  pleasant  corn  field,  where  we  supposed  we  should 
stop  all  night,  but  late  in  the  afternoon  we  moved  back  on 
to  the  hill  again  near  our  former  position,  but  the  appear 
ance  of  things  had  changed.  What  we  left  a  large  green 
corn  field  was  now  an  immense  dry  plain,  all  bristling  with 
arms,  and  surrounded  with  batteries  of  artillery.  Away 
beyond  the  wheat  field  we  could  hear  the  roar  of  artillery, 
and  the  rattling  of  musketry  and  everything  looked  like  a 
grand  fight  the  next  day.  At  one  time  the  enemy  appeared 
in  our  vicinity,  making  a  small  attack  on  our  left  and  got  a 
terrible  thrashing. 

They  dragged  a  few  guns  into  position  and  opened  on  us, 
when,  as  the  poet  says,  they  were  answered  from  the  hill,  and 
with  a  vengeance  too.  Probably  nobody  was  ever  in  a  hot 
ter  place, — on  earth  at  least, — than  the  rebels  were  for  the 
next  20  minutes.  Siege  guns,  Parrotts,  and  everything 
else  poured  into  them  a  tremendous  fire,  while  the  gunboat 
shells  burst  amongst  them.  The  next  day  Captain  Martin 
brought  in  two  of  their  guns  all  covered  with  blood,  while 
the  dead  horses  and  broken  caissons  showed  the  effects  of 
our  fire.  Gradually  as  darkness  settled  upon  the  earth 
all  became  quiet,  and  we  went  to  bed  with  great  anticipa 
tions  of  the  morrow. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  MALVERN  HILL. 

The  sun  was  well  up  Tuesday  July  i,  1862,  before  the 
reveille  roused  us  to  our  day's  work. 

During  the  forenoon  all  was  still  and  quiet,  but  we  knew 
that  the  stillness  might  at  any  time  be  broken  by  the  rattling 
of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  cannon.  So  we  breakfasted 
on  hard  bread  and  waited  for  events. 

Soon  came  the  order  to  hitch  up,  and  we  started  out  to 
ward  the  wheat  field. 

At  noon  they  made  their  first  attack,  our  artillery  being 
arranged  as  follows : — 


372  HISTORY    OF    THE 

On  the  Right  Griffin's  Battery,  Lt.  Kingsbury  com'd'g: 
six  10  pdr.  Parrotts,  3  inch  calibre; 

Next  on  the  Left: — (Adelbert)  Ames's  Battery  [Battery 
A,  5th  U.  S.]  of  six  Light  12  pdrs.  smooth  bore,  otherwise 
called  the  Napoleon  Gun; 

Next: — 5th  Mass.  Battery  2  pieces; 

Next: — Captain  Weeden's  remaining  3  guns, — 3  inch 
Rifled  Guns. 

On  the  right  of  Kingsbury,  and  hidden  by  a  piece  of 
woods,  were  some  other  batteries. 

Our  two  pieces  were  formed  into  one  section  and  placed 
under  me,  Lt.  Hyde  taking  command  of  the  whole  battery. 
Dillingham  took  charge  of  the  caissons,  and  Scott  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  Battery  wagons  and  forges  belonging  to 
Griffin's,  Weeden's  and  Allen's  Batteries. 

Martin's  Battery  had  been  detached  and  sent  to  the  left, 
and  I  saw  nothing  of  it  during  the  day.  Well,  we  started 
out,  and  first  came  into  line  behind  Martindale's  brigade 
which  was  sheltered  behind  a  little  wood.  Close  by  us  was 
the  Mass.  22d,  which  had  suffered  terribly  on  Friday 
[Gaines  Mills].  Of  course  they  were  rather  down-hearted, 
and  the  officers  tried  to  keep  up  their  spirits  by  singing  &c. 
It  was  rather  affecting  to  hear  this  regiment,  cut  down  by 
disease  and  bullets  to  a  mere  fraction  of  its  original  num 
bers,  strike  up  the  John  Brown  song,  and  proclaim  their  de 
termination  to  hang  Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree,  as  stur 
dily  as  they  did  when  their  ranks  were  full.  After  waiting 
here  a  short  time  we,  together  with  the  brigade,  moved  a 
short  distance  to  the  left,  and  rested  alongside  of  Weeden's 
Battery,  Kingsbury  having  come  into  battery  on  the  right; 
the  brigade  resting  in  front  of  us  in  column  of  Division  ly 
ing  on  the  ground.  Here  we  waited  and  dined  on  hard 
bread  and  coffee,  and  shortly  afterwards  moved  to  the  left 
and  came  into  battery. 

In  front  of  us  was  the  large  level  field  about  1700  yards 
across.  On  the  opposite  side  was  a  ridge,  behind  which  the 


SECOND   POSITION. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  373 

rebels  placed  their  guns  out  of  our  sight,  and  blazed  away, 
now  from  one  place  and  now  from  another.  In  the  woods 
beyond  was  an  indefinite  number  of  rebels.  On  our  left  the 
ground  sloped  rapidly  down  to  a  low  level  meadow  bounded 
by  woods.  We  were  charged  with  the  duty  of  protecting 
our  Left  from  any  flank  movement. 

No  infantry  was  in  sight;  theirs  being  hidden  in  the 
woods,  and  ours  being  hidden  behind  the  hill  in  rear  of  our 
guns. 

Suddenly  out  the  rebels  poured  from  the  woods  in  front 
of  Kingsbury,  and  down  the  road,  their  red  flags  flying,  and 
charged  across  the  field. 

Our  infantry  rushed  out  to  meet  them,  and  back  they 
went  with  diminished  numbers. 

An  intervening  hill  prevented  us  from  participating;  we 
could  see  them  only  for  a  few  minutes. 

Soon  afterwards  we  were  ordered  to  the  right,  and  having 
to  cross  under  a  heavy  fire  of  shrapnell,  the  enemy  shooting 
very  well,  we  had  two  men  wounded  by  fragments  of  shell : 
Robert  King  in  the  shoulder,  and  Jacob  Peacock  in  the  leg. 
While  waiting  for  a  few  minutes  to  change  our  limbers, 
I  had  an  excellent  opportunity  to  dodge.     A  shrapnell  burst 
right  in  front  of  me;  the  fragments  striking  the  ground 
about    20    feet    off.     One    piece    about    an    inch    square 
ricocheted,  and  came  in  the  most  spiteful  way  straight  for 
my  shoulder,  but,  by  a  most  graceful  right  oblique,  I  got 
out  of  the  way.     About  this  time  I  missed  Lt.  Hyde,  who 
was  looking  after  the  caissons,  I  presume,  and  so  I  took 
command  and  marched  the  guns  at  full  gallop  to  the  right, 
and  came  into  line  with  Captain  Weeden,  behind  Kingsbury, 
who  was  firing  his  last  shots  at  the  retreating  rebels.     Soon 
after  we  were  ordered  forward  to  relieve  him,  everything 
else  remaining  in  statu  quo,  and  we  came  into  battery  and 
waited.     General  Couch,  General  Abercrombie  and  General 
Griffin, — commanding  Morell's   old  brigade, — were  all   in 


374  HISTORY    OF    THE 

our  neighborhood,  but  I  do  not  know  the  exact  disposition 
of  the  infantry. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  rebels  made  another  attack  on 
our  Left  and  Centre.     Just  previous  to  it  they  got  six  pieces 
of  artillery  into  a  new  position,  and  opened  on  us,  intending 
apparently  to  disable  us.     The  result  made  the  attempt  very 
ridiculous;  though  they  made  some  good  shots  and  threw 
some  shrapnell  between  our  guns,  they  did  not  hurt  any 
body,  and  in  15  minutes  we  had  silenced  them  so  completely 
that  they  did  not  fire  another  gun.     What  on  earth  induced 
them  to  try  such  a  ridiculous  proceeding  I  do  not  know.     If 
they    had    kept    their    guns    masked    until    their    infantry 
charged,  and  then  had  used  them  to  distract  the  attention 
of  our  artillery,  or  to  operate  against  our  infantry,  they 
might  have  accomplished  something,  but  they  ought  to  have 
learned  by  this  time  that  they  stand  no  chance  at  artillery 
practice. 

As  soon  as  they  made  their  appearance  from  the  woods, 
our  artillery  opened  on  them  with  terrible  effect.  The  air 
over  their  heads  was  filled  with  the  smoke  of  bursting  shells 
whose  fragments  plowed  the  ground  in  front.  Half  way 
across  the  field,  and  already  their  ranks  show  many  a  gap, 
while  wounded  men  are  straggling  fast  to  the  rear. 

They  had  got  within  800  yards,  when  out  rushed  the  in 
fantry  on  our  left,  and  the  rattling  of  musketry  mingled  with 
the  roar  of  cannon.  Then  the  rebels  poured  out  fresh 
troops  from  the  woods  in  front  of  us;  then  we  sent  in  more, 
and  so  the  fight  went  on  until  50,000  men  were  fighting  in 
the  field  in  front  of  us.  We  fired  as  fast  as  we  could  get 
fresh  limbers  full  of  ammunition;  piling  up  our  canister 
alongside  of  the  gun,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  them. 

When  two  hours  had  passed  away,  we  had  fired  250 
rounds,  our  men  were  tired,  and  three  horses  were  killed, 
when  another  battery  came  to  relieve  us.  [Colonel  Henry  ]. 
Hunt  sent  Battery  M,  2d  U.  S.  Captain  Henry  Benson,  and 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  375 

Battery  G,  ist  New  York  Light,  Captain  John  D.  Frank, 
to  relieve  Waterman  and  Hyde  on  the  left.]  So  we  lim 
bered  up  and  came  off. 

The  fight  still  kept  on,  but  about  dark  we  drove  them 
back. 

Going  a  mile  to  the  rear  I  found  the  caissons  all  safe. 
We  waited  without  unhitching  till  midnight,  when  we 
started  for  James  River,  arriving  at  3.30  a.  m.  on  the  large 
plain  where  we  encamped. 

Our  men  came  out  of  this  fight  in  very  good  spirits;  they 
thought  they  had  paid  the  rebels  somewhat  for  Friday's  loss, 
and  they  cheered  and  hollaed  at  a  great  rate." 

FROM  SCOTT'S  NOTES. 

"June  30,  1862.  After  leaving  the  Chickahominy  our 
spirits  revived.  Found  the  5th  Corps  camped  on  Malvern 
Hill  near  the  James  River. 

Parked  away  from  the  river  in  the  lee  of  some  outbuild 
ings,  we  eat  our  hard-bread,  heard  a  few  experiences  of 
narrow  escapes  during  the  day,  and  slept  on  the  ground  the 
night  of  the  3Oth  of  June  unmolested.  Most  of  the  army 
were  arriving,  and  with  the  gunboats  on  James  River  we 
felt  secure. 

In  the  rear  of  the  Malvern  house  facing  north,  was  a  level 
plain  or  plateau. 

Our  lines  were  formed  on  the  outlying  hills  of  the  plateau, 
with  our  flank  on  the  river  protected  by  the  gunboats. 

The  enemy  followed  closely. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ist  of  July,  1862,  the  weather  was 
fine.  Corps  were  getting  into  line  of  battle. 

As  the  Battery  stood  on  the  plain  near  the  Malvern  house, 
solid  shot  from  the  enemy  came  pounding  around  us. 

I  was  put  in  charge  of  the  wagons  and  caissons,  with 
orders  to  take  them  to  a  safe  place,  and  they  were  taken  past 
the  Malvern  house,  into  a  hollow,  where  we  remained  all 
day,  only  listening  to  the  heavy  firing  of  the  battle. 


376  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  5th  Mass.  Battery,  having  only  two  guns,  with  Lieu 
tenants  Hyde,  Dillingham,  and  Phillips,  was  sent  to  the 
front.  I  saw  none  of  the  fighting,  but  the  guns  were  fought 
for  all  they  were  worth  by  Lt.  Phillips  who  achieved  for 
himself  and  his  men  high  honor. 

The  gunboats  sent  their  shots  past  the  Left  flank  of  our 
Corps  into  the  enemy's  Right.  They  made  a  fearful  noise 
passing  through  the  air,  to  the  demoralization  of  the  enemy, 
who  did  not  like  those  lamp  posts'  as  they  called  them. 

As  night  began  to  close  in,  Lt.  Hyde  having  come  down  to 
where  I  was  stationed  with  the  trains,  I  ascertained  from 
him  where  the  two  guns  were,  and  said  I  would  go  and  find 
them. 

Mounting  my  horse  I  started  across  the  plains. 

The  artillery  fire  was  terrific.  In  the  darkness  I  could  see 
the  flashes  of  our  guns  and  those  of  the  enemy,  and  soon  bul 
lets  came  flying  through  the  air.  Meeting  a  mounted  of 
ficer,  and  making  inquiries  of  him  without  getting  any 
further  news,  I  thought,  as  I  was  there  without  orders,  my 
safest  place  was  out  of  the  line  of  fire,  and  retuining  to  the 
Malvern  house  I  found  the  two  guns  had  preceded  me.  The 
battle  was  over  for  the  night." 

FROM  LT.  BLAKE'S  LETTER. 

In  a  letter  dated  July  4,  1862,  Lt.  Peleg  W.  Blake  then 
sergeant,  but  promoted  to  2d  Lt.  on  the  I3th  of  that  month, 
wrote : — 

"On  a  splendid  field  near  the  James  River,  on  the  ist  of 
July  came  the  tug  of  war. 

We  were  ordered  out  with  our  two  pieces,  my  piece  and 
Spear's  piece,  all  we  had,  at  12  o'clock  m.  We  took  our 
position  on  the  Left  of  the  field  and  commenced  firing,  the 
rebels  coming  out  of  the  woods  one  mile  distant. 

Seventy-five  pieces  of  artillery  were  firing  on  the  rebels 
who  were  mown  down  by  the  thousands,  not  by  the  him- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  377 

dreds,  and  at  one  time  I  should  think  there  were  5000  rebels 
who  came  out  of  the  woods  under  all  of  our  fire  of  artillery 
and  musketry. 

On  they  came,  and  still  kept  coming,  but  soon  began  to 
run  back  for  the  woods,  but  I  am  sure,  and  I  heard  two  gen 
erals  say,  that  there  were  none  ever  got  back  to  tell  the  tale. 

Soon  after,  they  made  their  general  attack,  and  there  were 
said  to  be  100,000  rebels  under  Beauregard.  We  whipped 
them  bad. 

We  then  fell  back  to  the  James  River,  and  started  down 
the  river  10  miles.  We  are  now  on  the  James  River." 

LETTER  OF  ACTING  SERG'T.  SPEAR. 

"Friday  July  4,  1862. 

Saturday  morning  the  Army  commenced  retreating  again 
and  kept  falling  back,  and  falling  back,  until  Tuesday,  when 
it  had  another  battle. 

The  two  remaining  pieces  were  engaged,  and  I  was  in  the 
fight  about  4  hours  Tuesday  afternoon." 

AT  MALVERN  HILL 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  SPEAR. 

JULY  24,  1901. 

"The  two  remaining  pieces  went  into  position  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Phillips,  nearly  to  the  extreme  left  of  the 
Army,  on  the  right  of  the  road,  near  a  small  farm  house, 
remaining  there  until  about  noon,  then  changing  to  the  left 
and  rear  about  one-half  mile,  into  a  wheat  field  on  the  side 
of  the  hill  commanding  an  extended  view  of  the  enemy's 
right,  as  it  advanced  in  line  of  battle.  This  was  the  first 
best  position  that  we  had  for  execution,  to  my  knowledge, 
during  the  war,  the  second  being  at  Gettysburg  when  on  the 
left  of  Hancock's  Corps,  the  third  day  of  the  fight."  [See 
p.  651.] 


378  HISTORY    OF    THE 

LETTER  OF  ACTING  SERG'T.  SPEAR. 

"HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 
Thursday,  July  17,  1862. 

Last  night,  also  on  the  night  before,  we  had  thunder 
showers,  and  they  cooled  and  purified  the  air,  and  the  morn 
ings  following  the  showers  were  delightful.  Every  morning 
Bill  Baxter  and  myself  take  a  morning  ride  down  to  the 
river  and  have  a  swim.  In  my  letter  I  stated  that  there 
were  only  three  of  the  Quincy  boys  in  the  fight  at  Malvern 
Hill.  There  were  four,  viz.,  Joe  Whitcher,  H.  E.  Shaw, 
Bill  Lapham  and  myself. 

Joe  Whitcher  was  driving  a  pair  of  lead  horses  on  Tues 
day,  when  the  last  fight  occurred,  and  came  directly  on  the 
battle  field,  to  supply  us  with  ammunition,  conducting  him 
self  nobly,  and  managed  his  horses  in  good  style,  for  it  was 
a  hard  and  difficult  task  to  keep  the  horses  in  their  proper 
places,  when  the  bullets  were  whizzing,  and  the  shells  burst 
ing  about  us." 

FROM  CHASE'S  DIARY. 

"June  30,  1862.  Routed  out  and  packed  up  at  two 
o'clock  this  morning,  and  after  waiting  three  hours,  again 
resumed  our  march  towards  James  River,  and  later  reached 
the  river,  and  camped  until  about  3  p.  m.,  when  we  again 
received  marching  orders.  General  McClellan  hastily  re 
viewed  the  troops  this  p.  m.,  while  in  line  to  march.  He 
was  greeted  by  roars  of  cheering. 

Cannonading  heard  in  a  northerly  direction  towards  the 
Chickahominy. 

At  the  foot  of  a  hill  to  which  we  marched  back,  after 
marching  over  it  this  morning,  an  artillery  duel  ensued.  A 
rebel  battery  commenced  shelling  our  troops  from  the  woods, 
but  our  artillery  and  the  gunboats  on  the  river,  shelled  them 
out  in  about  thirty  minutes.  Several  of  the  enemy's  bat- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  379 

teries  were  taken,  and  about  200  prisoners  passed  our  camp. 

July  i,  1862.  Cannonading  heard  in  front  this  morning. 
A  battery  of  twelve  32  pdrs.  and  the  gunboats  on  the  James 
River,  opened  on  the  enemy. 

Hitched  up  and  went  'In  Battery'  at  the  edge  of  a  piece 
of  woods  just  to  the  right  of  the  22d  Mass.  Regt.  while  they 
were  singing  'John  Brown's  body  &c'  and  the  shot  and  shell 
flying  over  them,  and  us,  both  ways. 

Nothing  but  hard  bread  and  water  to  eat  w-ith  one  excep 
tion  since  June  26th  until  today,  when  we  had  beans.  A 
general  engagement  began  about  3  p.  m.  and  lasted  until 
about  9  p.  m. 

Our  two  remaining  pieces  advanced  and  took  position  on 
the  left  of  the  line,  and  commenced  shelling  the  enemy  in 
front :  fired  fifteen  shots  at  them  and  then  went  to  the  rear, 
but  afterwards  took  a  new  position  on  an  eminence  in  front 
of  the  enemy,  and  held  our  ground  until  7  p.  m.,  when  we 
were  relieved  by  another  full  battery  of  10  pounders. 

A  fearful  battle !  The  enemy  charged  on  our  lines  and 
were  mown  down  with  canister  and  shrapnell  shot,  and  the 
infantry, — a  constant  roar  of  cannon  and  musketry.  Lost 
two  horses.  Retired  to  the  rear  in  good  order,  and  took 
the  march  to  Harrison's  Landing,  James  River:  reached  a 
halting  place  about  3.30  in  the  morning  of  the  2d.  [July, 
1862].  Lt.  C.  A.  Phillips  very  gallantly  took  us  into  our 
second  position  in  front  of  the  enemy." 

NOTES  OF  D.  HENRY  GROWS. 

From  Notes  of  D.  Henry  Grows  No.  6  man  [to  deal  am 
munition]  on  the  5th  Gun: — "Tuesday,  July  I,  1862.  Got 
up  about  6.  Had  some  coffee.  In  a  short  time  firing  was 
heard  on  the  Right,  and  w-e  were  ordered  to  take  the  pieces 
out  on  to  the  front.  We  went  out  and  laid  down  to  rest  as 
the  firing  had  ceased.  Stopped  here  till  about  3  this  after 
noon,  when  we  were  ordered  to  take  our  position  in  line  of 


380  HISTORY    OF    THE 

battle,  which  we  did  on  a  beautiful  hill,  a  large,  level  plain 
beneath,  with  woods  in  the'  rear  in  which  the  rebels  were 
concealed. 

We  soon  opened  upon  them,  our  position  being  on  the 
Left,  and  they  returned  it  in  good  earnest.  We  had  about 
thirty  pieces  of  artillery  against  them.  They  sent  a  brigade 
of  infantry  out  against  us. 

I  was  sick  of  blood !  We  were  exposed  at  one  time  to  a 
heavy  cross  fire  but  we  soon  got  it  down. 

There  has  been  a  great  slaughter  to-day!  I  stood  at  my 
post  till  I  dropped,  owing  to  the  heat,  and  was  sent  to  the 
rear.  I  shall  go  out  again  as  soon  as  I  am  able.  A  man 
took  my  place.  We  fired  some  300  rounds.  We  lost  one 
horse,  and  one  of  the  men  was  struck  with  a  piece  of  shell. 
About  dusk  we  went  into  camp  and  turned  in.  Had  not 
slept  but  a  short  time  before  we  were  turned  out  and 
marched  all  night  till  4  o'clock  in  the  morning." 

FROM  GEN.  THOMAS  W.  HYDE. 

Gen.  Hyde  in  his  book  "Following  the  Greek  Cross,"  thus 
describes  his  emotions  on  this  battle  field : — 

"I  soon  found  myself  on  Malvern  Hill,  where  I  could  ad 
mire  the  stern  array  of  what  was  left  of  the  5th  Corps,  shat 
tered  but  dauntless  still,  and  wonder  at  the  grand  massing 
of  its  batteries,  supported  by  the  artillery  reserve,  and  listen 
to  the  deafening  roar  of  the  great  guns  from  the  war  ves 
sels  far  down  on  the  James.  .  .  .  We  heard  afterwards  how 
the  best  chivalry  of  the  South  had  for  hours  dashed  them 
selves  upon  Porter's  lines  in  vain,  how  Hunt's  unsurpassed 
artillery  had  not  allowed  the  enemy's  attacking  columns  to 
keep  their  formation  long  enough  to  get  near  his  guns." 

It  was  "by  the  light  of  the  fires,"  in  the  words  of  General 
Martindale,  "reflected  on  the  clouds  over  the  woods,  and  the 
report  of  the  pickets,"  which  revealed  to  our  forces  that  "the 
enemy  was  using  the  night  to  retire  out  of  reach  of  our  can 
non,  toward  Richmond." 


CHAPTER  XII. 
THE   BATTERY   DIVIDED. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  TRANSFERRED,  PROMOTED,  AND  DIS 
CHARGED  FOR  DISABILITY. 

"What  is  honor?  .  .  .  Who  hath  it?  He  that  died  o'  Wednesday. 
Doth  he  feel  it?  No.  Doth  he  hear  it?  No.  Is  it  insensible  then? 
Yea,  to  the  dead.  But  will  it  live  with  the  living?  No.  Why?  De 
traction  will  not  suffer  it." — SHAKESPEARE,  King  Henry  IV . 

The  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill  closed  the  Peninsula  cam 
paign.  Halleck  as  general-in-chief  gave  peremptory  or 
ders,  which  were  reluctantly  carried  out  by  McClellan  and 
Hooker,  to  withdraw  the  Army  from  the  Peninsula  with 
all  possible  dispatch. 

Governor  Andrew  in  an  address  referring  to  this  period 
says : — 

"July  2,  1862,  the  President  called  for  300,000  men.  The  unfor 
tunate  campaign  in  Virginia,  which  results  in  the  return  of  both  our 
armies  within  the  defences  of  Washington,  aroused  and  inflamed  the 
zeal  of  the  whole  people.  The  requisite  number  of  men  were  speedily 
raised." 

General  McClellan  wrote  the  Secretary  of  War  that  to 
accomplish  the  task  of  capturing  Richmond  reinforcements 
should  be  sent  to  him  "rather  much  over  than  less  than  one 
hundred  thousand  men/'  and  then  followed  six  weeks  of 
inactivity  while  he  waited. 

The  Army  had  all  "turned  in"  on  the  ground,  after  the 
battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  expecting  to  get  a  night's  rest,  but, 
talking  over  the  day's  fight  while  their  excited  nerves  were 
recovering  from  the  strain,  orders  came  to  move  on,  and 
they  were  again  on  the  march. 

381 


382  HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  pursuance  of  the  retrograde  movement  southwest  they 
marched  ten  miles,  to  Harrison's  Landing,  arriving  about 
daylight  July  3d,  and  the  Battery  went  fast  asleep,  at  last, 
in  a  field  where  they  had  dropped  down  between  the  rows 
of  corn.  The  horses  stood  in  harness  as  they  had  been  since 
the  26th  of  June. 

The  enemy  had  not  followed  in  force,  and  the  weary  sol 
diers  slept  on  far  into  the  forenoon,  unconscious  that  they 
were  lying  in  six  inches  of  water  [Scott's  Notes].  The  rain 
beat  upon  them,  but  they  paid  no  heed,  and  lay  on  the 
ground  all  day,  side  by  side  with  the  sick  and  wounded, 
obliged  to  lie,  if  they  lie  at  all,  in  this  quagmire,  exposed  to 
the  weather,  until  the  sick  and  wounded  were  taken  on  board 
the  transports,  which  was  accomplished  during  the  day  and 
the  wagons  came  up  with  shelter  for  the  weary  ones. 

Reinforcements  also  arrived,  and  stragglers  came  in. 
Among  the  fresh  troops  was  the  32d  Mass.  Infantry,  as 
signed  to  General  Griffin's,  late  Morell's,  Brigade.  The 
enemy  had  not  yet  ceased  harassing  our  rereating  columns, 
for  on  July  3d  in  the  morning,  shells  from  two  guns  which 
they  had  placed  in  position,  were  seen  bursting  in  the  air; 
three  of  them  going  to  pieces  within  200  yards  of  the  Bat 
tery  and  one  striking  in  Captain  Martin's  camp  near  them. 
The  Battery's  two  remaining  guns  were  hitched  up  for 
action,  but  after  waiting  two  hours  they  were  unhitched 
again.  The  rebel  guns  were  so  near  that  they  were  easily 
brought  in  by  our  flying  artillery. 

Grows'  "Journal" :  "July  3'  1862.  .  .  .  We  soon  got 
word  that  our  troops  had  flanked  them  taking  40  pieces  of 
artillery  and  8000  prisoners.  In  a  short  time  600  of  the 
32d  Mass  Reg't.  arrived  and  were  loudly  cheered.  Fresh 
troops  have  been  coming  in  all  day.  After  being  in  harness 
all  day,  towards  night  we  were  told  to  unhitch  and  go  into 
camp  again. 

Friday,  July  4,  1862.     About  10  this  forenoon  we  broke 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  383 

camp  and  moved  to  a  better  camping  ground,  so  as  to  give 
the  men  and  horses  rest,  of  which  we  are  greatly  in  need. 
Got  some  nice  straw  and  laid  it  in  my  tent.  Fixed  up 
things,  then  laid  down." 

On  the  Fourth  of  July,  General  Henry  W.  Halleck,  hav 
ing  come  down  from  Washington,  reviewed  the  troops,  and 
the  national  salute  was  fired,  at  each  Corps  Head  Quarters, 
in  honor  of  the  day. 

General  McClellan  anticipated  an  attack,  and  was  expect 
ing  recruits.  In  his  address  to  the  troops  on  that  day  he 
said : — 

"The  enemy  may  at  any  moment  attack  you. 

We  are  prepared  to  receive  them. 

I  have  personally  established  your  lines. 

Let  them  come,  and  we  will  convert  their  repulse  into  a  final  defeat. 

Your  government  is  strengthening  you  with  the  resources  of  a 
great  people. 

On  this  our  nation's  birth-day,  we  declare  to  our  foes  who  are 
rebels  against  the  best  interests  of  mankind,  that  this  Army  shall 
enter  the  capital  of  the  so-called  Confederacy :  that  our  national  consti 
tution  shall  prevail,  and  that  the  Union,  which  can  alone  insure  internal 
peace  and  external  security  to  each  state,  must  and  shall  be  preserved 
cost  what  it  may  in  time,  treasure,  or  blood." 

At  the  inspection  of  July  6th  by  General  Fitz  John  Porter 
and  Captain  Weeden,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  in  line. 

"It  seemed  to  be  well  understood  by  General  Porter," 
wrote  Scott,  "what  the  condition  of  the  Battery  was : — 'You 
have  lost  four  guns  at  Gaines  Mills'  he  said,  'but  you  lost 
them  honorably,  and  as  soon  as  practicable  they  will  be 
restored  to  you,  and  the  service  demands  them.'  ' 

Grows'  "Journal"  :  "Sunday,  July  6,  1862.  It  is  a  very 
hot  morning.  There  was  an  inspection  of  the  Battery  by 
General  Porter  and  staff  this  forenoon  [See  p.  341  F.  P. 
Washburn]  and  he  told  us  when  Richmond  was  ours  we 
should  go  home. 

This  afternoon  went  to  the  Doctor :  he  told  me  I  would 
not  pass,  and  to  have  my  discharge.  I  am  almost  worn  out 
with  fighting  and  marching  so  much. 


384  HISTORY    OF    TfiE 

Monday,  July  7th.  Went  to  the  Doctor  with  Serg't 
Smith.  He  instructed  me  to  tell  my  officer  to  have  me  go 
before  the  Brigade  Surgeon  and  for  him  to  sign  our  papers. 
Lieut.  Hyde  went  to  see  him  but  he  was  away,  so  we  will 
have  to  go  tomorrow. 

Tuesday,  July  8th.  A  very  hot  morning.  After  eating  I 
with  three  others  went  to  the  head  doctor.  He  told  our 
lieutenant  to  send  us  home,  and  he  will  do  all  he  can  for  us, 
for  which  I  am  very  thankful." 

A  REVIEW  OF  THE  BATTLES. 

From  a  Letter  of  Thomas  E.  Chase : — "Harrison's  Land 
ing,  Va.  July  7,  1862. 

Since  I  last  wrote  you  we  have  been  in  two  desperate 
field  engagements,  besides  much  danger  on  picket  duty.  At 
two  o'clock  p.  m.  Thursday,  26th  ult,  we  received  marching 
orders,  and  were  soon  on  the  march  to  White  House.  Can 
nonading  had  already  commenced  toward  Mechanicsville, 
and  we  knew  that  there  was  to  be  hot  work  on  the  morrow. 
We  marched  about  two  miles  towards  White  House,  and 
then  countermarched  nearly  back  again,  and  bivouacked  for 
the  night  in  a  field  with  General  Butterfield's  Brigade.  The 
firing  continued  until  about  9  p.  m.,  and  we  left  the  horses 
all  night  hitched  to  the  pieces,  and  laid  down  near  the  guns 
ready  for  duty  at  a  moment's  notice.  At  early  dawn  the 
fight  commenced  again,  and  troops  began  to  move.  We  left, 
too,  but  instead  of  approaching  the  scene  of  action  we 
marched  back  nearly  to  the  spot  we  had  left  the  day  before, 
and  placed  the  guns  'in  battery'  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  com 
manding  a  large  tract  of  land  around  us.  Lieut.  Hyde  then 
told  us  that  our  troops  were  retreating  in  good  order,  and 
that  we  were  to  cover  their  retreat,  and  that  a  battery  of  fly 
ing  artillery  would  be  the  last  to  cross  the  mill-stream  below 
us.  We  were  to  hold  our  position  and  repulse  the  enemy 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  385 

until  all  the  troops  had  crossed  and  destroyed  the  bridge. 
The  enemy's  cannonading  and  musketry  sounded  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  at  last  the  battery  crossed  and  the  men  began  to 
rip  up  the  bridge.  The  enemy  across  the  Chickahominy 
spied  us,  and  opened  on  us  from  their  32  pdr.  battery,  but 
as  the  distance  was  great  they  did  us  no  injury,  their  shells 
striking  at  least  100  yards  from  us.  The  bridge  was  de 
stroyed  before  the  enemy  made  their  appearance,  and  we 
trotted  off  to  a  new  position  about  half  a  mile  distant,  also 
on  a  hill,  at  the  edge  of  a  piece  of  woods.  Here  we  were  out 
of  the  range  of  the  enemy's  32  pdrs.,  and  began  to  think  we 
could  rest,  but — Hark !  The  enemy  have  crossed  the  mill- 
stream,  and  are  already  at  work]  Our  infantry  commence 
felling  the  trees  in  front  of  us,  and  preparations  are  made 
for  a  general  engagement.  The  enemy  threw  some  shells 
into  the  infantry  behind  the  woods,  but  did  but  little  injury. 
Soon  they — the  rebs — formed  a  line  of  battle,  and  on  they 
came,  but  \vere  quickly  repulsed  by  our  troops.  After  a 
short  delay,  they  again  rallied  with  increased  numbers.  The 
Left  section  of  our  Battery  took  a  position  at  the  edge  of 
the  woods  on  this  charge,  and  blazed  away  at  them.  The 
enemy  were  repulsed  the  second  time  as  splendidly  as  the 
first,  and  they  tried  it  for  the  third  time  with  great  force 
but  with  the  same  success.  Redoubling  their  force,  on  they 
came  again,  yelling  like  devils.  Our  brave  but  exhausted 
troops  held  them  in  check  for  a  few  moments,  and  in  the 
meantime  we  advanced  with  the  full  Battery,  and  began  to 
pour  canister  and  shrapnell  into  the  solid  ranks,  but  on  they 
came,  and  our  troops  were  overpowered  and  a  general  re 
treat  had  commenced.  Many  of  the  infantry  had  passed 
us  before  we  ceased  firing,  but  we  finally  'limbered  up'  and 
drove  off.  The  horses  began  to  fall,  the  enemy  were  close 
upon  us,  and  we  were  obliged  to  leave  four  of  our  guns  on 
the  field. 

We   retreated   across   the   Chickahominy  .over   Bottom's 


386  HISTORY   OF    THE 

Bridge,  and  camped  for  the  night  near  McClellan's  Head 
Quarters.  .  .  .  Our  Battery  fired  about  one  hundred 
rounds  at  them  at  short  range.  .  .  .  Porter's  Division  was 
forced  to  retreat  across  the  river.  They  were  overwhelmed 
by  superior  numbers.  Our  troops  fought  bravely  and  well. 
We  suffered  a  severe  loss,  but  probably  not  more  than  half 
that  of  the  enemy.  We  have  been  retreating  towards  the 
James  River,  and  on  Tuesday,  ist  inst.  we  had  another  des 
perate  battle.  Before  the  fight  McClellan  rode  along  the 
lines,  and  was  loudly  cheered  and  greeted  with  music. 
Many  of  the  troops  thought  it  was  good  news,  but  some 
thing  told  me  that  it  meant  fight,  and  well  I  knew  that  ere 
long  many  of  the  voices  that  then  cheered  so  loudly  would 
be  hushed  in  death.  Although  I  was  glad  to  see  our 
Chieftain  with  us,  well  I  knew  his  mission.  That  music  was 
not  harmony  to  me,  for  I  knew  that  the  interludes  were 
to  be  the  groans  of  the  dying.  This  was  on  Monday,  3ist, 
and  the  enemy  had  already  made  an  attack  about  5  p.  m., 
but  were  soon  repulsed." 

Notes  of  Francis  P.  Washburn :  "I  send  you  a  picture  of 
the  old  sword  picked  up  at  Harrison's  Landing.  It  was 
not  carried  by  an  officer  but  by  a  cannoneer.  When  we  were 
equipped  by  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  the  cannoneers  were 
armed  with  swords  like  the  one  in  the  picture,  and  the 
drivers  with  sabres.  Later  in  the  War  the  drivers  only 
carried  side  arms." 

The  mails  had  recommenced,  and  the  usual  order  of  camp 
was  resumed,  but  it  was  not  an  ideal  camp,  for  there  was 
no  drinking  water  within  a  mile.  The  question  of  comfort 
was  not,  however,  paramount  at  that  time  for  the  destiny 
of  the  Battery  was  being  determined. 

A  Special  Order  was  issued  from  Head  Quarters  which  for 
a  time  distributed  its  forces  into  other,  but  not  new  chan 
nels,  as  the  batteries  with  which  the  fortunes  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  were  cast,  had  been  near 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  38? 

neighbors  in  many  camps  and  on  many  fields. 

John  Galvin  in  a  letter  of  Nov.  27th,  1899,  referring  to 
the  life  in  camp  of  the  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts 
men,  says:— 

"How  often  we  partook  of  their  hospitality  of  a  Sunday 
morning !  The  5th  Battery  boys  would  not  forget  us.  The 
Rhode  Island  boys  did  not  know  how  to  bake  beans.  I  sup 
pose  they  might  be  able  to  bake  clams,  but  they  could  do 
nothing  with  beans." 

Of  their  fighting  after  the  Battle  of  Gaines  Mills  he  says : 
—"How  nobly  they  fought,  with  their  two  guns  and  their 
handful  of  men,  in  every  battle  until  we  reached  Harrison's 
Landing." 

SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  200. 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 
CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 

July  n.  186? 
Special  Orders 
No.  200 

16.  The  officers  and  men  of  Allen's  Battery  E,  Mass.  Artillery 
[Morell's  Division,  5th  Provisional  Corps],  are  assigned  to  duty  with 
Martin's  Battery  C,  Mass.  Artillery,  the  battery  still  retaining  its  com 
pany  organization. 

The  Commander  of  the  5th  Provisional  Corps  will  make  such  dis 
position  of  the  material  and  horses  as  he  may  deem  proper  in  the  bat 
teries  of  Morell's  Division.  A  sufficient  number  of  men  will  be  de 
tached  from  Allen's  Battery  and  attached  to  Weeden's  Battery  C, 
Rhode  Island  Artillery,  to  render  the  latter  efficient.  The  Chief  of 
Artillery  will  make  arrangements  at  once  to  supply  Martin's  Battery 
with  a  light  12  pounder  and  Weeden's  Battery  with  a  3  inch  ordnance 
gun. 

By  command  of  Major  General  McClellan: 

S.  WILLIAMS,  . 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


388  HISTORY    OF    THE 

CAPTAIN  A.  P.  MARTIN'S  ORDERS. 

COMPANY    ORDERS, 

CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 
July  12,  1862. 

In  compliance  with  orders  from  Head  Quarters  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  the  officers  and  men  of  Allen's  Battery  E,  Mass.  Artillery,  will  be 
temporarily  attached  to  this  Battery,  and  until  further  orders  will  form 
one  command.  Officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  in  both  bat 
teries  will  hold  their  present  rank,  and  be  respected  and  obeyed  accord 
ingly. 

In  future  the  roll  will  be  called  in  company  line.  The  company  will 
assemble,  and  when  the  order  is  given  to  call  the  roll,  each  Sgt.  will 
step  2  paces  to  the  front,  call  the  roll,  and  return  to  his  place,  in  the 
ranks,  and  report  to  the  First  Sgt.  as  he  passes  down  the  line,  who  will 
return  opposite  the  centre  of  the  line  and  report  to  the  officer  of  the 
day,  after  which  the  company  will  be  dismissed. 

The  guard  will  hereafter  be  formed  with  sabres  and  inspected  by 
the  old  officer  of  the  day,  the  old  guard  will  form  and  be  properly 
relieved.  Every  man  must  appear  at  Guard  mounting  in  uniform  with 
pants  turned  down  at  the  bottoms,  brasses  clean,  with  a  tidy  appear 
ance  generally.  Every  man  will  take  his  place  in  the  ranks,  remain 
silent,  and  keep  his  head  square  to  the  front,  and  his  hands  down  by 
his  sides. 

Each  sergeant  will  at  once  hand  in  to  Hd.  Qrs.  a  list  of  his  detach 
ment ;  designating  those  present  for  duty,  and  those  sick;  also  make 
a  distinction  between  drivers  and  cannoneers. 

A.  P.  MARTIN  Capt., 
Battery  C,   Mass.   Art'y. 

OFFICERS    RESIGNED. 

July  12,  1862,  First  Lieutenant  John  B.  Hyde  and  Junior 
First  Lieutenant  Robert  A.  Dillingham  resigned  and  were 
discharged. 

NOTES  OF  LT.  JOHN  B.  HYDE,  MAY  22,  1900. 

"Lt.  Dillingham  was  enlisted  a  private  by  me,  and  at  my 
request  was  commissioned  junior  second  lieutenant,  and 
afterwards  was  promoted  to  senior  second  lieutenant. 

He  was  a  faithful,  efficient  officer,  always  discharging 
his  duties  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  At  the  time  he  resigned 
he  was  far  from  being  a  well  man,  and  on  the  way  home 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  389 

became  seriously  ill.  He  was  assisted  through  the  journey 
by  Lt.  Daniel  S.  Tompkins  of  the  signal  corps 'who  was  also 
ill  and'  on  sick  leave,  and  myself. 

After  he  arrived  at  his  home  in  New  Bedford,  he  grew 
worse,  and  was  sick  a  long  time  with  the  dropsy,  and 
died  with  that  disease  on  January  ist,  1868,  aged  40  years." 

LT.   HYDE'S   COMING  HOME. 

Lt.  Hyde  did  not  resign  as  a  sick  man,  but  the  nervous 
strain  through  which  he  had  passed  produced  typhoid  fever, 
the  effects  of  which  still  remain  (1902),  and  while  disposed 
to  return  to  the  service  his  physical  condition  would  not 
admit  of  it. 

His  relations  with  the  Battery  were  always  very  pleas 
ant,  he  looked  after  the  men  when  they  were  sick  but  when 
well  held  them  strictly  to  the  performance  of  their  duty. 

The  horse  "Black  Charley"  was  sent  home  by  express, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1864,  at  the  New  England  Horse  Fair 
held  at  Saugus,  Mass.,  took  the  prize  as  a  saddle  horse  for 
action  and  beauty.  The  prize  was  twenty-five  dollars,  and 
with  it  went  a  diploma,  which  neatly  framed  is  still  (1902) 
preserved  among  his  master's  souvenirs  of  the  war. 

In  later  years  he  became  the  property  of  the  distinguished 
lawyer  Peleg  W.  Chandler  of  Boston  and  Brunswick, 
Maine,  and  occupied  a  stall  in  a  stable  as  fine  as  a  dwelling 
house. 

FROM   A   LETTER  OF  LIEUT.   PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 

July  12,  1862. 

In  compliance  with  my  request  Capt.  Martin  went  up  to 
see  Gen.  Porter  yesterday.  Gen.  Porter  said  that  the  com 
pany  would  be  assigned  to  Capt.  Martin,  still  retaining  its 
company  organization  under  my  command.  Yesterday  an 
order  arrived  from  Gen.  McClellan  for  officers  and  men  of 


390  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  Battery  to  report  for  duty  to  Captain  Martin,  a  suffi 
cient  number  to  be  detailed  to  fill  up  Weeden's  Battery,  the 
company  still  retaining  the  company  organization,  and  Mar 
tin  and  Weeden  recruiting  up  to  the  maximum,  regardless 
of  us.  So  you  see  how  the  thing  stands  now.  We  still  re 
main  a  battery,  without  guns  or  horses,  and  most  of  the 
men  detached  for  other  duty.  I  shall  retain  my  commis 
sion,  and  be  in  command  of  the  Battery,  having  our  mus 
tered  pay  rolls,  and  act  as  a  kind  of  supernumerary  to  Mar 
tin's  Battery.  Scott  ditto." 

Diary  of  Lieut.  Phillips:  "July  13.  Sunday,  25  of  the 
men  were  detailed  to  Captain  Weeden's  Battery." 

OFFICERS    PROMOTED. 

Several  officers  went  up.  July  13,  1862,  Second  Lt. 
Charles  A.  Phillips  was  promoted  First  Lt.,  Junior  Second 
Lt.  Henry  D.  Scott  was  promoted  Junior  First  Lt.,  and 
Peleg  W.  Blake  was  commissioned  Second  Lt.  All  of  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

August  ist  Frederick  A.  Lull  was  commissioned  Junior 
Second  Lieutenant. 

On  July  1 3th,  Scott  and  Phillips  moved  their  tent  to  Cap 
tain  Martin's  camp,  and  from  this  time  till  Sept.  12,  1862, 
the  fate  of  the  members  of  the  Battery  and  of  the  remaining 
commissioned  officers  was  identified  with  the  organizations 
to  which  they  had  been  assigned,  viz.,  the  Third  Mass.  Bat 
tery  and  the  Fourth  Rhode  Island,  special  regulations  being 
made  for  several  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates 
(see  p.  915),  but  after  Captain  Martin  became  acting  chief 
of  the  Artillery  Brigade,  Lieut.  Phillips  received  from  Gen 
eral  Morell,  commanding  the  Division,  the  appointment  of 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general  and  was  assigned  to  the 
staff  of  Captain  Martin.  Lieut.  Scott  was  appointed  acting 
assistant  quartermaster  of  Morell's  Division  and  was  as 
signed  to  Martin's  staff. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  391 

Corporal  Thomas  E.  Chase  whose  Diary  is  so  often 
quoted,  went  with  Captain  Martin's  Battery. 

July  14,  1862,  General  Halleck,  who  had  been  ordered 
to  Washington,  assumed  command  as  general-in-chief  of 
the  U.  S.  Armies,  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  re 
cuperating. 

Grows'  "Journal":  "Monday  July  14,  1862.  About  8 
this  forenoon  the  Doctor  came  round  to  see  us.  He  told 
some  of  us  he  would  send  us  North  as  soon  as  he  could,  as 
this  was  no  place  for  us.  There  are  a  great  many  men  here 
sick,  but  they  are  being  sent  away  quite  fast. 

Wednesday,  July  i6th.  Went  out  towards  evening  t3 
see  the  process  of  embalming  two  bodies  to  be  sent  home.'"' 

Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  on  the  i6th  July  from  the  camp  near 
Harrison's  Landing : — "We  have  been  spending  a  fortnight 
in  this  locality  in  great  peace  and  quiet  compared  with  the 
fortnight  which  preceded.  We  have  been  stopping  here  on 
a  level  plain,  baked  as  hard  as  a  brick  in  dry  weather,  and 
as  sticky  as  putty  in  wet.  Yesterday  we  were  mustered 
for  pay,  and  the  heat  was  terrific.  Captain  Martin's  Bat 
tery  was  mustered  just  before  we  were,  and  one  of  his  ser 
geants  was  sun  struck.  Although  we  have  been  mustered 
for  pay,  we  have  as  yet  seen  nothing  of  the  Paymaster, 
By  the  regulations  troops  are  to  be  paid  off  every  two 
months,  if  possible.  You  see  how  theory  and  practice  agree 
in  this  matter.  People  at  home  who  see  regiments  march 
ing  off  1000  strong,  have  no  idea  of  the  skeleton  regiments 
out  here.  It  was  sad  enough  before  the  last  row,  but  that 
finished  us  up.  Morell's  Division  was  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  Army,  numbering  when  filled  to  the  maximum  15,000. 
Before  we  left  Gaines's  Hill  the  regiments  had  been  reduced 
to  an  average  of  less  than  400  effective  men.  The  Massa 
chusetts  Qth  and  22cl  were  quite  large,  numbering  800  and 
600  men.  At  Gaines  Mills  the  22cl  lost  1 1  officers  and  350 
men,  at  Malvern  Hill  75  men.  They  have  now  304  men 


392  HISTORY    OF    THE 

on  their  rolls,  and  of  these  probably  less  than  200  are  ef 
fective.    There  are  now  with  the  Regiment  7  officers. 

A  great  many  officers  are  resigning,  and  things  are  in 
pretty  bad  shape.  Strategy  of  the  kind  we  have  had  lately 
is  all  humbug.  The  Armv  of  the  Potomac  have  fought  the 
bloodiest  battles  of  the  war,  and  they  have  decided  nothing. 
Fairoaks  may  have  shown  good  fighting  on  the  part  of  our 
soldiers,  but  beyond  killing  so  many  hundred  men  nothing 
was  accomplished.  The  same  may  be  said  of  all  the  battles 
of  the  Peninsula.  As  far  as  loss  of  life  was  concerned 
Gaines  Mills  cost  us  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  much  as  a  suc 
cessful  assault  upon  Richmond  would  have  done  when  we 
first  arrived,  and  has  cost  us  immeasurablv  more  in  moral 
effect  here  and  abroad,  in  time,  and  money,  and  all  owing 
to  the  'slow  and  sure'  policy." 

LETTER  OF  ACTING  SERG'T  SPEAR. 

"  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

July  17,  1862. 

Some  of  the  men  have  been  put  into  Captain  Weeden's 
Battery,  and  the  rest  were  put  into  Captain  Martin's.  We 
are  getting  along  well,  although  we  have  nothing  to  do,  to 
speak  of.  Some  of  the  men  are  in  the  Detachments  in 
Martin's  Battery,  and  some  do  not  do  any  duty.  Bill  Lap- 
ham  has  been  sent  North  to  a  hospital." 

The  sick  and  wounded  were  sent  to  various  hospitals : 
David's  Island  Hospital,  New  York;  U.  S.  Hospital,  i6th 
and  Filbert  Streets,  Philadelphia;  Convalescent  Hospital, 
Alexandria;  to  Baltimore,  to  Cumberland,  Md.,  to  Fort 
McHenry  Hospital;  Finley  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.; 
Armory  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Between  February  loth,  1862,  and  December  3ist  of  the 
same  year  besides  the  three  commissioned  officers,  as  many 
as  32  members  of  the  Battery  were  discharged  for  disability. 
Of  these  24  were  Lieut.  Hyde's  recruits,  and  5  were  Lieut 
Allen's. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  393 


LETTER   OF   LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

"  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 

July  1 8,  1862. 

Hyde  and  Dillingham  left  yesterday.  Their  resignations 
took  effect  on  the  I2th.  Scott  and  I  and  the  men  except 
28  assigned  to  Weeden  moved  over  to  Captain  Martin's 
camp  last  Sunday.  We  act  as  officers  under  Martin,  taking 
our  turn  as  Officers  of  the  Day,  and  the  men  are  incorpo 
rated  with  his  battery.  Nominally  the  5th  Mass.  Battery 
still  exists,  having  its  officers  and  non-commissioned  offi 
cers,  and  its  own  muster  and  pay  rolls,  but  it  is  a  very 
slender  existence.  I  cannot  sign  a  requisition  or  act  in  any 
official  capacity  as  commander,  and  have  nothing  to  do  with 
the  men." 

Friday  July  18,  1862,  on  account  of  heavy  rains  which 
"drowned  out  the  whole  camp"  and  flooded  the  tent  of 
Scott  and  Phillips,  the  camp  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery 
was  moved  to  a  hill  near  by,  and  the  next  day  C.  D.  Bar 
nard,  supposed  to  have  been  killed  in  the  battle  of  Gaines 
Mills,  June  27,  1862,  came  down  the  river  from  Richmond 
among  other  wounded  soldiers  on  board  the  steamer  "Louis 
iana"  with  a  flag  of  truce.  See  p.  358  C.  D.  Barnard. 

Among  other  changes  wrought  by  time,  Captain  A.  P. 
Martin  appeared  in  his  new  capacity  of  Chief  of  Artillery; 
Captain  William  B.  Weeden  having  resigned  and  gone 
home. 

Grows'  "Journal"  : — "July  20,  1862.  Soon  after  dinner 
Harry  Simonds  and  Joe  Knox  came  over  to  see  me.  Had  a 
very  pleasant  time  talking  with  them.  They  stopped  about 
an  hour.  .  .  .  Some  more  have  died  today  with  the  fever. 
A  great  many  are  embalmed  and  sent  to  their  friends." 


394  HISTORY    OF    THE 


MARTIN'S    PROMOTION. 

HD.  QUARTERS  MORELL'S 
DIVISION,   CAMP   NEAR   HARRISON'S 

LANDING,  VA.  July  24,  1862. 
Special  Orders. 

No.  215. 

Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin,  Battery  C,  Massachusetts  Artillery,  is 
hereby  designated  as  Chief  of  the  Artillery  attached  to  this  Division. 
He    will    be   obeyed   and   respected   accordingly. 
By  command  of  Brig.  Gen'l  Geo.  W.  More'll. 

R.  T.  AUCHMUTY, 
Ass't  Adj.   Gen'l. 

ENLISTED  ABOVE  THE   NUMBER. 

By  Special  Order  No.  89,  Head  Qrs.  5th  Corps,  camp 
near  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  July  24,  1862,  Thomas  B. 
Stantial  and  James  A.  Wood,  privates  in  the  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery,  having  been  enlisted  as  artificers  above  the  number 
authorized  by  law  and  deprived  of  their  positions  without 
any  fault  of  their  own,  are  discharged  from  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States  by  command  of  Brig.  Gen'l 
F.  J.  Porter. 

THE    FIFTH    ARMY    CORPS. 

July  24,  1862,  Morell's  Division  was  reviewed  by  Gen 
eral  Morell  preparatory  to  a  grand  review  the  next  morn 
ing  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  Brig.  Gen'l  F.  J.  Porter  com 
manding,  by  General  McClellan. 

The  term  "Provisional"  having  been  dropped  on  July  22, 
1862,  by  General  Order  No.  84  from  the  War  Department, 
the  "Fifth  Army  Corps"  was  permanently  established. 

On  the  25th  the  review  by  McClellan  took  place,  and  in 
the  afternoon  General  Halleck  arrived  at  Harrison's 
Landing. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  395 

LETTER    FROM    PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 

July  25,  1862. 

.  .  .  Our  camp  is  pitched  in  a  very  pleasant  spot  on  a 
little  knoll  about  a  mile  from  the  river.  Our  tents,  that  is, 
the  officers,  are  pitched  in  a  line  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and 
in  the  same  line  is  our  dining-room.  This  is  formed  of  a 
tent  fly  surrounded  by  boughs  of  trees.  An  elegant  table 
of  pine  boards  occupies  the  centre,  and  a  number  of  ammu 
nition  boxes  placed  around  form  our  seats.  We  use  it  for  a 
writing  apartment,  and  I  am  at  present  in  it  writing  on  a 
sheet  of  paper  borrowed  from  Lt.  Walcott  [commanding 
Third  Mass.  Battery]  who  is  writing  alongside  of  me. 
Until  lately  we  were  pretty  well  removed  from  water,  hav 
ing  to  go  to  the  river  to  get  it,  but  a  few  days  ago  the 
infantry  of  the  Division  who  were  encamped  near  by,  on 
the  edge  of  the  woods,  moved  down  nearer  the  river,  leav 
ing  their  wells  and  springs,  which  proved  quite  acceptable. 
Still  the  water  out  here  is  poor  at  the  best,  clayey,  and  tast 
ing  of  the  swamp.  I  would  give  a  great  deal  for  a  glass  of 
pure  cold  Massachusetts  water!  .  .  .  All  would  be  very 
well  if  we  could  only  get  some  soft  bread.  We  got  some 
the  other  day  but  it  only  served  to  aggravate  things.  .  .  . 
I  am  afraid  recruiting  is  not  going  on  very  brisk  at  home. 
We  need  more  men  or  more  generals  or  different  ones,  I 
don't  know  which.  The  troops  here  are  gradually  gaining 
health  and  strength,  but  the  officers  appear  to  be  backing 
down.  General  Martindale  has  gone  home  on  a  furlough 
and  has  probably  resigned.  [General  Martindale  never  re 
sumed  this  command  but  was  given  one  near  Washington.] 
Butterfield  has  gone  home  [on  leave].  Kingsbury  [Lt. 
Kingsbury  of  Griffin's  Battery]  is  promoted  colonel  of 
Conn,  nth  and  everybody  else  is  resigning,  going  home 
on  furlough,  or  sick  leave,  or  getting  cashiered." 


396  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Grows'  "Journal"  :  "Friday,  July  25,  1862.  Had  break 
fast  of  coffee  and  bread.  I  drank  some  of  it  and  soon  after 
laid  down  to  hear  the  news  read,  which  was  very  interest 
ing.  There  are  only  seven  of  us  in  a  tent  now,  the  rest  have 
been  discharged.  One  of  the  men  gets  a  paper  and  reads 
to  us.  Had  for  dinner  some  meat  and  potatoes.  I  eat  the 
potatoes  and  let  the  meat  alone.  After  eating  I  went  out 
under  the  shade  of  a  cherry  tree  to  get  cool.  The  sun  is 
very  hot,  and  there  is  little  air.  Remained  out  most  of  the- 
afternoon.  Came  into  the  tent  about  4^  o'clock  and  had 
some  rice  and  sugar  for  a  lunch.  Took  a  light  smoke.  Tea 
was  ready  at  6.  I  drank  a  little  and  laid  clown.  Had  a 
severe  night  of  it." 

GEN'L.  PORTER  TO  GOV.  ANDREW. 

Major  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  commanding  Fifth 
Army  Corps,  Harrison's  Landing,  Va,,  July  26,  1862,  to 
His  Excellency  John  A.  Andrew,  Governor  of  Massachu 
setts. 

[Extract.]  "It  affords  me  great  gratification  to  express  to  you  my 
admiration  for  the  noble  conduct  of  the  troops  from  your  state  under 
my  command,  in  the  late  actions  before  Richmond.  No  troops  could 
have  behaved  better  than  they  did,  the  ninth  and  22d  Regiments  and 
Martin's  Battery,  and  portions  of  Allen's,  or  done  more  to  add  to  our 
success.  Their  thinned  ranks  tell  of  their  trials,  the  brave  men  lost, 
their  heroic  dead,  and  gallant  conduct  and  devotion  to  their  country. 
Their  discipline  was  never  excelled,  and  now  with  undaunted  hearts, 
they  await  wth  confidence  of  success  the  order  to  advance.  I  hope  you 
will  be  able  to  send  on  men  to  fill  their  depleted  ranks,  even  in  parties 
of  ten,  as  fast  as  recruited.  A  few  men  joining  us  now  gives  great 
heart  to  all  men,  and  adds  to  our  strength  nearly  five  times  the  same 
number  in  new  regiments." 

Grows'  "Journal":  "Sunday,  July  27,  1862.  The  Doctor 
came  around  and  ordered  me  to  have  tea  and  farina  when 
ever  I  wanted  it.  He  is  a  very  kind  man. 

Church  services  were  held  here  by  the  officers  of  the  Hos 
pital,  and  the  singing  did  sound  splendid.  The  air  is  nice, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  397 

and  cool  enough  to  make  it  comfortable.  I  wrote  a  letter 
to  Lieut.  Phillips  in  regard  to  my  case,  and  shall  send  it  as 
soon  as  I  can  get  an  opportunity  tomorrow,  and  trust  it  will 
do  some  good." 

ENLISTED    ABOVE    THE    NUMBER. 

By  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  Fitz  John  Porter  Hd.  Qrs. 
MoreH's  Division,  July  27,  1862.  Special  Orders  No.  93, 
two  privates  in  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Christopher  B. 
Tripp  and  Charles  D.  Barnard,  having  been  enlisted  as 
artificers  above  the  number  authorized  by  law,  and  deprived 
of  their  positions  without  any  fault  of  their  own,  were  dis 
charged  from  the  military  service  of  the  United  States. 

Grows'  "Journal"  : — "Monday,  July  28,  1862,  there  were 
four  steamers  in  the  river  with  sick  and  wounded  brought 
down  from  Richmond.  They  will  have  good  care  and  treat 
ment. 

Tuesday,  July  29,  1862.  Yesterday  afternoon  we  had 
some  new  cots  brought  into  the  tent  for  us.  The  nurse  put 
them  up  and  I  slept  nicely  last  night.  Had  a  little  tea  for 
dinner,  and  this  was  all  I  could  bear.  Had  some  nice  tea 
with  milk  in  it  for  my  supper." 

BATTERY    QUARTERMASTER. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  MORELL'S  DIVISION, 
CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

July  30,   1862. 
Special  Orders. 
No.  222. 

Second  Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott,  Battery  E,  Mass.  Artillery,  is  hereby 
appointed   Battery   Quarter   Master  of  the   Artillery  force   attached   to 
this  Division.     He  will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 
By  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  Geo.  W.  Morell. 

R.  T.  AUCHMUTY, 
Ass't  Adj't.  Gen'l. 


398  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ARTILLERY   ADJUTANT. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  MORELL'S  DIVISION, 
CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

July  30.    1862. 
Special  Orders. 
No.  223. 

Second  Lieut.  Charles  A.  Phillips,  Battery  E,  Mass.  Artillery,  is 
hereby  appointed  Artillery  Adjutant  of  the  Artillery  force  attached  to 
this  Division. 

He  will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 
By  command  of  Brig.   General   Geo.  W.   Morell. 

R.  T.  AUCHMUTY, 
Ass't  Adjt.  Gen'l. 

Lt.  Phillips  in  a  letter  dated  Harrison's  Landing,  July  31, 
1862,  says  with  reference  to  his  position  as  adjutant  of  the 
artillery  force  attached  to  General  Morell's  Division : — 
"This  does  not  interfere  with  my  commission  [as  lieutenant 
of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery]  nor  with  the  reorganization  of  the 
Battery,  but  it  relieves  me  from  the  duties  of  Officer  of  the 
Day,  and  I  circulate  the  orders  from  Hd.  Qrs.  with  an 
'Official:  Charles  A.  Phillips,  Adjutant'  added.  Scott  is 
appointed  Quartermaster,  so  that  our  Chief  of  Artillery  has 
quite  a  staff. 

The  commissary  at  last  has  some  soft  bread,  and  we  are 
living  gayly  now.  We  have  also  some  vegetables,  and 
today  we  had  for  dinner,  soup  with  meat,  potatoes  and  des 
iccated  vegetables  in  it,  beets,  pickles,  soft  bread  and  tea. 
We  also  had  Colonel  Ritchie  of  Governor  Andrew's  staff  to 
dinner,  and  he  seemed  to  enjoy  the  fare.  In  an  interview 
which  he  had  with  General  Porter,  General  Porter  said  that 
the  Battery  would  probably  be  reorganized  as  soon  as  they 
could  get  the  guns." 

AN    ARTILLERY    DEMONSTRATION. 

The  Union  fleet  extended  for  two  miles  above  and  below 
Harrison's  Landing  when  the  rebel  general  Pendleton 
opened  fire  upon  the  Union  camp  and  shipping,  and  the 
Union  artillery  on  shore  and  in  the  gunboats  replied,  after 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  399 

which  the  enemy  returned  to  Petersburg  where  they  came 
from,  and  our  forces  occupied  the  position  and  commenced 
constructing  earthworks  to  guard  against  further  surprise. 
An  attack  on  Petersburg  was  contemplated  and  plans  made 
for  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  bridges  over  rivers,  in 
order  to  cut  off  connection  between  Richmond  and  the 
South.  When  this  plan  was  carried  out  the  war  was  over. 

Grows'  "Journal"  : — "Thursday  July  31,  1862,  I  got  a 
nice  dipper  of  chocolate. 

Friday,  Aug.  ist.  Was  awakened  at  i  o'clock  this  morn 
ing  by  heavy  cannonading  and  the  whistling  of  balls  and 
shells.  Got  up  and  looked  out  of  the  tent.  The  opposite 
bank  of  the  river  looked  on  fire  with  batteries.  The  rebels 
had,  during  the  darkness  of  the  night,  planted  several  light 
batteries  upon  the  shore  and  were  trying  to  sink  our  trans 
ports.  For  half  an  hour  the  cannonading  was  awful.  Our 
gunboats  soon  got  into  position,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
silenced  them. 

A  beautiful  morning.  Have  ascertained  that  the  rebels 
did  not  do  much  damage.  Several  shot  and  shell  have  been 
dug  up  this  morning.  About  10  this  forenoon,  a  poor  fel 
low  was  brought  to  the  Hospital  wounded  with  a  piece  of 
shell.  Have  ascertained  that  14  of  our  men  (men  of  our 
Army)  were  killed  during  the  firing  by  the  rebels :  some  of 
the  Cavalry,  Lancers,  and  a  few  of  the  Zouaves.  It  was  a 
surprise  and  will  probably  teach  our  folks  a  good  lesson. 
There  are  10  men  here,  9  besides  the  nurse." 

PHILLIPS'    VERSION. 

CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

Aug.  2,  1862. 

"Supplies  of  stationery  have  been  drawn  for  the  adjutant 
of  the  Artillery  and  also  for  the  commander  of  the  Fifth 
Battery.  Night  before  last  we  had  quite  a  little  excitement 
here.  About  midnight,  as  we  were  all  sleeping  soundly, 


400  HISTORY    OF    THE 

half  a  dozen  guns  suddenly  banged  away,  disturbing  the 
silence  of  the  night,  and  kept  up  the  noise  for  several  hours. 
It  was  full  as  noisy  as  anything  at  Yorktown.  Of  course 
this  brought  us  up  and  out  in  a  very  short  time,  and  we 
found  that  the  rebels  had  planted  some  field  batteries  across 
the  river,  and  commenced  banging  away  with  perfect  loose 
ness.  Some  of  the  shots  fell  among  the  infantry  of  Morell's 
Division,  two  hitting  the  tents  of  the  Mass.  32d,  who  are 
not  yet  accustomed  to  this  style  of  thing,  and  among  the 
cavalry  encamped  near  the  river,  and  I  presume  the  vessels 
on  the  river  received  an  uncomfortable  share  of  attention. 
We  were  too  far  off  to  be  troubled  and  we  stood  and  en 
joyed  the  show.  I  suppose  our  batteries  had  something  to 
say  on  the  subject,  but  the  affair  was  mostly  noise.  Last 
night  the  houses  and  woods  on  the  other  shore,  which  had 
sheltered  the  rebels,  were  burned,  making  quite  a  brilliant 
conflagration,  and  some  of  our  troops  are  now  sent  over  to 
the  other  side  every  day. 

Lieut.  Col.  (Arthur  F.  see  p.  37)  Devereaux  called  to 
see  me.  He  seemed  to  be  quite  excited  at  the  slowness  of 
the  enlistments,  and  like  a  good  many  others  round  here, 
went  in  for  a  draft  at  once.  .  .  .  We  can  now  get  unlimited 
soft  bread  of  the  commissary  at  10  cts.  a  loaf,  and  with 
onions,  beets,  potatoes,  desiccated  vegetables,  fresh  and  salt 
beef  and  occasional  baked  beans,  we  live  nretty  well.  .  .  . 

Dr.  Schell,  the  surgeon  of  the  Batteries,  has  arrived,  hav 
ing  spent  a  month  among  the  Rebels.  He  was  in  the  hospi 
tal  at  Gaines  Mills  and  remained  after  we  retreated,  and  was 
taken  prisoner.  The  rebels  kept  him  at  the  hospital 
three  weeks  attending  to  their  wounded.  He  says  the 
rebel  loss  was  at  least  half  as  much  again  as  ours.  .  .  . 
Massachusetts  is  doing  right  in  recruiting  the  old  regiments 
&c.  but  after  this  I  hope  people  will  see  that  regiments  must 
be  continually  recruited,  as  long  as  the  war  lasts.  These 
grand  uprisings  of  the  people  at  a  new  call  for  troops  may 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  401 

be  all  very  well  in  a  moral  and  sesthetical  point  of  view,  but 
in  my  opinion  are  not  half  so  useful  as  a  steady  volunteer 
ing.  Still  I  do  not  know  that  we  can  recruit  in  any  other 
way.  I  am  glad  Halleck  has  been  appointed  commander- 
in-chief,  though  I  do  not  know  exactly  what  effect  it  will 
have.  General  Morell  has  been  made  a  major  general.  .  .  . 
Just  dined  on  sardines,  stewed  tomatoes  and  Scotch  ale. 
.  .  .  The  contrabands  are  encamped  near  the  shore  here, 
and  the  way  they  skedaddled  when  they  found  the  shells 
falling  around  their  camp  was  slightly  amusing.  Artillery 
practice  at  night  is  as  good  as  fireworks.  .  .  .  Adams  Ex 
press  has  tons  of  stuff  at  Fortress  Monroe  that  they  cannot 
bring  up  the  river.  They  talk  of  increasing  their  facilities, 
and  I  hope  they  will.  As  it  is  now  it  is  rather  a  matter  of 
luck  for  anything  to  come  through,  and  the  time  of  trans 
portation  varies  exceedingly,  from  a  few  days  to  a  few 
months. 

Sunday,  Aug  3,  1862.  Rainy.  Troops  moved  across  the 
river.  .  .  . 

Lull  is  now  ist  Sergeant  and  first  in  line  of  promotion, 
and  has  done  more  work  than  any  other  non-commissioned 
officer  in  the  Battery.  Blake  will  make  a  good  officer,  and 
I  am  glad  of  his  promotion." 

Grows'  "Journal": — "Saturday,  Aug.  2,  1862.  General 
McClellan  has  been  looking  through  the  tents  for  the  past 
two  days,  to  see  how  the  sick  are,  and  how  they  are  getting 
along.  Several  ladies  have  called  to  see  us,  giving  cakes, 
lemons,  &c.  They  were  from  the  (steamer)  'S.  R.  Spauld- 
ing.' 

Monday,  Aug.  4,  1862.  The  Doctor  came  round  and  took 
down  my  name,  to  be  sent  North.  About  3  this  afternoon 
the  Orderly  came  over  with  the  Rolls  for  me  to  sign.  Harry 
Simonds  came  to  see  me  soon  after,  and  bade  me  good  bye. 
About  half  past  5  this  afternoon  the  order  came  for  me  to 
get  ready.  In  a  short  time  I  was  in  the  ambulance  ready  for 


402  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  boat.  I  soon  arrived  on  board  the  steamer  'Vanderbilt, 
and  was  shown  to  a  good  berth.  After  putting  my  things 
away  I  had  some  good  beef  tea  and  bread — soon  after  a 
large  cup  of  tea,  and  bread  with  butter.  The  nurses  are  very 
kind;  all  being  men,  with  the  exception  of  three  ladies  who 
wait  on  the  worst  cases.  There  are  many  aboard  who  are 
very  sick,  and  out  of  their  heads  (delirious)  and  they  re 
quire  a  great  deal  of  watching." 

The  President  called  for  300,000  more  men  to  serve  for 
nine  months. 

The  reinforcements,  which  the  President  and  General 
Halleck,  after  their  visits  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as 
sured  General  McClellan  should  be  provided,  did  not  come, 
and  August  4,  1862,  after  McClellan  had  occupied  the  posi 
tion  he  had  secured  on  the  James  River  for  a  month,  he  re 
ceived  orders  from  General  Halleck  to  proceed  to  Acquia 
Creek,  between  Fredericksburg  and  Washington,  thus  re 
linquishing  the  hope  of  the  capture  of  Richmond,  and  of 
assisting  in  the  protection  of  Washington  by  holding  the 
attention  of  the  enemy,  so  as  not  to  admit  of  their  detaching 
any  large  force  to  attack  Washington. 

General  McClellan  protested.  The  order  was  reiterated, 
and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  transportation  by  water  to 
Newport  News  not  being  convenient,  marched  to  that  point. 

FROM   A   LETTER    FROM    PHILLIPS. 

"Monday,  Aug.  4,  1862.  The  mail  boat  leaves  here  at  9 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  but  I  generally  mail  my  letters  the 
evening  before,  writing  them  in  the  daytime.  .  .  .  Last 
night  we  received  a  notification  that  the  commissary  was 
prepared  to  issue  fresh  bread  to  the  troops.  This  will  set 
up  the  sick  men  in  a  very  short  time,  and  if  the  army  should 
be  kept  much  longer  on  hard  bread  and  salt  beef  the  men 
would  not  be  good  for  much.  Sickness,  I  presume  incipient 
scurvy,  is  very  prevalent  here.  Everybody  seems  to  lose 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  403 

all  strength.  I  do  not  know  of  anything  which  set  me  up 
so  much  as  the  tomatoes.  From  feeling  weak  and  languid 
I  became  quite  lively  and  strong.  .  .  .  The  only  variety  we 
have  is  in  the  way  of  flies,  which  are  very  thick  and  very 
troublesome.  The  flies  here  look  like  the  common  flies  at 
home,  but  they  have  a  much  more  insinuating  way  with 
them,  biting  just  like  mosquitoes.  Their  quantity,  too,  is 
perfectly  astonishing.  The  tent  is  generally  full  of  them, 
not  to  mention  other  bugs  and  creeping  and  crawling  things, 
which  abound  in  great  variety.  It  is  quite  an  occupation 
every  evening  to  catch  the  bugs  and  throw  them  out  of 
doors. 

Yesterday  (3d  Aug.)  we  had  inspection  and  I  turned  out 
as  usual  with  Martin's  Battery.  .  .  .  Recruits  and  soldiers 
returned  from  furlough,  come  in,  a  few  every  day,  though 
whether  more  than  enough  to  make  up  for  the  exodus  of 
the  sick  I  do  not  know.  There  is  a  little  too  much  of  get 
ting  up  companies.  If  men  won't  recruit  without  a  com 
mission,  send  home  some  of  the  officers  here  on  recruiting 
service,  but  do  not  get  up  new  companies  to  please  the 
vanity  of  towns  and  the  martial  glory  of  untried  men." 


In  the  following  words  Napoleon  Bonaparte  expresses 
similar  sentiments : 

"It  has  been  said  that  the  victories  of  the  French  Repub 
lic  were  won  by  the  new  volunteers,  who  were  inexperienced 
in  war.  There  could  be  no  greater  mistake;  they  were  won 
by  the  180,000  old  soldiers  of  the  monarchy.  You  will  not 
soon  see  me  going  to  war  with  recruits." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Aug.  5,  1862:  Yesterday  afternoon  some  batteries  of 
horse  artillery  went  by  with  forage  as  if  going  on  a  recon- 
noissance,  and  at  midnight  we  got  orders  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  short  notice  with  two  days'  rations.  So  the  un- 


HISTORY    OF    THE 

lucky  adjutant  had  to  arise,  copy  the  order,  and  send  it  to 
the  other  batteries.  This  morning  there  was  some  artillery 
firing.  .  .  .  We  were  probably  put  under  marching  orders 
so  as  to  be  ready  to  support  the  reconnoissance  if  necessary. 
.  .  .  Let  me  explain  the  two  kinds  of  Light  Artillery:— 
'Horse  Artillery/  or  'Flying  Artillery'  has  all  the  can 
noneers  mounted  on  horseback.  In  'Mounted  Artillery'- 
the  common  Light  Batteries, — the  cannoneers  walk  or  ride 
on  the  carriages.  We  are  'Mounted  Artillery.'  There 
are  only  a  few  batteries  of  'Horse  Artillery'  in  the  service, 
and  they  are  all  attached  to  the  Artillery  Reserve.  They 
are  used  to  manoeuvre  with  cavalry  on  reconnoissance  &:. 
General  Stoneman  in  his  flying  expeditions  uses  Cavalry 
and  Horse  Artillery.  The  Fifth  Battery  is  not  yet  re 
mounted  and  equipped." 

THIRD    MASS.    BATTERY. 

COMPANY  ORDERS. 
HARRISON'S  LANDING,  VA. 

Aug.  5,   1862. 

Lieut.  Valentine  M. '  Dunn,  having  been  commissioned  as  Senior  ist 
Lieut.,  Lieut.  Philip  H.  Tyler  as  Junior  ist  Lieut.,  Lieut.  Aaron  F. 
Walcott  as  Senior  2d  Lieut.,  and  Sergeant  Thomas  M.  Cargill  as 
Junior  2d  Lieut,  of  Battery  C,  Mass.  Art'y,  they  will  at  once  assume 
command  of  their  respective  positions  and  be  respected  and  obeyed 
accordingly. 

Lieut.  Charles  A.  Phillips,  having  been  commissioned  as  Senior  ist 
Lieut.,  Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott  as  Junior  ist  Lieut.,  Sergeant  Peleg  W. 
Blake  as  Senior  2d  Lieut,  of  Battery  E,  Mass.  Art'y,  they  will  be 
respected  and  obeyed  accordingly. 

A.  P.  MARTIN  Capt. 
Battery  C,  Mass.  Art'y. 

Grows'  "Journal" : — 'Tuesday  Aug.  5,  1862.  About  9 
this  morning  the  ambulances  began  bringing  more  sick 
aboard.  Got  filled  up  about  noon  and  then  got  ready  to 
start  as  soon  as  the  water  is  high  enough.  .  .  .  Got  under 
way  about  4  o'clock  this  afternoon,  and  went  down  the  river. 
The  scenery  is  very  fine.  We  had  a  flag  of  truce  flying,  and 
the  rebels  did  not  fire  on  us.  The  other  boats,  such  as  the 


'FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  405 

mail  and  transports,  go  up  and  down  the  river  accompanied 
by  gunboats. 

Arrived  off  Fortress  Monroe  about  8  o'clock  in  the  even 
ing,  and  anchored  for  the  night. 

I  cannot  describe  my  feelings  on  beholding  this  place 
again!  'Burnside's  Fleet'  are  in  Hampton  Roads,  and  the 
several  men-of-war. 

On  board,  six  have  died  since  yesterday,  and  I  do  not 
know  how  many  are  dead  in  the  after  cabin.  There  is  one 
poor  fellow  near  me,  who  cannot  stand  it  till  morning. 

\Yednesday,  Aug.  6th.  The  poor  fellow  near  where  T 
laid  on  deck,  died  at  12  last  night.  Since  we  started  twenty 
have  died.  About  10  this  forenoon,  we  received  orders  to 
go  up  the  river  to  Norfolk,  and  there  take  in  coal  and  ice 
to  last  us  to  Philadelphia.  The  trip  was  quite  pleasant. 

Passed  the  old  rebel  batteries  on  Sewall's  Point;  also  the 
place  where  the  'Merrimac'  was  blown  up,  and  the  old  U.  S. 
Frigate  'United  States'  burned  by  the  Secesh.  I  also  saw 
Portsmouth,  a  very  fine  place.  About  one  o'clock,  we 
hauled  alongside  the  wharf,  and  began  taking  in  coal  and 
ice.  My  goodness,  how  hot  it  is!  Got  aboard  about  40 
tons  of  coal,  and  about  5  tons  of  ice.  We  laid  here  till 
about  4  in  the  afternoon,  when  we  sw'ung  off  from  the 
wharf,  and  'steamed  up'  for  the  Fort  for  orders.  A  nice 
breeze  sprung  up,  and  it  is  very  pleasant.  Arrived  off  the 
Fort  about  half  past  6,  lay  off  and  on'  for  about  an  hour. 
Got  orders  to  go  to  Philadelphia.  This  was  cheering  to  me, 
knowing  that  Massachusetts  would  send  for  her  sick  and 
wounded.  Soon  got  under  way,  passing  the  Rip  Raps,  and 
proceeded  out  to  sea  by  the  large  'Light  Boat.'  It  is  a  fine 
evening,  and  the  stars  are  beginning  to  come  out.  •  Large 
porpoises  jump  out  of  the  water  and  play  around  the 
steamer.  The  sea  breeze  has  already  begun  to  revive  the 
sick.  It  does  seem  good  to  me! 

Five  more  have  died,  making  in  all  since  last  Monday 


406  HISTORY    OF    THE 

night  twenty-five,  mostly  fever  cases.  They  were  kept  too 
long  at  the  Landing  before  they  were  sent  away  for  the 
North,  and  many,  I  think,  who  have  died  on  board  would 
have  been  alive  if  they  had  been  sent  away  before." 

PRISONERS  EXCHANGED. 

"Aug.  6,  1862.  [Chase's  Diary,  Corporal  Chase  being 
with  the  Third  Mass.  Battery.]  Thirty  thousand  prison 
ers  returned  from  Richmond;  among  them  Richard  Heyes 
and  Edward  F.  Smith  of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery,  taken  pris 
oners  at  the  battle  of'Gaines  Mills." 


Grows'  "Journal": — "Thursday,  April  7,  1862.  I  only 
got  about. two  hours'  sleep  last  night.  I  laid  down  on  deck. 
Excitement  is  now  keeping  me  up.  About  8  this  morning 
passed  the  capes  of  Delaware,  Cape  May  and  Cape  Henlopen, 
and  entered  the  mouth  of  the  river.  We  are  now  100  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  and  expect  to  get  there  about  3  this 
afternoon. 

It  does  look  splendid  to  see  the  farms  on  the  banks  of  the 
river,  Delaware  on  one  side  and  Pennsylvania  on  the  other; 
Philadelphia  being  on  the  left  hand  side,  going  up  the  river. 
Such  neat  houses  and  barns  made  me  for  the  first  time 
realize  that  I  was  coming  near  home.  We  arrived  at  'quar 
antine'  about  3  in  the  afternoon,  and  waited  some  time  for 
the  Doctor  to  come  aboard  before  we  could  go  to  the  city. 
He  came  at  length  and  in  a  short  time  left  us,  when  we  pro 
ceeded  up  to  the  city,  only  10  miles. 

Arrived  at  the  Pier  in  about  an  hour  and  made  fast. 
After  waiting  almost  an  hour,  everything  then  being  in 
readiness  we  began  to  go  ashore. 

On  landing  I  once  again  found  myself  in  the  presence  of 
a  vast  throng  of  white  men  and  women  in  citizens'  dress. 
Some  of  the  ladies  grabbed  my  knapsack,  others  my  can 
teen,  and  haversack,  and  overcoat,  offering  me  tea,  coffee. 


FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY.  407 

cakes,  wine,  and  water  etc.  I  endeavored  to  get  away  from 
them,  but  it  was  of  no  use.  I  took  a  few  cakes  and  some 
strong  tea,  and  accepted  a  handkerchief  from  a  young  lady 
and  started  to  go  ahead,  but  soon  found  myself  in  the  hands 
of  two  ladies,  who  passed  me  over  to  some  gentlemen,  who 
put  me  in  a  carriage  to  be  sent  to  the  Hospital.  Such  kind 
ness  I  can  never  forget.  On  the  way,  a  little  boy  came  up 
to  the  carriage  with  a  lot  of  nice  pears,  and  threw  them  in,  to 
us.  After  a  drive  of  an  hour  we  arrived  at  the  Hospital, 
and  I  was  shown  to  'Ward  W.' 

Friday,  Aug.  8th.  At  £  past  10  this  forenoon  the  sur 
geon's  call  was  sounded,  and  those  who  were  able,  got  up, 
put  on  their  dressing-gowns  and  sat  in  the  chair  at  the  end 
of  the  bed. 

I  was  greatly  astonished  to  find  the  Doctor  so  kind.  He 
soon  came  to  my  bed  and  talked  with  me.  He  ordered  iron 
and  lemon  juice,  and  then  passed  on." 

LETTER  FROM  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  AT  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 
Aug.  8,  1862. 

I  received  a  letter  from  Mayor  Taber  of  New  Bedford 
last  night,  asking  me  to  give  him  an  account  of  things  in 
the  Battery,  and  I  am  preparing  a  long  memorial  on  the 
subject. 

Glad  to  see  that  Serg't.  F.  A.  Lull  has  been  commissioned 
Junior  2d.  Lieutenant.  .  .  .  Lull's  claims  and  qualifications 
were  so  much  superior,  that  I  was  very  much  excited  at  the 
idea  of  his  being  overlooked.  He  is  a  good  hearted,  willing, 
and  smart  man,  and  will  make  a  good  officer."  [Lull's 
commission  was  dated  Aug.  i,  1862.] 

Grows'  "Journal"  : — "Saturday,  Aug.  9,  1862.  The  Doc 
tor  came  round  at  the  usual  hour  and  ordered  me  to  con 
tinue  with  the  same  medicine.  In  each  ward  there  are  two 
men  nurses,  a  ward  master,  and  two  Sisters  of  Charity, 


408  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  they  are  very  kind,  doing  a  large  amount  of  good  in 
relieving  the  suffering  of  the  men. 

About  8  this  evening  I  was  obliged  to  call  the  Doctor. 
He  gave  me  some  medicine,  also  some  laudanum  to  make 
me  sleep.  Had  a  hard  night  of  it — greatly  distressed  for 
breath. 

Sunday,  Aug.  loth.  There  are  1300  sick  to  arrive  here 
today.  Listened  to  the  church  bells.  It  made  me  feel  blue. 
About  3  this  afternoon,  the  sick  began  to  arrive.  I  sat  at 
the  end  of  the  ward,  looking  at  them.  They  looked  bad 
enough.  Two  were  brought  into  my  ward,  both  of  them 
speechless,  one  of  them  looked  dead,  he  was  so  far  gone. 
The  Doctors  gave  him  some  wine  to  revive  him,  but  he 
could  not  speak,  or  take  any  notice.  Poor  fellow,  we  do 
not  know  where  he  belongs  nor  who  he  is." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Sunday,  Aug.  10,  1862.  No  rain,  no  shade,  no  clouds, 
but  day  after  day  the  same  hot  sun  shining  down  from  the 
same  cloudless  sky  on  the  same  parched  earth.  The  heat 
tells  on  everybody.  For  the  last  few  nights  I  have  been 
trying  to  solve  the  problem  how  to  cover  up  my  head  and 
feet  with  a  short  blanket,  and  I  invariably  give  up  in  despair. 

Our  table  is  set  in  a  rustic  arbor,  and  we  have  white 
china  cups,  plates  &c.,  and  unlimited  'contrabands'  to  tend 
table  and  keep  off  the  flies. 

We  have  quite  a  large  mess  now :  Captain  Martin  and 
his  officers, — Lieutenants  Dunn,  Tyler,  Walcott  and  Car- 
gill, — Lieutenants  Scott  and  Blake,  and  myself. 

One  of  our  men  arrived  here  a  day  or  two  ago,  discharged 
from  hospital  at  Georgetown  and  ordered  to  report  here 
for  duty,  and  within  24  hours  after  his  arrival  our  doctor 
reported  him  insane,  and  sent  him  to  the  hospital. 

We  keep  two  or  three  regiments  over  on  the  other  side,  and 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  409 

a  signal  officer  who  was  here  yesterday  told  me  that  there 
were  no  signs  of  the  enemy  over  there.  Captain  Henry 
Benson,  who  was  wounded  the  other  day  at  Malvern  Hill, 
was  the  commander  of  one  of  the  best  Horse  Batteries  in 
the  service.  He  was  orderly  sergeant  at  Bull  Run,  and  got 
his  commission  for  services  there.  He  was  at  Hanover 
Court  House  and  annoyed  the  enemy  terribly. 

One  of  our  men  picked  up  a  shell  thrown  across  the  river 
by  the  rebels,  which  must  have  been  taken  from  us  at  Gaines 
Mills  or  afterwards.  It  was  a  3  inch  Schenkle  shell,  which 
had  been  furnished  to  us  only  a  few  days  before  the  fight. 
We  left  15  rounds  of  these  in  our  limbers,  and  Weeden  left 
about  as  many  more.  Not  understanding  the  nature  of  the 
projectiles  the  rebels  had  neglected  to  arrange  the  percus 
sion  fuze  plug  properly,  and  consequently  the  shell  did  not 
explode. 

There  is  a  most  intense  craving  for  a  variety  of  food,  and 

1  hope  our  government  will  not  furnish  any  more  such  hard 
bread  as  the  men  have  had  to  eat  for  the  last  six  months : 
hard,   tasteless,   and  indigestible.     I   think  it  has  killed  a 
great  many.     It  seems  to  me  that  Government  might  'it 
least   furnish   as   good  bread   as   the  common   ship   bread. 
The  rebels  are  wise  in  this  respect.     They  do  not  issue  any 
hard  bread,  but  serve  out  flour,  and  many  a  captured  haver 
sack  has  been  found  full  of  hot  biscuit. 

Sunday  afternoon,  August  loth  Seymour's,  formerly 
McCall's,  Division  went  across  the  river.  This  being  the 
other  Division  of  the  Corps  we  supposed  we  should  follow. 
Sunday  evening  we  got  an  order  to  be  ready  to  march  at 

2  p.  m.  the  next  day  on  temporary  service,  with  5  days' 
rations  and  forage,  40  rounds  of  ammunition  in  cartridge 
boxes,  60  in  the  wagons.     After  various  conjectures  where 
we  were  going,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  we  were 
going  on  a  reconnoissance  to  Petersburg. 

The  next  morning  the  order  was  countermanded.     I  went 


410  HISTORY    OF    THE 

down  to  the  shore  to  buy  a  thin  flannel  blouse  but  did  not 
succeed.  Sutlers,  Quartermasters  and  Commissaries  were 
packing  up  and  sending  their  things  on  board  steamers  and 
schooners.  Adams  Express  has  been  ordered  to  bring  no 
more  packages  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and  everything  looks 
like  an  evacuation.  Meanwhile  the  weather  continues  hot 
and  we  are  gradually  shrinking  away.  I  weighed  myself 
(Aug.  nth)  and  found  I  had  lost  15  pounds  since  leaving 
Gaines  Hill." 

THE    BATTERY    TEAMS. 

CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 

Aug.  n,  1862. 

Captain  Martin  to  Capt.  Auchmuty  A.  A.   G. 
CAPT.  AUCHMUTY. 
Sir. 

I  have  received  orders  to  turn  in  3  teams  out  of  the  number  with 
which  the  Batteries  are  supplied.  I  beg  leave  to  make  the  following 
statement  in  regard  to  this: — 

There  are  four  batteries  in  this  Division;  one  [Captain  Allen's]  is 
without  guns,  but  the  men  are  mostly  here,  and  the  present  supply  of 
teams — 13 — gives  merely  three  to  each  Battery  and  one  Hospital  team 
loaded  exclusively  with  hospital  stores. 

The  number  of  men  attached  to  the  Batteries  is  477 ;  according  to 
the  regimental  allowance  of  one  team  for  200  men,  it  would  require 
two  and  one  half  teams  to  carry  rations  &c.  for  these  men.  In  addi 
tion  to  this  we  have  5  days'  forage  for  380  horses  to  carry, — This  being 
the  total  number  of  horses  actually  with  the  Batteries.  This  amount 
of  forage  would  weigh  26,100  pounds,  and,  if  the  number  of  teams  is 
reduced,  as  the  orders  contemplate,  we  should  have  but  6l/2  teams  to 
carry  this  amount,  for  which  purpose  each  team  would  be  loaded  with 
4,092  pounds,  a  load  which  would  render  it  impossible  for  the  teams 
to  follow  troops  in  light  marching  order. 

I   respectfully  request  that  under  these  circumstances,   there  being 
a  full  complement  of  officers  and  men  for  four  batteries,  we  may  be 
allowed  to  retain  the  teams  we  now  have. 
Very  re'spectfully, 

Your  ob't.  serv't. 

A.  P.  MARTIN,  Capt. 
Com'd'g  Division  Art'y 


Captain  Martin  was  allowed  to  retain  the  teams. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  411 

Grows'  "Journal": — (Philadelphia)  "Monday,  Aug.  li, 
1862.  One  of  the  men  brought  in  yesterday  died  in  the 
night,  the  other  is  very  low,  and  has  not  spoken  yet.  He 
had  watchers  all  night. 

Tuesday,  Aug.  i2th.  Went  to  dinner  at  12.  Mutton 
chops,  potatoes,  gravy,  bread  etc.  The  Doctors  tell  us  to 
eat  all  we  can,  and  then  it  will  take  a  great  while  to  get  the 
men  up." 

From  a  letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips:  "August  12,  1862.  This 
forenoon  some  gunboats  lying  near  the  ordnance  wharf 
opened  on  the  opposite  shore,  bursting  their  shells  some 
where  up  among  the  woods." 

LETTER  OF  MAYOR  TABER  OF  NEW  BEDFORD 

AFTER  RECEIVING  THE  MEMORIAL 

OF  LIEUT.   PHILLIPS. 

"MAYOR'S  OFFICE, 
CITY  OF  NEW  BEDFORD, 

Aug.  14,  1862. 
LIEUT.  CHAS.  A.  PHILLIPS. 
Dr.  Sir. 

Accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  full  and  frank  letter 
of  the  8th  inst. 

In  stating  to  you  that  it  corroborates  in  every  particular 
a  statement  I  have  received,  signed  by  seventy-five  of  the 
Battery,  you  can  estimate  its  value  to  me.  Every  account 
I  have  received  has  been  of  one  tenor.  You  are  probably 
aware  of  the  strong  interest  I  have  felt  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Battery.  The  majority  of  its  members  I  am  personally 
acquainted  with,  and  know  them  to  be  reliable  men,  who 
would  not  under  any  circumstances  shirk  a  duty;  brave 
men  and  hardy.  Tell  them  all  that  my  best  exertions  shall 
be  used  for  its  recuperation. 

In  the  meantime,  I  would  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you  any 
suggestions  you  feel  inclined  to  make,  and  in  anything  that 


412  HISTORY    OF    THE 

may  tend  to  restore  the  confidence  of  the  men, — which  ap 
pears  to  be  unlimited  in  you, — or  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  Battery,  command  me  in  any  way. 
Very  sincerely  Yrs. 

I.  C.  TABER. 

I  shall  see  Gov.  Andrew  within  a  few  days,  and  with  his 
authority  will  endeavor  to  obtain  some  recruits." 

LETTER  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE. 

"HARRISON'S  LANDING,  JAMES  RIVER,  VA. 

Aug.  14,  1862. 

I  wrote  you  on  the  25th  ult,  I  think,  and  after  I  had  fin 
ished  my  letter  I  found  that  my  last  stamp  was  a  i  cent  one, 
and  I  could  not  beg,  borrow,  or  steal  one,  so  I  sent  it  with 
out  a  stamp,  signed  by  our  Lieutenant,  as  I  frequently  do. 
Perhaps  it  did  not  reach  you.  Myself  and  25  others  are 
with  the  3d  Mass.  Battery,  but  when  Captain  Allen  comes, 
we  expect  to  be  reorganized.  The  Captain  will,  if  possible, 
return  on  the  26th  instant.  .  .  .  The  Army,  or  portions  of 
it  are  preparing  to  leave  the  Peninsula,  and  our  knapsacks 
were  taken  from  us  last  Sunday,  and  our  tents,  with  the 
knapsacks,  are  already  on  ship-board.  Where  we  are  going 
we  know  not.  .  .  .  The  weather  is  scorching  hot  and  the 
light  weights'  are  in  great  danger  of  being  carried  off  by 
the  mosquitoes.  They  are  well  drilled  and  make  furious 
charges  and  make  night  hideous  with  their  infernal  buz 
zing." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FROM    HARRISON'S    LANDING   TO    ACQUIA 
CREEK. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  SECOND  MANASSAS  OR  SEC 
OND  BULL  RUN. 
AUGUST  30,  1862. 

"But  north   looked   the  Dictator; 
North  looked  he  long  and  hard." 

— LORD  MACAULAY. 

THE   RELIEF   OF    MAJ.    GEN.    JOHN    POPE. THE   PROTECTION 

OF    WASHINGTON. 

They  were  ten  days  getting  ready  to  move,  and  on  Au 
gust  1 4th,  1862,  at  5  p.  m.  the  Army  was  set  in  motion, 
Porter's  Corps  marching  to  Williamsburg,  halfway  between 
Yorktown  and  the  Chickahominy  River,  according  to  or 
ders  there  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  next  Corps. 

All  superfluous  baggage  had  been  packed  up  and  put  on 
board  a  schooner,  and  on  Thursday,  August  I4th,  just  after 
supper,  Scott,  Phillips,  Chase  and  others  being  with  the 
Third  Mass.  Battery,  orders  were  received  to  get  ready  to 
start  immediately,  so  they  hitched  up,  packed  up,  and  waited 
till  about  10.30  p.  m.  when  they  moved  forward  parallel 
with  the  river  towards  Fortress  Monroe. 

"By  midnight,"  wrote  Phillips,  "the  Division  had  got 
stretched  out  on  the  road  and  we  halted  in  a  jam.  I  lay 
down  on  a  limber,  with  my  reins  in  my  hands,  and  got  what 
sleep  I  could. 

At  3  in  the  morning  of  the  I5th  the  column  again  started. 
Sykes  was  ahead  of  us.  The  weather  was  beautiful  and 
cool,  the  road  was  very  good,  and  the  Provost  Guard  not 

413 


414  HISTORY    OF    THE 

being  such  an  institution  as  formerly  the  corn  fields  which 
were  abundant,  were  pretty  well  stripped.  At  every  halt 
fires  were  lighted  and  ears  of  corn  roasted.  Peaches  were 
plenty  but  not  ripe.  There  were  tomatoes  enough  to  fur 
nish  at  least  one  meal  a  day,  and  on  the  whole  we  lived  well. 
About  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  crossed  the  Chicka- 
hominy,  near  its  mouth,  on  a  pontoon  bridge  over  seven 
hundred  yards  long,  and  camped  a  mile  from  the  shore." 

This  pontoon  bridge,  it  has  been  said,  surpassed  in  con 
struction,  skill  and  capacity,  anything  that  had  been  at 
tempted  in  the  annals  of  military  bridge  building. 

On  August  1 6,  1862,  news  was  received  at  Porter's  Head 
Quarters,  that  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  was  moving 
north,  intending  to  crush  Pope  before  McClellan  could 
come  to  his  relief,  and  to  proceed  directly  to  Washington. 
General  Porter  sent  this  information  to  McClellan,  and  re 
ported  that,  unless  otherwise  ordered,  he  would  leave  Wil- 
liamsburg  at  4  a.  m.  August  ijth  without  waiting  for  the 
arrival  of  the  next  Corps;  would  complete  the  march  to 
Newport  News,  and  hasten  to  General  Pope's  relief.  This 
he  did,  and  in  pursuance  of  this  plan,  the  Division  moved  on 
the  1 6th,  passed  through  Williamsburg  and  camped  at  5 
p.  m.  close  by  Fort  Magruder,  about  half  a  mile  outside  the 
city. 

Only  the  Fifth  Corps  went  to  Acquia  Creek,  the  remain 
der  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  went  directly  to  Alexan 
dria,  Va.  seven  miles  from  Washington. 

On  Sunday,  Aug.  I7th,  Porter's  Division  marched  at  7 
a.  m.  and  encamped  within  a  mile  of  Big  Bethel.  "Reached 
Yorktown  (Chase's  Diary)  at  i  p.  m.  and  made  coffee  at 
our  old  camp  ground  of  April  5,  1862." 

Phillips  refers  to  this  revisiting  of  old  scenes  in  the  fol 
lowing  words: — "As  we  passed  through  Yorktown  I  rode 
into  our  old  camp.  Everything  was  changed.  Grass  and 
weeds  growing  everywhere.  My  bedstead  still  remained, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  415 

and  the  grove  around  our  tents.  My  chair  was  gone.  The 
house  that  we  built  at  Wormley's  Creek  was  all  gone,  the 
mins  of  the  chimney  still  remaining." 

The  same  day  they  marched  three  miles  beyond  Howard's 
Mills  and  camped,  reaching  Newport  News  on  the  i8th  and 
eoing  into  park  about  1.30  p.  m.  "A  bath  in  salt  water" 
writes  Chase,  "was  a  luxury  enjoyed  by  some." 

Meanwhile  the  sick  and  wounded  waited  in  the  Hospitals. 

Crows'  "Journal" :— "Sunday,  Aug.  17,  1862,  (Phila 
delphia.)  Prof.  W.  B.  Rogers  of  Boston,  came  into  the 
ward  with  his  brother  who  is  our  surgeon.  He  talked  with 
me,  took  my  name,  and  residence  when  at  home.  He  starts 
for  Boston  tomorrow,  and  will  attend  to  my  being  trans 
ferred  to  a  Massachusetts  hospital.  Divine  service  was 
held  this  afternoon,  but  I  did  not  attend,  not  feeling  able." 

Chase  in  a  letter  of  the  i8th  says  his  health  is  "tip  top." 

Tuesday  the  Igth,  at  7  a.  m.,  the  Fifth  Corps  marched 
to  Hampton,  and  taking  the  three  batteries  of  the  Division 
and  Thompson's  Battery  of  the  Artillery  Reserve  on  board 
the  "City  of  Norwich,"  hauled  into  the  stream  off  Fortress 
Monroe.  In  the  morning  of  the  2Oth  they  sailed  up  Chesa 
peake  Bay  towing  two  schooners  and  three  barges,  bound 
for  Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  a  point  of  advantage  between  Fred- 
ericksburg  and  Washington,  and  anchored  that  night  in  the 
Potomac  River. 

On  Thursday,  August  2ist,  they  landed  at  Acquia  Creek, 
and  with  relation  to  the  accommodations,  Lt.  Phillips 
writes :  "the  Colonel  commanding  the  Post  taking  compas 
sion  upon  us,  we  spread  our  blankets  on  his  office  floor,  and 
slept  there  all  night." 

On  Friday,  Aug.  22d,  about  5  p.  m.,  leaving  Waterman's 
Fourth,  R.  I.  Battery,  which  included  the  30  members  of  the 
Fifth  Mass.,  at  Acquia  Creek,  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  and 
its  contingent  marched  8  or  10  miles  beyond,  towards  Fred- 


416  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ericksburg,  Va.,  which  is  55  miles  from  Washington,  and 
about  equidistant  from  that  city  and  Richmond. 

They  camped  on  the  road. 

On  Saturday,  August  23d,  General  Porter  started  his 
command  in  a  southerly  direction  at  daybreak,  and  marched 
to  Falmouth  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Rappahannock 
River  from  Fredericksburg.  Here  they  stopped  to  rest  until 
4  p.  m.,  and  during  the  interval  Lieut.  Phillips  called  upon 
General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside,  and  went  over  to  Fredericks- 
burg.  See  p.  443  Burnside. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  march  was  resumed  for  10  miles 
towards  Culpeper  Court  House,  Va.,  on  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad,  69  miles  from  Washington  and  12 
miles  north  of  the  Rapidan  River.  The  roads  were  very 
hilly  and  rocky,  and  crossed  frequently  by  beautiful  little 
brooks.  They  camped  near  Deep  Run.  The  next  day, 
August  24th,  was  Sunday.  In  the  Hospital,  at  Philadel 
phia,  Grows  wrote  in  his  journal :  "About  3  this  afternoon 
Surgeon  Dr.  Hays  came  through  the  ward  for  inspection, 
which  lasted  a  short  time.  A  Doctor  was  buried  'under 
arms'  this  afternoon.  There  are  not  many  deaths  here 
now." 

In  camp  by  Deep  Run  reveille  sounded  at  daylight.  The 
Third  Battery  marched  in  company  with  Sykes's  Division  to 
Culpeper  Court  House,  hearing  reports  of  rebels  ahead  be 
tween  them  and  General  Morell's  Division :  countermarched 
about  one  and  a  half  miles,  recrossing  Deep  Run,  and  went 
"In  Battery"  on  the  brow  of  a  small  hill  behind  Regular 
Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.  (Griffin's).  "Changed  positions" 
(Chase's  Diary)  "with  Battery  D,  about  n  a.  m." 

Lt.  Phillips  speaks  of  the  battle  array  as  "making  a  most 
formidable  appearance  spread  over  the  hills."  At  3.30  the 
Battery  again  limbered  up  and  for  the  third  time  that  day 
marching  over  the  same  road,  joined  Morell's  Division. 

Grows'    Journal: — "Aug.     25,     1862.       (Philadelphia.) 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  417 

Orders  came  today  for  none  of  the  men  to  be  allowed 
'passes'  till  after  the  ist  of  September,  and  this  makes  it 
very  hard,  as  many  of  the  men  have  families  living  here 
in  the  city." 

The  evolutions  of  August  25th  were  much  the  same,  the 
Third  Mass.  Battery  starting  out  at  6  a.  m.  They  marched 
a  mile,  halted  till  12  o'clock,  turned  round,  marched  back, 
and  camping  on  the  same  ground  they  left,  remained  there 
that  day. 

And  here  is  the  first  mention  of  the  restoration  of  the 
guns  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  all  that  was  lacking  to 
place  it  upon  its  former  footing  in  the  army.  Lieut.  Phil 
lips  wrote  home  in  a  letter  dated  "Vicinity  of  Deep  Run  or 
Barrett's  Ford,  or  somewhere": — "General  Burnside  is 
rather  interested  in  the  Fifth  Battery,  and  I  think  I  shall  get 
some  guns  pretty  soon." 

On  Tuesday,  Aug.  26th,  at  3  a.  m.,  reveille  was  sounded, 
and  they  marched  with  the  Division  to  Kelly's  Ford,  about 
9  miles  from  Deep  Run  and  12  miles  above  Barrett's  Ford. 
Lieut.  Phillips  put  one  section  on  picket,  and  sent  Lieut. 
Scott  and  three  wagons  to  Falmouth  for  forage.  Heavy 
cannonading  was  heard  in  front.  The  next  day  they 
marched  past  Bealton  to  Warrenton  Junction. 

MET  POPE  AND   GOING  NORTH. 

It  was  on  August  27th,  1862,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.  that 
General  Porter  joined  General  Pope  at  Warrenton  Junction 
on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad,  48  miles  from 
Washington.  General  Pope  finding  his  Right  turned  by 
General  Ewell,  had  fallen  back  towards  Warrenton,  where 
he  was  joined  by  General  Joseph  Hooker.  Overtaking  the 
rebels  under  Ewell  at  Haymarket  a  severe  fight  ensued,  ter 
minating  at  night  in  the  defeat  of  the  enemy.  On  that  day 
the  Federal  gunboats  destroyed  the  rebel  works  at  City 
Point,  Va. 


418  HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE    SECOND    BATTLE    OF  MANASSAS. 

The  first  battle  of  Manassas  or  Bull  Run  was  fought  July 
21,  1 86 1,  and  the  Union  troops  under  McDowell  were  de 
feated  by  the  Confederates  under  Beauregard.  The  stream 
called  Bull  Run  was  described  at  the  time  as  a  mere  rivulet, 
dry  in  many  places,  but  containing  from  four  to  six  feet  of 
water  in  the  channel  after  heavy  rains.  It  extends  for  about 
six  miles  north  and  south,  and  is  crossed  by  the  Manassas 
railroad.  A  Confederate  battery  which  made  great  havoc 
among  our  troops  was  situated  on  a  slight  eminence  in  a 
ravine  on  the  west  side  of  the  Run. 

The  only  places  besides  the  fords  at  intervals  of  a  mile 
or  two,  where  the  stream  could  be  crossed,  were  three 
bridges,  viz.,  a  stone  structure,  over  which  passes  the  War- 
renton  turnpike;  a  wooden  bridge  at  Blackburn's  Ford 
seven  miles  below,  on  the  direct  road  from  Centreville  to 
Manassas;  and  a  mile  or  so  below  this,  the  bridge  by  which 
the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railway  is  carried  over  Bull 
Run.  Three  miles  beyond  Bull  Run  is  Manassas  Junction 
where  the  rebels  had  intrenched  themselves,  the  stream 
itself  forming  a  defensive  line  eight  miles  in  length  from 
the  Stone  Bridge  to  the  railroad;  the  wooded  slopes  of  the 
hills  furnishing  masks  for  batteries.  Sudley's  Ford  across 
Bull  Run  was  two  or  three  miles  above  Stone  Bridge. 

The  battlefield  of  Manassas  or  Bull  Run,  is  34  miles  from 
Washington,  about  four  miles  from  the  railroad  station  at 
the  junction  of  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  and  Manassas 
Gap  railroads. 

"Aug.  28,  1862.  (Chase's  Diary.)  Reveille  at  1.30 
a.  m.  Left  camp  about  3  a.  m.  Marched  half  an  hour  and 
halted  an  hour  for  troops  to  pass;  halted  near  the  railroad 
cars.  Saw  the  ruins  of  a  train  burned  by  the  rebels  the 
night  of  August  26th.  Heavy  cannonading  heard  in  front 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  419 

p.   m.     Marched  to    Bristoe    Station,    reaching    there    at 
i  p.  m." 

The  night  of  the  28th  Sigel's  command  was  just  south 
of  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  the  portion  running  from 
Gainesville  to  Centreville,  part  on  the  left  near  Newmarket, 
the  remainder  near  the  junction  of  the  turnpike  and  Sud- 
ley  Springs  road  at  Groveton.  Kearney  was  at  Centreville. 
Heintzelman  was  with  Hooker  at  Bull  Run.  Porter  was  at 
Bristoe.  Part  of  McDowell's  Corps  had  contested  unsuc 
cessfully  the  passage  of  Longstreet  through  Thoroughfare 
Gap  in  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  through  which  passes  the 
Manassas  Gap  R.  R.  from  the  country  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  Mountains,  through  Manassas  Gap  and  Thorough 
fare  Gap,  to  Manassas  Junction,  and  part  had  been  engaged 
with  the  enemy  near  Groveton. 

Banks  with  his  Corps  was  guarding  the  army  trains  at 
Bristoe. 

On  the  rebel  side,  Longstreet  was  encamped  at  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  on  the  eastern  slope,  having  passed  through 
Thoroughfare  Gap. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2Qth  of  August,  the  position  was 
as  follows : — The  rebel  general  Jackson  had  marched  round 
Pope's  right  flank,  gained  his  rear,  captured  large  supplies 
at  Manassas,  cut  his  railroad  communication  by  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  R.  R.  with  Washington,  and  was 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  other  rebel  forces  under  Lee  on  the 
old  battlefield  of  Bull  Run. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  men  with  the  Third  Mass.  Bat 
tery  left  camp  at  6.30  a.  m.  when  the  advance  met  the 
enemy.  They  opened  one  or  more  batteries  on  our  troops 
but  fired  slowly.  Our  batteries  and  infantry  were  placed  in 
position  to  give  the  enemy  battle.  "We  marched,"  wrote 
Phillips,  "to  Manassas  Junction,  then  up  the  Manassas  Gap 
R.  R.  towards  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  Morell's  Division 
formed  line  of  battle  on  the  hills  in  a  splendid  position,  our 


420  HISTORY    OF    THE 

pickets  being  within  hearing-  distance  of  Thoroughfare  Gap, 
and  hearing  the  Rebel  troops  passing.  Our  infantry  was 
formed  in  plain  sight  and  the  rebels  opened  a  battery  on 
them,  killing  one  or  two.  The  infantry  then  retired  under 
cover  and  Hazlett's  Battery  [5th  U.  S.  Battery  D,  Lt. 
Charles  E.  Hazlett]  shelled  a  little.  While  I  was  expecting 
an  attack  on  our  part  I  learned  it  was  proposed  to  retire  as 
we  came.  However,  after  commanding  and  countermand 
ing  we  stayed  there  that  night." 

On  August  30,  1862,  at  half  past  three  in  the  morning, 
Major  General  Fitz  John  Porter  received  from  Major  Gen 
eral  John  Pope  orders,  written  in  the  field  on  the  previous 
evening  at  8.50,  to  march  his  command  immediately  to  the 
field  of  battle  of  that  day,  and  to  report  to  him  in  person 
for  orders. 

"You  are  to  understand,"  so  ran  the  despatch,  "that  you 
are  expected  to  comply  strictly  with  this  order,  and  to  be 
present  on  the  field  within  three  hours  after  its  reception,  or 
after  daybreak  tomorrow  morning." 

To  reach  the  field  within  three  hours  after  the  reception 
of  the  orders  at  3.30  a.  m.  would  be  before  half  past  six,  but 
daylight  came  so  soon  after  that  Porter,  in  order  to  obey 
instructions,  was  obliged  to  make  a  flank  movement  with 
his  entire  force  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  Orders  com 
ing  to  Morell  from  Porter  to  lose  not  a  moment  in  carrying 
out  these  instructions,  Morell  issued  his  orders  to  his  com 
mand,  and  at  the  head  of  Griffin's  Brigade  which  Martin's 
Battery  followed,  took  the  direct  road  to  Centreville. 

General  Pope  was  at  Groveton.  It  is  said  that  Morell's 
caution  and  circumspection  with  reference  to  Grifrin's 
Brigade,  waiting  till  he  had  called  in  his  skirmishers,  caused 
him  to  lose  sight  of  the  rest  of  his  Division,  and  in  going  to 
Centreville  he  supposed  he  was  following  Sykes  according 
to  instructions,  but  Sykes  had  gone  to  Groveton.  Orders 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  421 

were  sent  to  Morell  on  the  Gainesville  road  which  of  course 
did  not  reach  him. 

General  Porter  reported  to  General  Pope  as  directed,  and 
placed  his  Corps  north  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike  near  the 
Dogan  house,  facing  toward  the  west.  Next  him  was  Sigel, 
then  Reno,  then  Heintzelman.  Ricketts  and  King  were  in 
reserve.  South  of  the  Warrenton  pike  was  Reynolds' 
Division.  Sykes  occupied  a  corn  field  in  front  of  the  Dogan 
house  on  both  sides  of  the  Warrenton  road.  Morell's  Divi 
sion  was  on  the  right  of  Sykes.  Immediately  in  front  and 
to  the  left  of  Reynolds  was  rising  ground  covered  with  tim 
ber  and  scrub  oak.  On  Porter's  right  front  was  a  forest, 
and  between  the  two  was  cleared  ground  a  half  mile  in  ex 
tent,  across  which  was  an  elevated  ridge  occupied  by  the 
enemy's  artillery  commanding  this  cleared  space  and  the 
turnpike,  and  in  a  position  to  concentrate  a  direct  flank  fire 
upon  our  forces  in  case  we  made  the  attack.  The  enemy's 
forces  were  concealed;  the  Union  forces  were  in  plain  sight 
of  the  enemy. 

It  appears  that  it  had  been  the  design  of  General  Pope 
on  the  day  before  to  possess  himself  of  the  coverts  provided 
by  these  forests,  but  his  efforts  were  unsuccessful,  resulting 
in  much  loss ;  his  only  gain  being  the  knowledge,  too  dearly 
bought,  that  the  rebel  general  Jackson  \vas  present  in  large 
force  especially  on  the  Left,  and  that  he  had  the  advantage 
at  the  north  of  a  railroad  embankment  to  add  to  the  strength 
of  his  position.  It  is  said  that  General  Porter  learned  at 
General  Pope's  headquarters,  that  the  efforts  of  the  2Qth 
had  been  mainly  a  series  of  skirmishes,  artillery  contests  at 
long  range,  and  a  few  attacks,  after  strong  protests  and 
delay,  by  Brigades  and  separate  Divisions  resulting  in  re 
pulses  and  heavy  losses. 

Between  12  and  i  p.  m.  of  the  3Oth,  Porter  was  ordered  to 
push  forward  on  the  Warrenton  turnpike  to  be  followed  by 
King  and  Reynolds,  while  the  Division  of  Ricketts  would 


422  HISTORY    OF    THE 

pursue  the  Haymarket  road  followed  by  the  Corps  of  General 
Heintzelman.  The  cavalry  was  to  be  assigned  by  General 
McDowell. 

Orders  from  McDowell  directed  Porter : — 

"Organize  a  strong  advance  to  precede  your  command,  and  push  on 
rapidly  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  until  you  come  in  contact  with  him. 
Report  frequently.  Bayard's  brigade  will  be  ordered  to  report  to  you: 
push  it  well  to  the  left  as  you  advance." 

Reynolds  and  Porter,  it  is  affirmed,  were  confident  that 
the  enemy  with  numerous  artillery  were  massing  their 
forces  on  the  left. 

General  McDowell  believed  the  enemy  was  retreating 
when  they  had  merely  withdrawn  from  the  Right  in  order 
to  concentrate  on  our  Left. 

General  Porter  prepared  for  a  strong  attack,  which  But- 
terfield  supported  by  Sykes  commenced  at  3  p.  m.,  charging 
across  the  open  field  nearly  to  the  woods,  hoping  to  sweep 
round  to  the  left  and  take  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  but  were 
repelled  by  musketry  fire  on  the  right  and  front,  and  an  in 
cessant  cross  fire  of  artillery.  They  held  their  ground  30 
minutes  assisted  by  Hazlett's  Battery. 

General  Porter  had  desired  the  help  of  Sigel;  he  again 
asked  for  it  after  Butterfield's  repulse,  but  the  necessity  was 
comprehended  too  late.  The  enemy  was  in  a  position  to 
sweep  the  entire  ground,  over  which  the  Fifth  Corps  had  to 
pass,  with  its  numerous  artillery,  and  its  musketry  protected 
by  the  railway  embankment,  and  four  desperate  attacks, 
most  gallantly  made,  were  repulsed,  in  the  attempt  to  take 
the  embankment,  our  men  being  fired  upon  by  many  with 
stones,  time  being  too  pressing  to  admit  of  loading  firearms. 
The  rebel  general  Longstreet  attempted  to  cut  the  Union 
troops  off  from  the  turnpike  by  pressing  upon  Warren  on 
our  Left. 

Porter's  attack  with  proper  support  might  have  broken 
Jackson's  line  but  with  the  terrible  fire  from  the  enemy's 
guns  it  was  madness  to  continue,  and  the  order  was  given 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  423 

to  retire  to  the  plateau  in  the  rear  of  the  Henry  and  Robin 
son  houses  which  commanded  the  Stone  Bridge  over  Bull 
Run,  which  was  saved.  It  was  at  the  Henry  house  on  the 
right  of  the  turnpike  that  General  Morell  joined  the  ist 
Division  having  ridden  from  Centreville. 

Weeden's  Fourth  R.  I.  Battery,  Captain  Richard  Water 
man  commanding,  in  which  were  thirty  of  our  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery  men,  took  position  on  the  heights  near  the  Warren- 
ton  turnpike,  commanding  the  field,  over  which  Butterfield 
was  to  advance  to  the  attack.  One  section,  the  remainder 
staying  on  the  hill  at  the  Henry  house,  advanced  later  to 
within  canister  range  of  the  woods,  but  returned  soon  after 
and  fired  shrapnell  at  the  enemy's  infantry  in  the  edge  of  the 
woods,  limbering  up  to  fall  back  with  the  infantry.  (Sigel.) 
Subsequently  they  went  into  position  on  the  top  of  Bull 
Run  Hill,  covering  the  charge  on  the  Left  of  our  lines, 
and  at  7.30  p.  m.  moved  with  the  Army  to  Centreville. 

Louis  E.  Pattison  served  as  cannoneer  throughout  the 
campaign. 

The  Adjutant  General's  Report  of  the  state  of  Rhode 
Island,  1865,  in  its  casualties  gives  "one  man  wounded." 

It  is  recorded  in  the  official  reports  of  the  Adjutant  Gen 
eral  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  that  the  Fourth  R.  I. 
Battery  was  engaged  in  the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  and 
"one  of  the  men  of  the  Fifth  (Mass.)  Battery  was 
wounded." 

The  name  of  this  soldier  was  Francis  Oldis,  and  he  was 
taken  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  placed  with  the  wounded 
in  "Ward  P"  of  the  Armory  Hospital.  He  subsequently 
rejoined  the  reunited  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

NOTES    OF    LOUIS    E.    PATTISON. 

Nov.  2,  1901. 

"Only  one  section  of  the  Fourth  R.  1.  Battery  went  into 
action  on  the  Bull  Run  field.  The  whole  battery  went  into 


424  HISTORY    OF    THE 

position  when  Longstreet  was  coming  through  the  Gap,  but 
my  recollection  is  that  no  shots  were  fired.  On  the  next 
day  on  the  old  Bull  Run  field,  General  Sigel  ordered  Captain 
Waterman  to  proceed  to  a  position  near  the  R.  R.  cut,  and 
Captain  Waterman  replied  that  he  must  have  orders  from 
General  Porter.  Sigel  replied  angrily  that  Porter  could 
fight  his  men,  and  he  would  fight  his  own,  and  you  can 
readily  see  why  our  forces  were  unsuccessful." 


The  Captain  called  for  volunteers  from  the  Left  and 
Centre  sections  to  help  man  the  Right  section  to  go  into 
action  near  the  R.  R.  cut,  and  Sergt.  William  B.  Pattison 
and  his  brother  Louis  E.  Pattison  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Bat 
tery  volunteered  to  go  with  the  Right  section  into  action. 

Lieut.  Richard  Waterman  in  command  of  the  battery  was 
promoted  to  captain  July  25th,  1862,  receiving  his  commis 
sion  in  the  field. 

Colonel  J.  Albert  Monroe  of  the  ist  Rhode  Island  Light 
Artillery  of  which  the  "Fourth"  was  "Battery  C,"  says,  in 
a  paper  published  by  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Historical 
Society  of  Rhode  Island : — 

"Our  northern  historians  when  it  has  been  necessary  to  mention  the 
artillery,  have  not  been  so  painstaking  [reference  to  the  Southerners 
who  mentioned  them  with  great  accuracy]  and  have  generally  only 
incidentally  mentioned  that  'a  battery'  here  or  there  did  so  and  so, 
ignoring  entirely  what  particular  battery  it  was,  or  who  commanded  it, 
unless  it  was  a  regular  battery,  and  in  that  case  it  is  designated  by  its 
commanding  officer's  name.  The  exceptions  are  comparatively  few,  and 
they  seem  to  be  accidental,  rather  than  intentional !" 
He  observes, 

"the'  marked  contrast  between  the  honorable  mention  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  with  that  of  light  artillery  batteries." 

Having  by  long  and  careful  reading  been  impressed  with 
the  justice  of  this  criticism,  pains  have  been  taken  in  the 
present  work  to  make  conspicuous  the  well  authenticated 
movements  of  the  light  artillery,  to  give  the  complete  official 
designations  of  the  batteries,  and  whenever  they  are  called 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  495 

by  the  names  of  their  commanders,  the  full  name  is  given 
at  the  first  mention. 

Anxiously  the  men  in  the  hospitals  north  and  south  were 
looking  for  news  on  that  day.  Grows  wrote  in  his  journal : 
"Saturday,  Aug.  30,  1862.  (Philadelphia.)  Got  the  papers 
to  see  about  the  Army.  The  news  is  not  very  encouraging, 
but  still  we  all  hope  for  the  best." 

Lt.  Phillips's  notes  of  the  event  now  before  us  contain 
the  following  observations  : — 

"Saturday,  Aug.  30,  1862,  we  began  to  retire  at  3  a.  m. 
Griffin's  Brigade  and  Martin's  Battery  forming  the  rear 
guard.  I  waited  till  the  pickets  were  all  drawn  in,  and  the 
troops  gone,  but  no  rebels  appeared. 

AT  CENTREVILLE. 

Returning  to  the  Junction  we  marched  up  the  railroad, 
forded  Bull  Run  and  went  into  park  near  Centreville  with 
Griffin's  brigade,  the  rest  of  the  Division  having  got  out  of 
sight  and  hearing.  Some  cannonading  was  going  on,  but 
this  was  too  common  to  excite  attention.  We  started  a 
plum  duff,  but  before  it  was  finished  we  got  orders  to  hitch 
up  and  started  for  Bull  Run, — finally  going  on  across  Bull 
Run.  By  dark  we  reached  Stone  Bridge,  Franklin's  forces 
marching  with  us.  Here  we  found  our  troops  retiring,  and 
halted  till  General  Franklin  ordered  us  to  return,  and  we 
•camped  in  Centreville  about  midnight.  Butterfield's  and 
Martindale's  brigades  badly  cut  up.  Fletcher  Webster  re 
ported  killed." 

From  the  Notes  of  Corporal  Chase  of  the  5th  Mass,  then 
with  the  3rd  Mass.  Battery: — "August  30,  1862.  Hitched 
up  at  4  a.  m.  and  relieved  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.  (Hazlett's) 
in  front,  and  remained  in  position  half  an  hour,  then  left  for 
Centreville,  Va.  Reached  Centreville  at  1 1  a.  m.  Caissons 
sent  to  the  rear  this  morning.  Saw  about  150  prisoners  at 


426  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Centreville.  Hitched  up  at  5  p.  m.  and  started  to  reinforce 
the  troops  in  front;  advanced  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the 
front  when  we  met  teams  and  wounded  soldiers  coming  to 
the  rear.  In  a  short  time  the  whole  army  appeared  to  be 
retreating  in  the  wildest  confusion.  For  about  three  hours 
the  troops  both  able  and  disabled  continued  to  pass  us;  3rd 
Mass.  Battery  countermarched  and  camped  on  heights  at 
Centreville." 

Captain  Waterman's  battery  moved  by  order  of  General 
Morell  from  Centreville,  on  the  morning  of  August  3ist 
towards  Alexandria,  to  procure  forage  for  the  horses,  they 
being  in  a  very  exhausted  state,  not  having  had  any  grain 
for  five  days.  It  moved  as  far  as  Fairfax  Court  House  and 
encamped;  three  of  the  horses  having  dropped  dead  from 
exhaustion  as  the  battery  moved  into  camp.  In  front  of  the 
Third  Battery  cannonading  was  heard,  and  the  smoke  seen. 
Hacks  were  arriving  from  Washington  to  remove  the 
wounded.  The  Battery  advanced  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile 
to  the  front  about  u  a.  m.,  and  went  "In  Battery"  sup 
ported  by  a  large  force  of  infantry.  Several  lines  of  battle 
formed  and  skirmishers  were  thrown  out,  remaining  in 
position  all  day  and  night,  but  all  remained  quiet  until  late 
in  the  evening,  when  the  advance  batteries  began  to  shell  the 
woods,  and  the  pickets  and  skirmishers  fired  several  volleys 
of  musketry.  Generals  Pope  and  McDowell  passed  the  Bat 
tery  in  the  evening.  No  mail  was  received,  no  newspapers, 
and  all  interest  seemed  to  be  centred  in  the  wagons  which 
had  been  sent  to  Alexandria  and  Falmouth  for  supplies 
which  were  sorely  needed,  when  the  alarming  news  reached 
the  waiting  lines,  so  advantageously  placed  upon  the  hills 
of  Centreville,  that  the  enemy  was  between  the  Army  of  the. 
Potomac  and  Washington ! 

Soon  after  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  the  Richmond 
Whig  of  July  24,  1 86 1,  published  the  following  under  the 
head-line  of  "The  Devoted  Band" :— 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  427 

"The  shortest  path  to  peace  is  that  which  carries  havoc  and  desola 
tion  to  our  invaders.  It  is  believed  that  there  are  five  or  ten  thousand 
men  in  the  South  ready  and  willing  to  share  the  fate  of  Curtius  and 
devote  themselves  to  the  salvation  of  the  country.  It  is  proposed  that 
all  who  are  willing  to  make  this  sacrifice,  shall  arm  themselves  with  a 
sword,  two  five  shooters  and  a  carbine  each,  and  meet,  on  horseback,  at 
some  place  to  be  designated,  convenient  for  the  great  work  in  hand. 
Fire  and  sword  must  be  carried  to  the  houses  of  those  who  are  visit 
ing  those  blessings  upon  their  neighbors.  Philadelphia,  and  even  New 
York,  is  not  beyond  the  reach  of  a  long  and  brave  arm.  The  moral 
people  of  these  cities  cannot  be  better  taught  the  virtues  of  invasion, 
than  by  the  blazing  light  of  their  own  dwellings.  None  need  apply  for 
admission  to  'The  Devoted  Band'  but  those  who  are  prepared  to  take 
their  life  in  their  hand,  and  who  would  indulge  not  the  least  expecta 
tion  of  ever  returning.  They  dedicate  their  lives  to  the  destruction  of 
their  enemies. 

A.   S.  B.  D.  B. 

Richmond. 

All  Southern  papers  are  requested  to  erive  this  notice  a  few  inser 
tions." 

Now,  after  a  year  had  passed,  and  another  Bull  Run  bat 
tle  had  been  fought,  the  "long  and  brave  arm"  was  actually 
stretching  out  its  hand  very  near  indeed  to  Washington, 
with  the  index  finger  pointing  to  Baltimore. 

A  few  miles  northwest  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  Kearny 
was  desperately  opposing  its  force  at  Chantilly,  where  he 
made  the  gallant  dash  which  cost  him  his  life. 

"THE   SYMBOLS   OF   GOVERNMENT." 

Hunger  and  fatigue  so  lately  controlling  emotions,  passed 
out  of  mind.  Chagrin  at  the  second  failure  at  Manassas 
lost  its  sharpest  sting  in  the  actual  presence  of  the  peril, 
which  had  so  long  threatened  the  citadel  which  held  the 
"symbols  of  government,"  the  treaties  and  seals,  for  the 
safety  of  which  Edwin  M.  Stanton  then  Buchanan's  attor 
ney  general,  had  trembled,  long  before  the  first  rebel  gun 
was  fired. 


428  HISTORY    OF    THE 

THE    PROTECTION    OF    WASHINGTON. 

General  McClellan  wrote  General  Porter  September   i, 
1862,  5.30  p.  m. :— 

"This  week  is  the  crisis  of  our  fate.  Say  the  same  thing  to  all  my 
friends  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  that  the  last  request  I  have  to 
make  of  them  is,  that  for  their  country's  sake  they  will  extend  to  Gen 
eral  Pope  the  same  support  they  ever  have  to  me.  I  am  in  charge 
of  the  defenses  of  Washington." 

At  the  close  of  General  Porter's  acknowledgment  of  this 
letter,  he  said : — 

"Our  killed,  wounded,  and  enfeebled  troops  attest  our  devoted 
duty." 

It  was  McClellan  who  disposed  the  troops  around  Wash 
ington,  placing  the  Fifth  Corps  on  Hall's  Hill.  Not  being 
able  to  procure  either  rations  or  forage,  the  Fourth  R.  I. 
Battery  moved  on  the  ist  of  September  to  within  five  miles 
of  Alexandria,  where  part  of  one  day's  rations  of  grain 
was  secured. 

"The  morning  of  that  day,"  Chase  wrote,  "was  cloudy 
and  windy.  Guns  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  still  'in  Bat 
tery.'  Went  with  horses,  for  hay,  about  a  mile,  with  sev 
eral  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  section  of  a  battery  for 
protection  against  guerillas,  a.  m.  Thunderstorm  with  cold, 
heavy  rain  at  5  p.  m.  Left  position  about  12  p.  m." 

Phillips  says  of  this  tempest,  "It  began  to  rain  just  after 
we  had  got  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  and  had  struck  our 
tarpaulins.  I  lay  down  with  my  overcoat  on,  on  a  wet  pile 
of  hay,  and  tried  to  persuade  myself  that  I  was  not  wet 
through,  but  did  not  succeed."  On  that  day  (Sept.  ist)  he 
afterwards  wrote,  "there  was  something  of  a  fight.  I  have 
learnt  no  particulars." 

THE  EXPEDITION  OF  LT.  SCOTT. 

The  historian  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  thus  describes 
the  expedition  for  rations  [see  p.  417]  in  charge  of  Lt. 
Henry  D.  Scott :— 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  429 

"Our  army  started  to  re-enforce  General  Pope's  army 
then  at  Centreville. 

General  Lee  was  advancing  to  meet  General  Pope.  The 
artillery  brigade  carried  ten  days'  rations  from  Falmouth 
then  the  base  of  supplies.  When  out  twenty  miles  they  had 
used  seven  days'  rations.  Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin, 
chief  of  the  Fifth  Corps  Artillery,  sent  eighteen  wagons 
belonging  to  the  batteries  of  the  Artillery  Brigade  in  charge 
of  Lt.  Scott  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  back  to  Falmouth 
for  rations.  John  D.  Reed  of  the  Third  Mass.  (Battery) 
was  ordered  to  report  to  him  as  his  assistant. 

They  started  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  run  within 
four  miles  of  the  ration  depot  and  went  into  park  at  nine 
o'clock :  started  at  daylight  for  the  depot.  Met  an  extra 
supply  train  at  Falmouth  Heights  loaded  with  rations  for 
the  Fifth  Corps:  75  wagons.  We  loaded  our  train  with 
forage  and  as  soon  as  possible  started  for  the  batteries.  .  .  . 
Orders  to  hurry  along  and  reach  the  army  at  Bealton  before 
dark  29  miles  from  there.  Rebel  cavalry  had  crossed  the 
river  25  miles  above.  General  Burnside  had  returned  from 
Newbern,  N.  C,  and  with  a  part  of  his  army  was  encamped 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Falmouth.  There  were  several  hun 
dreds  of  wagons  on  the  road.  An  orderly  on  the  dead  run 
ordered  the  trains  to  turn  back.  The  enemy  had  captured 
over  three  hundred  wagons,  and  destroyed  the  telegraph 
station  three  miles  up  the  road. 

The  Fifth  Corps  supply  train  that  we  met  was  among 
those  captured. 

We  were  then  15  miles  from  Falmouth,  halfway  between 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  General  Burnside.  About 
dark  a  cavalry  force  and  a  flying  artillery  battery  were  sent 
out  by  General  Burnside  for  our  protection.  At  12  o'clock 
at  night  we  arrived  inside  the  picket  line  at  Falmouth,  men 
and  animals  played  out.  At  daylight  started  for  Acqnia 
Creek,  arriving  there  at  noon.  A  rebel  battery  followed  us 


430  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  at  intervals  shelled  the  train.  The  wagons  and  mules 
were  loaded  on  steamers  and  sailed  for  Alexandria.  When 
we  arrived  there  the  army  was  retreating  back  from  Second 
Bull  Run.  The  batteries  camped  at  Upton's  Hill,  where  we 
reached  them  with  the  forage  six  days  after  starting  for  it. 
The  horses  in  the  batteries  had  been  four  days  without 
grain  or  hay,  having  only  that  which  they  could  graze  in 
the  fields." 

The  trains  of  stores  which  were  collected  at  Warrenton 
and  Warrenton  Junction,  and  were  at  Bristoe,  Sept.  i,  1862, 
were  stopped  at  that  place  on  account  of  the  bridge  at 
Bristoe  having  been  destroyed  by  the  rebels.  Sept.  2d,  the 
Fourth  Rhode  Island  Battery  moved  to  Alexandria. 

Gen.  McClellan  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
troops  for  the  defence  of  Washington. 

From  about  12  o'clock  midnight,  September  ist,  the  Third 
Mass.  Battery  marched  to  sunrise  of  the  morning  of  the  2ci, 
going  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  bivouac  of  the  pre 
vious  day.  They  marched  with  a  large  body  of  troops — 
among  them  General  Piatt  and  Battery  H,  ist  Ohio  Artillery, 
who  joined  them  on  the  route  having  been  attached  to  the 
Division, — and  a  large  baggage  train,  to  Fairfax  Court 
House,  where  they  halted  about  u  a.  m.  for  breakfast. 
Here  Lt.  Scott  met  them  having  come  from  Alexandria. 
Marched  again  at  2  p.  m. :  halted  on  the  way  while  skirmish 
ers  were  thrown  out  and  line  of  battle  formed :  waited  about 
an  hour  and  a  half,  then  proceeded :  the  rear  guard  attacked 
and  heavy  cannonading  heard.  John  G.  Sanford  and 
Thomas  E.  Chase  were  obliged  to  straggle  in  the  rear  with 
disabled  horses.  In  the  evening  the  Battery  arrived  at 
Chain  Bridge.  On  the  3d  of  September  the  Fourth  Rhode 
Island  Battery  marched  to  Miner's,  near  Hall's,  Hill,  and 
rejoined  the  Division.  All  other  divisional  batteries  had 
remained  with  the  commands. 

Chase  and  Sanford,  minus  one  horse  etc.,  found  the  Third 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  431 

Mass.  Battery  after  much  trouble  on  the  morning  of  the  3d. 
They  hitched  up  at  9  a.  m.,  marched  to  Hall's  Hill,  Va.,  with 
other  troops  and  camped  in  the  old  camp  of  the  Mass.  22d. 
Regiment.  Rickett's  Division  was  occupying  Captain  Mar 
tin's  old  camp. 

Lt.  Phillips  closes  a  letter  with  the  words : — 

"I  went  down  to  our  old  camp  and  looked  around. 

'The  King  of  France  with  40,000  men 
Marched  up  the  hill  and  then  marched  down  again.'  " 

SCOTT'S    SUMMING    UP. 

Lt.  Scott  thus  comments  on  the  situation : — "The  enemy 
got  tired  waiting  for  McClellan  to  decide  what  to  do,  and 
started  for  Washington.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
ordered  by  the  President  to  the  protection  of  that  city.  The 
feeling  of  McClellan  and  his  admirers  seemed  to  be  that 
they  wanted  to  get  General  Pope,  who  was  guarding  Wash 
ington,  driven  into  the  Potomac. 

The  Army  moved  at  once  to  Hampton,  and  were  trans 
ported  to  Acquia  Creek,  moving  to  Fredericksburg  and 
from  there  to  Kelly's  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  to  assist 
Pope.  The  final  result  was  that  Lee  drove  both  armies  on 
to  Washington." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  BATTERY  REUNITED. 

''The  great  art  of  war  consists  in  knowing  how  to  separate  in  order 
to  subsist,  and  how  to  concentrate  in  order  to  fight." 

—  NAPOLEON  BONAPARTE. 

THE   FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY   REUNITED   AND 
REINSTATED. 

RE-ASSIGNED  TO  THE  FIRST  DIVISION. 
ARMY  CORPS. 


On  September  3d,  1862,  the  enemy  was  no  longer  to  be 
seen  in  front  of  Washington,  but  was  far  on  its  way  north, 
and  McClellan,  with  all  the  troops  not  needed  in  Washing 
ton,  was  in  pursuit. 

Our  pickets  having  been  driven  in,  about  4  p.  m.  of  the 
4th,  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  hitched  up  and  marched  with 
the  whole  infantry  force  towards  Falls  Church,  Va.,  to-  meet 
the  enemy.  "Marched  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
(Chase's  Diary),  then  countermarched  with  the  other 
troops  to  our  camp;  the  enemy  who  had  but  a  small  force. 
withdrew  after  a  few  shots  from  their  batteries.  —  Counter 
sign  'Yorktown  5th.'  —  [Other  countersigns  given  on  p.  797 
contributed  by  General  A.  P.  Martin,  November,  1899.] 

Grows'  Journal:  "Sept.  i,  1862.  The  Doctor  took  my 
name  for  a  discharge.  5th.  I  was  much  pleased  at  seeing 
my  papers  this  forenoon.  They  will  be  sent  to  General 
Montgomery  to  sign  today.  7th.  About  3  this  afternoon 
Surgeon  Gen.  Dr.  Hayes  and  his  assistant  came  into  the 


432 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  433 

ward  for  inspection.  This  is  done  every  Sunday,  for  the 
purpose  of  seeing  that  things  are  kept  clean  and  in  their 
places." 

David  Henry  Grows  was  discharged  for  disability  Sept. 
10,  1862. 

LETTER  OF  SERG'T.  PEACOCK. 

"HALL'S  HILL,  VA. 

Sept.  6,  1862. 

Here  I  am  in  the  old  camp  we  left  last  spring.  Every 
thing  looks  about  as  we  left  it.  We  have  had  a  hard  time 
of  it  since  leaving  James  River — constant  marching  and 
fighting  for  over  three  weeks.  I  was  all  through  the  Bull 
Run  fight  with  Lieut.  (Thomas  M.)  Cargill  and  the  Third 
Mass.  Battery  caissons.  These  were  upon  the  battle  field 
while  the  guns  went  to  Centreville. 

It  is  a  sad  sight  to  see  Porter's  Division  at  the  present 
time,  worn  out  and  ragged.  Camps  that  held  one  Reg't. 
six  months  ago,  now  accommodate  two  Brigades !  The  83d 
Penn.  that  left  in  March  with  noo  men,  now  numbers  90, 
and  no  one  Regt.  over  200  men.  •* 

Our  Battery  is  75  men  short  by  sickness  and  death.  We 
expect  to  leave  here  in  the  morning  to  be  recruited  up  and 
reorganized.  Our  knapsacks  were  sent  off  at  Harrison's 
Landing  over  a  month  ago,  so  about  all  we  have  is  what 
we  stand  in. 

P.  S.     We  go  from  here  to  Fort  Corcoran." 


"In  the  afternoon  of  September  6,  1862,  the  5th  and  3d 
Batteries  [Corporal  Chase  still  keeping  the  distinctive  titles] 
were  mustered  for  pay  by  Lt.  C.  A.  Phillips,  commanding. 
Received  orders  after  supper  to  strike  tents.  The  3d  Mass. 
Battery  was  to  go  to  Alexandria  to  refit.  Hitched  up  at  8 
p.  m.  Marched  towards  Alexandria  about  12  p.  m.  (a 


434  HISTORY    OF    THE 

silent,  rapid  march  through  the  darkness)  and  halted  near 
Alexandria  at  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  Sunday. 
Arrived  about  noon  at  Fairfax  Seminary  [A  theological  in 
stitution  occupied  as  a  hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of 
our  Army]  and  went  into  camp.  All  the  Army  except 
Morell's  Division  seemed  to  have  disappeared." 

From  a  Letter  of  Lieut.  Phillips :  "Sunday  Evening 
Sept.  7,  1862.  Fairfax  Seminary: — I  was  not  very  well  at 

Harrison's  Landing,  but  a  march  always  cures  me 

When  we  left  Hall's  Hill  for  the  Peninsula,  I  left  my  bed 
stead  with  Mr.  Osborn,  not  expecting  to  see  it  again.  Our 
unexpected  return  to  this  locality  prompted  me  to  look  after 
it,  and  I  found  it  all  right,  and  I  intend  to  stick  by  it  here 
after." 

On  Monday  the  8th  they  marched  to  Upton's  Hill  near 
Washington,  and  camped  with  Griffin's  Brigade. 

LETTER  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE. 

"UPTON'S  HILL,  VA. 

Sept.  10,  1862. 

Well,  here  we  are  again,  just  where  we  started  from  last 
spring.  We  have  been  within  4  miles  of  Richmond  and 
now  we  are  in  sight  of  the  National  Capital.  Little  did  we 
think,  last  spring,  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  were  to 
drive  the  enemy  to  the  wall  and  after  a  tedious  campaign 
and  hard  fighting,  we  would  return  to  our  old  camping 
ground  and  the  enemy  still  unconquered.  We  left  Harri 
son's  Landing  on  the  night  of  the  I4th  ult.  and  marched  to 
Hampton  where  we  took  a  steamer  to  Acquia  Creek,  on  the 
Potomac,  and  from  there  we 'have  marched  here  by  way 
of  Fredericksburg  and  Manassas.  .  .  .  We  have  had  no 
change  of  clothing  since  the  7th  ult.  and  until  our  arrival 
here — Sept.  3d — we  did  not  have  time  to  wash  our  clothing 
and  sufficiently  dry  it.  We  washed  it  and  put  it  on  wet 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  435 

and  thanks  to  the  hot  sun  it  was  soon  dry.  This  is  what 
old  braggadocio  Pope  calls  light  marching  order.'  We 
have  marched  over  many  miles  of  the  road  between  Fred- 
ericksburg  and  here  three  times.  We  would  advance  eight 
or  ten  miles  in  the  morning,  then  halt  for  two  or  three 
hours,  then  countermarch,  and  in  the  night  of  the  same  day 
advance  again,  and  take  position  in  line  of  battle  with  other 
troops  and  expect  an  engagement  every  minute.  Some 
days  we  would  go  ahead  all  the  way  from  six  to  twenty- 
five  miles  a  day.  We  have  escaped  all  the  fights  by  mere 
luck  or  accident,  but  we  have  seen  all  their  horrors.  At  the 
battle  of  Manassas  we  were  ordered  to  the  front  about  5 
p.  m.,  and  after  we  had  advanced  about  a  mile,  we  met  large 
numbers  of  the  wounded  coming  to  the  rear.  Soon  they 
came  in  crowds,  and  finally  the  whole  Army.  The  road 
was  blocked  up  with  troops,  and  we  were  obliged  to  coun 
termarch.  The  wounded  passed  us  in  every  stage  of  muti 
lation,  some  of  them  on  horseback  with  their  legs  and  arms 
amputated,  and  the  naked  stumps  exposed  to  the  view  of 
those  just  ordered  to  the  front.  We  are  here  to  rest  and 
recruit,  and  if  old  Jackson  will  be  civil  for  a  few  days  our 
Battery  will  in  all  probability  be  recruited,  for  we  have  had 
new  officers  lately  commissioned  for  our  old  Battery. 
Twenty-eight  new  recruits  have  arrived,  some  for  the  3d 
Battery;  among  them  is  one  D.  C.  Chase  of  Charlestown, 
Mass. 

Thursday  morning,  Sept.  u,  1862:  We  have  our  guns 
'in  battery'  at  the  outposts  at  Upton's  Hill  with  Griffin's 
Brigade.  We  are  under  the  same  restrictions  here  that  we 
were  on  the  Peninsula,  although  within  two  miles  of  the 
National  Capital.  We  have  a  good  place  to  camp  and  have 
plenty  of  soft  bread  served  out  to  us.  We  are  having-  a 
good  rest  and  fast  recruiting." 


On  Thursday  the  nth  Lt.  Phillips  went  to  Washington 


436  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  had  a  short  interview  with  General  Fitz  John  Porter, 
who  requested  him  to  address  a  paper  to  him  in  relation  to 
the  reorganization  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  Lt.  Phil 
lips  accordingly  drew  up  a  short  memorial,  concluding  with 
a  request  for  the  members  of  the  Fifth  Battery  to  be  placed 
in  camp  by  themselves  and  supplied  with  guns.  In  Lt. 
Phillips'  own  words : — "I  did  not  expect  an  immediate  com 
pliance  with  this  request,  but  I  had  it  forwarded  so  as  to 
reach  him  that  afternoon.  I  then  went  into  the  city  and 
returned  about  dark.  As  it  had  commenced  to  rain  I  con 
cluded  to  stop  over  night  with  Blake  who  was  camped  with 
the  wagons  near  Fort  Corcoran.  The  next  morning,  Sep 
tember  1 2th,  Scott  rode  down  before  I  was  up,  and  gave 
me  a  telegraphic  order,  which  Captain  Martin  had  received 
Thursday  evening,  as  follows: — 

UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH. 
Received  Sept.  n,  1862. 
From   Fort   Corcoran 

To  Capt.  A.  P.  Martin  Chief  of  Art'y. 

Direct  Lt.  Phillips  to  make  requisitions  for  a  new  battery  without 
delay.  GEO.  W.  MORELL 

M.  G. 

At  the  same  time,  Scott  told  me,  the  whole  Division  had 
got  marching  orders  and  were  probably  on  the  road  then. 
I  saw  at  once  that  to  get  my  guns  I  must  stop  behind,  but 
this  order  gave  no  directions  whatever. 

I  immediately  rode  up  the  road  till  I  met  Captain  Mar 
tin,  and  we  went  to  General  Morell's  Hd.  Qrs.  and  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  a  verbal  order  to  keep  my  men  here  in 
camp  till  I  was  supplied. 

Captain  Waterman  was  not  over  much  pleased  at  losing 
the  men  [from  the  Fourth  R.  I.  Battery]  but  I  thought  I 
had  recruited  his  battery  long  enough." 

George  L.  Newton  of  Weymouth,  Mass,  secretary  of  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery  Association,  was  one  of  the  number 
of  those  who  were  transferred  to  the  Fourth  R.  I.  Battery. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  437 

When  asked  to  furnish  the  names  of  the  others  which  were 
subsequently  supplied  by  Gideon  Spencer  First  Lieutenant 
ist  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery,  he  replied  under  date 
August  15,  1899: — "While  I  was  one  of  that  number  I  can 
not  recall  the  names  of  the  others.  If  I  remember  cor 
rectly  there  were  about  30  of  us,  and  Captain  Waterman 
was  very  sorry  to  lose  us  when  we  were  ordered  to  report 
to  Captain  (then  Lt.)  Phillips  at  Arlington  Heights  after 
the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run." 

LETTER  OF  DR.  GIDEON  SPENCER,  SECRETARY 

STATE   BOARD   OF   SOLDIERS'   RELIEF 

OF   RHODE   ISLAND,  PROVIDENCE, 

OCT.  1 8,  1899:- 

"I  enclose  list  of  5th  Mass.  Battery  men  who  were  attached  to  Bat 
tery  'C  ist  R.  I.  Lt.  Art'y-  This  was  the  4th  R.  I.  Battery,  but  'C  in 
the  regiment  of  batteries.  The  enclosed  record  was  taken  from  the 
Adjutant  General's  Report  of  R.  I.  1861  to  1865.  This  report  was  re 
vised  and  compared  with  the  War  Department  records  within  the  past 
five  or  six  years,  and  must  be  nearly  perfect.  It  will  give  you  at  least 
the  date  of  their  transfer.  I  hope  this  may  be  of  some  service,  as  I 
know  from  experience,  at  this  late  day,  the  writing  of  history  of  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  is  a  severe  task." 

Agen  John,  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  the  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 

Alden  F.  D.  Priv't.  Battery  C;  July,  1862,  detached  from  the  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 

Almy  A.  W.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  the  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 

Alton  J.  H.  Priv't  Batt'y  C;  July,  1862,  attached  to  this  Battery, 
sept.,  1862,  transferred  to  5th  Mass.  Battery. 

Champlin  E.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Cooper  H.  D.  Priv't.  Battery  C;  July  4,  1862.  temporarily  detached 
from  5th  Mass.  Battery. 

Crapo  H.  D.  Priv't.  Battery  C ;  temporarily  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  5th  Mass.  Battery. 

Dunham  W.  H.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 

Flynn  Michael,  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 


438  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Freeborn  G.  H.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 

Gilbert  J.  A.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C ;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Graham  B.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Gunning  William,  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Hathaway  J.  F.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Jordan  S.  R.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Kay  J.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Kiel  E.  E.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  temporarily  detached  from 
5th  Mass.  Battery. 

McVey  D.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Munroe  J.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C ;  July  4,  1862,  temporarily  detached  form 
?th  Mass.  Battery. 

Murray  J.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Newton  G.  L.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Oldis  F.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  Battery. 

Pattison  L.  E.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment 

Pattison  W.  B.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Rice  E.  E.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July,  1862,  detached  from  5th  Mass. 
Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862^  returned  to  regiment. 

Tucker  J.  C.  Bugler,  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Waddington  J.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Welsh  Patrick,  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

West  Benjamin,  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery,  and  borne  on  extra  duty  as  teamster  until  Sept.  1862. 
Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 

Wilcox  W.  S.  Priv't.  Batt'y  C;  July  4,  1862,  detached  from  5th 
Mass.  Battery.  Sept.  12,  1862,  returned  to  regiment. 


To  proceed  with  Lieut.  Phillips'  Letter : — ''Luckily  our 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  439 

three  wagons  [see  p.  410  Captain  Martin]  were  still  with 
the  Batteries,  having  been  turned  over  to  the  Battery  quar 
termaster  (Scott),  each  battery  having  the  use  of  one.  So 
Scott  started  off  and  emptied  the  stuff  out  of  them  while  1 
got  the  men  together. 

As  soon  as  we  got  straightened  out,  I  marched  them  to  a 
spot  a  short  distance  from  Fort  Corcoran,  and  pitched  our 
camp.  Scott  and  I  have  a  brand  new  wall  tent,  which  I 
foraged  at  Upton's  Hill,  Blake  and  Lull  a  small  wedge  tent, 
while  the  men  have  a  most  motley  assortment  of  poncho 
tents  &c.  Our  camp  is  in  a  very  pleasant  spot,  in  good 
order,  and  altogether  looks  quite  well. 

Having  pitched  our  camp  and  sent  after  forage  and 
rations  I  felt  that  I  was  fairly  started  as  an  independent 
corps." 

Sept.  12,  1862.  (Chase's  Diary.)  "Reveille  at  3  a.  m. 
Hitched  up  and  marched  to  Fort  Corcoran,  Va.,  and  halted 
near  Georgetown.  Soon  after  halting  we  were  agreeably 
surprised  by  seeing  the  remains  of  the  old  5th  Battery  again 
assembled  to  be  reorganized. 

Went  into  camp  on  a  hill  near  Fort  Corcoran,  and  the 
Third  Battery  left  us  and  continued  the  march  to  Antietam, 
Md. 

Received  knapsack  well  stocked  with  clean  clothing,  the 
first  change  of  clothing  since  we  were  stripped  to  light 
marching  order  August  loth  (1862),  and  with  soft  bread 
and  rest,  happiness  reigns  supreme." 

The  next  thing  for  Lieut.  Phillips  to  do  was  to  get  his 
ordnance  requisitions  approved. 

"I  had  some  doubts"  he  wrote,  "whether  I  could  find 
anybody  to  do  it,  but  having  found  out  from  the  command 
ing  officer  at  Fort  Corcoran  that  General  Heintzelman  was 
in  command,  I  started  off  the  first  thing  in  the  morning  of 
the  1 3th  for  his  headquarters  at  Arlington  House.  I  got 
his  signature  without  any  difficulty,  and  started  for  the  city. 


440  HISTORY   OF    THE 

Having  put  the  requisitions  through  the  usual  routine  of 
the  'circumlocution  office'  I  got  my  orders  for  the  various 
articles,  and  shall  get  them  as  soon  as  they  are  on  hand.  At 
the  corral  I  found  about  200  horses  and  orders  for  about 
600  ahead  of  me. 

They  had  plenty  of  guns  at  the  Arsenal, — no  carriages, 
but  were  expecting  a  supply  every  day.  Harnesses  are 
plenty,  the  only  trouble  is  the  horses.  I  have  required  for 
3  inch  guns,  the  same  that  we  had  before.  Meantime  the 
Division  has  gone." 

Morell's  Division  6000  strong,  which  had  camped  one 
brigade  on  Upton's  Hill,  one  at  Hunter's  Chapel,  and  the 
other  at  Fort  Corcoran,  had  crossed  the  river  and  marched 
to  Antietam. 

The  Fifth  Corps  had  here  been  joined  by  the  2Oth  Maine 
Infantry  Lt.  Col.  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain  [see  p.  835  "Battle 
of  the  North  Anna"]  assigned  to  the  3d  Brigade,  ist  Di 
vision  (Morell's)  Fifth  Corps,  which  it  joined  Sept.  12, 
1862,  and  the  n8th  Pennsylvania, — commercial  exchange 
of  Philadelphia, — commanded  by  Colonel  Charles  M.  Pre- 
vost. 

As  organized  for  the  Maryland  campaign  from  Septem 
ber  nth  to  3Oth,  1862,  the  Artillery  attached  to  the  3d 
Brigade,  ist  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps,  consisted  of  the 
Third  Mass.  Battery  Captain  A.  P.  Martin,  Fourth  Rhode 
Island,  Captain  Richard  Waterman,  5th  U.  S.  Battery  D, 
Lt.  Charles  E.  Hazlett. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  remained  in  camp  opposite 
Georgetown.  After  reuniting  the  men  belonging  to  the 
Battery  who  were  serving  in  the  Third  Mass,  and  Fourth 
R.  L,  Phillips  needed  20  men.  This  he  stated  in  a  note  to 
Governor  Andrew.  He  could  take  25,  and  he  could  not 
give  the  exact  number  of  the  men  on  the  rolls,  as  men  were 
sent  to  the  hospitals  and  then  discharged  for  disability  and 
no  notice  given  to  their  captains.  In  a  letter  he  states  that 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY,  441 

he  met  Lieut.  Batchelder,  Division  Ordnance  officer,  on  the 
1 3th,  and  asked  him  to  tell  General  Morell  that  he  should 
like  a  written  order  to  remain  till  he  got  his  guns,  and  then 
to  rejoin  the  Division.  "I  have  found"  he  wrote,  "a  com 
missary  who  will  issue  rations  and  a  quartermaster  who  will 
supply  forage,  and  am  sure  of  getting  my  guns,  so  I  am  all 
right.  Captain  Waterman  left  a  section  here  with  his  bat 
tery  wagon  and  forge  in  charge  of  Lt.  Buckley  to  obtain 
new  gun  carriages.  Buckley  (Willam  W.)  was  in  at  the 
Arsenal  changing  his  carriages  on  the  i3th.  He  told  Scott 
he  was  going  to  get  some  horses,  and  I  do  not  think  he  has 
got  his  order  filed,  so  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he  had  to  wait 
longer  than  we  do.  I  expect  an  order  to  report  to  General 
(Amiel  W.)  Whipple.  Lull  got  his  commission  the  other 
day  at  the  War  Department,  where  it  had  been  laying  a 
month  or  more,  so  he  is  all  right,  though  1  do  not  under 
stand  why  it  is  dated  Aug.  ist  and  all  the  rest  July  i^th. 
In  regard  to  recruits  I  cannot  send  for  any  definite  number. 
I  can  only  muster  and  draw  pay  for  151  enlisted  men.  On 
the  muster  roll  of  August  3ist  there  are  134  enlisted  men. 
This  includes  a  large  number  who  have  been  sent  to  hos 
pitals  at  various  times,  but  whether  they  are  alive  or  dead, 
in  the  service  or  discharged  from  it,  I  do  not  know  and  can 
not  find  out.  I  shall  take  all  recruits  that  come,  to  the 
number  of  30,  say." 

The  picture  here  given  of  the  Army  Desk,  was  photo 
graphed  November  4,  1899,  by  E.  G.  Merrill  at  Salem, 
Mass.,  as  it  now  appears  in  the  home  of  Captain  Phillips. 
It  is  one  of  those  furnished  by  Government  for  the  use  of 
Army  officers,  and  was  in  use  by  Captain  Phillips  two  years 
and  a  half.  Its  dimensions  are,  outside,  breadth  24  in. : 
height  20  in. :  depth  12  inches. 

When  opened  af^er  many  years  for  the  purpose  of  exam 
ining  the  papers  relating  to  the  history  of  the  Battery,  it 


442  HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  found  to  contain  records  from  1861  to  1865,  and  the 
settlement  of  accounts. 

After  the  papers  were  examined  and  extracts  made,  all 
the  diaries,  official  papers  and  books,  which  had  been  taken 
out  were  carefully  returned  to  their  places,  so  that  when  the 
photograph  was  taken  the  desk  held  everything  exactly  as 
when  first  opened. 

COMPANY  ORDER  NO.  i. 

FORT   COBCORAN,    Sept.    13,    1862. 
Company  Orders. 
No.  i. 

The  following  appointments  are  announced: — 

Charles  A.  Phillips  Senior  1st  Lieut. 

Henry  D.  Scott  Junior  1st  Lieut. 

Peleg  W.  Blake  Senior  2d  Lieut. 

Frederick  A.  Lull  Junior  2d  Lieut. 

Joseph  E.  Spear  ist  Sergeant  to  date  from  August  ist. 

Ephraim  B.  Nye  Serg't.,  to  date  from  July  I3th. 

William  B.  Pattison  Corporal,  to  date  from  July  ist. 

William  G.  Warren  Corporal,  to  date  from  July  I3th. 

John  W.  Morrison  Corporal,  to  date  from  August  ist. 

(Signed)     CHARLES  A.   PHILLIPS  Lieut. 
Com'd'g  Battery  E.  Mass.  Art'y. 

From  Lieut.  Phillips  under  date  Sept.  14,  1862: — "I  re 
ceived  two  letters  today  directed  to  men  whom  I  never 
heard  of,  members  of  Mass.  5th  Battery,  Camp  Day,  Cam 
bridge,  and  forwarded  on  here.  I  should  judge  by  this  that 
my  recruits  had  started. 

I  am  afraid,  in  that  case,  they  will  be  forwarded  to 
Morell's  Division.  The  shoulder-straps  have  arrived,  and 
have  given  universal  satisfaction.  I  have  the  most 
cordial  co-operation  of  all  my  officers  and  men.  .  .  . 
Four  recruits  have  arrived  from  Massachusetts  named  Bliss, 
Brand,  D.  Shackley,  J.  Shackley.  They  went  up  to  Rock- 
ville  hunting  after  Morell's  Division.  Two  of  my  sick 
men  have  returned  from  hospital  and  I  expect  more  every 
day.  We  live  very  independently.  The  men  feel  much 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  443 

more  cheerful  than  they  have  for  some  time,  and  so  far  all 
goes  well.  I  am  afraid  at  the  present  rate  our  Division  will 
travel  out  of  our  reach.  When  last  heard  from  they  were 
en  route  for  Harper's  Ferry.  Our  return  to  Hall's  Hill 
enabled  me  to  regain  possession  of  my  old  camp  stools 
which  I  had  at  Lynnfield  and  Readville,  so  that  [with  the 
bedstead]  our  tent  is  about  as  comfortable  as  it  was  in  those 
days.  We  have  manufactured  a  dining-table  out  of  harness 
boxes,  and  live  in  style.  Some  of  us  go  into  the  city  every 
day  so  that  we  have  an  opportunity  to  do  our  marketing. 
Things  around  here  remain  very  quiet;  once  in  a  while  we 
can  hear  a  little  firing  up  river,  and  a  green  regiment  camped 
close  by  salutes  us  occasionally;  today  sending  a  whole  vol 
ley  of  bullets  into  our  camp  under  the  impression  that  they 
were  discharging  their  muskets  into  the  side  of  the  hill. 
Washington  is  quiet.  Massachusetts  must  be  getting  very 
warlike.  I  see  by  an  advertisement  in  the  Transcript  every 
citizen  of  Boston  is  called  upon  to  keep  a  uniform  and  mus 
ket  on  hand  to  guard  against  contingencies." 

With  regard  to  General  Burnside's  influence  in  favor  of 
the  Battery,  Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  home  from  camp  near 
Fort  Corcoran,  Sept.  14,  1862 : — 

".  .  .  Thanks,  however,  to  my  friends  at  home  and 
out  here, — among  the  latter  particularly  Gen.  Burnside, — I 
have  at  last  got  an  order  to  draw  a  new  supply  of  guns, 
horses,  &c.,  and  have  gone  into  camp  here  for  that  pur 
pose.  .  .  .  Gen.  Burnside  whom  I  saw  at  Falmouth, 
wished  to  be  remembered  to  you.  After  I  saw  him  he  had 
an  interview  with  Gen.  Porter,  which  probably  helped  me 
as  much  as  anything.  .  .  .  We  are  camped  just  beyond 
Fort  Corcoran,  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  road  going 
from  Washington,  in  a  very  pleasant  spot.  On  the  whole 
our  camp  looks  well.  Horses  and  guns  only  are  needed  to 
complete  the  picture. 

I  met  the  4Oth  Mass,  under  Lt.  Col.  Dalton  on  the  Avenue 


444  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  other  day.     They  looked  very  well.     I  find  my  hands 
full  of  business  just  now,  but  I  never  felt  better." 

CORPORAL  SHACKLEY'S  NOTES. 

"I  enlisted  as  a  recruit  to  the  Battery  after  McClellan's 
campaign  on  the  Peninsula,  and  went  to  Camp  Day  at  Cam 
bridge,  Mass. 

Daniel  K.  Shackley,  Robert  Brand,  and  Cornelius  E. 
Bliss,  also  enlisted  as  recruits  to  the  Battery,  and  early  in 
September  (1862)  we  four,  with  others,  were  ordered  to 
join  our  respective  commands.  We  were  transported  to 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  quartered  in  a  barrack  known  as 
'Soldiers'  Retreat.'  We  were  there  while  the  Fifth  or 
Porter's  Corps  were  marching  through  Washington  to 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  The  next  day,  when  a  call 
was  made  for  recruits  for  Porter's  Corps  to  fall  in,  we  were 
glad  of  the  opportunity  to  get  away  from  the  'Retreat,'  and 
falling  into  line  we  marched  just  outside  the  District  of 
Columbia  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

The  next  morning  we  proceeded  on  our  march  and  passed 
through  Rockville,  where  we  found  some  men  of  the  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  who  told  us  the  Fifth  had  been  detached  and 
left  at  Fort  Corcoran  to  recruit  and  receive  new  guns  and 
horses. 

We  four  recruits  for  the  Fifth  Battery  went  to  the  Pro 
vost-guard  of  Rockville,  and  received  some  rations  and  a 
permit  to  return  to  Georgetown.  We  went  towards  George 
town  about  three  miles,  and  turning  into  a  field  spread  our 
blankets  under  the  branches  of  a  large  oak  tree,  and  after 
eating  some  of  our  army  rations,  we  lay  down  for  our 
night's  rest  with  the  clouds  for  our  canopy. 

With  our  heads  on  the  ground  we  could  hear  heavy  can 
nonading,  which  we  afterwards  learned  was  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain,  Sept.  14,  1862. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  445 

Next  morning  we  proceeded  on  our  way,  and  were  soon 
overtaken  by  an  empty  wagon  train,  and  by  the  courtesy  of 
the  train  master  we  put  ou/r  knapsacks  in  the  wagons  and 
went  over  the  rough  macadamized  road  to  Georgetown. 

We  reported  to  the  Provost-guard,  who  after  two  or 
three  hours,  detailed  a  sergeant,  a  corporal  and  six  men  with 
the  following  prisoners,  [the  four  recruits]  who  marched 
us  over  Aqueduct  bridge  and  then  told  us  to  go  where  we 
pleased. 

We  climbed  up  the  hill  to  Fort  Corcoran,  where  we  found 
the  Battery  and  felt  quite  at  home." 

On  Sept.  1 6,  1862,  all  the  harnesses  had  been  obtained, 
and  on  the  I7th  procured  a  little  more  ordnance. 

BATTLE  OF  ANTIETAM. 

This  day,  Wednesday  the  I7th,  has  been  called  the  blood 
iest  day  that  America  had  ever  known.  When  nearly  two 
hundred  thousand  men  for  fourteen  hours  were  engaged 
in  mortal  combat,  witnessed  by  an  army  of  spectators  who 
observed  the  conflict  from  the  surrounding  hills. 

Thursday  the  i8th  the  battery  wagon  and  forge  were 
hauled  out,  and  it  was  ordered  that  the  morning  report 
should  be  made  to  Brigadier  General  Whipple  commanding 
defences  of  Washington  Southwest  of  the  Potomac,  which 
the  enemy  crossed  that  night,  holding  the  right  bank  and 
defending  the  ford  with  his  artillery.  Portions  of  Morell's 
and  Sykes'  Divisions  with  a  portion  of  the  Divisional  artil 
lery  were  ordered  to  occupy  the  banks  of  the  river,  clear  the 
fords,  and  capture  if  possible  the  enemy's  guns,  during 
which  movement  the  enemy  fell  back  in  confusion,  and  two 
guns  and  several  caissons  were  secured. 

Lieut.  Phillips  wrote  on  this  date: — "I  have  got  under 
General  Whipple's  orders  at  last. 

He  rode  into  camp  today,  and  after  a  few  inquiries  about 


446  HISTORY    OF    THE 

my  guns,  said  that  as  his  orders  were  to  take  command  of 
all  within  his  limits,  he  supposed  I  came  under  his  com 
mand,  and  wished  me  to  send  my  morning  reports  to  him. 
I  told  him  that  this  relieved  me  of  some  responsibility,  as  I 
was  sometimes  at  a  loss  to  get  my  requisitions  approved, 
&c.  &c.  He  said  he  would  approve  my  requisitions  if  1 
would  send  them  up  to  Head  Quarters.  I  told  him  what 
my  instructions  were,  and  that  I  thought  it  exceedingly 
doubtful  if  I  ever  caught  up  with  Morell's  Division  at  the 
rate  things  were  moving.  He  seemed  to  think  so  too,  and 
said  that  he  should  like  very  much  to  have  me  in  his  Divi 
sion  but,  of  course,  he  should  not  like  to  interfere  with  Gen 
eral  Morell  in  any  wav.  I  said  it  made  very  little  difference 
to  me  what  Division  I  was  in  &c.  &c.  So  on  the  whole,  it 
will  not  be  the  most  surprising  thing  in  the  world  if  we  end 
by  being  transferred  to  Whipple's  Division.  .  .  .  What 
sort  of  red  tape  has  prevented  Terry  [Serg't  Terry  desired 
the  commission  of  quartermaster  of  the  batteries]  from  be 
ing  commissioned  ?  As  near  as  I  can  get  at  it,  the  Governor 
would  not  commission  him  till  he  was  discharged,  and  the 
Department  would  not  discharge  him  till  he  was  commis 
sioned,  and  there  they  stuck! 

Friday  (the  iQth)  General  Whipple  had  his  Division  out 
for  review,  and  having  miscalculated  the  length  of  the  line 
one  regiment  formed  on  our  battery  wagon  and  forge.  The 
order  was  then  given  'Form  Square  s  '[and  the  regiment 
formed  a  square  with  them  in  the  middle!  As  a  drill  for 
manoeuvring  on  difficult  ground  it  may  have  been  excellent, 
but  as  a  military  exhibition  it  was  rather  a  failure.  Satur 
day  (20th)  he  had  a  review,  but,  having  grown  wiser,  this 
time  he  formed  the  line  somewhere  else,  so  as  not  to  cross 
our  parade." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  447 

ON    RECRUITING    SERVICE. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY 

OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
WASHINGTON. 
Sept.  20,  1862. 
Special  Orders. 

Extract. 

5.  Quartermaster  Sergeant  T.  W.  Terry,  Battery  E,  Mass.  Artil 
lery,  is  detached  on  the  recruiting  service,  and  will  report  for  instruc 
tions  to  the  superintendency  of  the  recruiting  service  for  the  state  of 
Massachusetts. 

By  command  of  Major  General  McClellan. 

(Signed)     RICHARD  B.  IRWIN, 

Ass't  Adjt.  Gen'l. 

"Sunday,  Sept.  21,  1862  (Phillips)  General  Whipple  had 
an  inspection  of  his  cavalry,  and  by  way  of  variety  made 
me  turn  out  my  men  for  inspection.  Without  guns  or 
horses  I  could  not  make  much  of  a  display,  but  I  did  my 
best. 

Sept.  22d.  I  have  just  learned  how  the  troops  here  are 
organized :  General  Heintzelman  commands  the  corps  here, 
composed  of  four  Divisions  of  which  Whipple  is  one.  .  .  . 
I  find  I  have  quite  a  number  of  acquaintances  round  here : 
Lts.  Hall,  Dalton,  Smith  and  Pope  of  the  I4th,  and  through 
them  I  am  getting  acquainted  with  most  of  the  officers  of 
that  regiment.  Yesterday  afternoon  Lull  and  I  rode  up  to 
the  4Oth  Regt.  encamped  close  by  Fort  Ethan  Allen  near 
Chain  Bridge.  We  took  tea  with  Captain  Johnson  and  his 
lieutenants,  then  looked  on  at  Dress  Parade,  and  after  that 
I  called  on  Lt.  Col.  Dalton  and  Major  Day,  so,  on  the  whole, 
I  tumbled  into  quite  a  lot  of  acquaintances.  The  roads 
which  last  spring  were  regular  mud  holes,  are  now  in  ex 
cellent  order  and  riding  is  very  pleasant.  Business  in  Wash 
ington  gives  us  all  plenty  of  opportunities  to  get  into  the 
city,  and  our  present  life  is  rather  a  relief  from  the  barba 
rous  way  in  which  we  have  been  living.  Our  men  are  recruit 
ing  upon  a  diet  of  soft  bread,  and  our  number  is  constantly 
on  the  increase  from  the  hospitals.  I  have  now  95  enlisted 


448  HISTORY    OF    THE 

men  in  camp;  rather  a  small  proportion  of  150,  but  more 
than  we  have  had  for  some  time.  We  have  five  or  ten  on 
the  sick  list  every  day,  but  no  serious  cases.  I  have  bread 
and  milk  every  morning  for  breakfast.  In  regard  to  the 
negro  question  I  have  gained  no  new  views.  I  do  not  think 
that  emancipation  would  be  a  direct  military  advantage  of 
any  account,  but  I  think  it  would  be 'a  great  step  towards 
the  suppression  of  the  rebellion.  .  .  . 

You  don't  think  my  picture  looks  military,"  he  writes 
with  reference  to  one  sent  home,  ''perhaps  this  is  owing  to 
the  hat.  I  started  out  here  with  a  small  forage  cap,  but  the 
heat  on  the  Peninsula  rendered  this  intolerable.  At  Gaines 
Mills  I  invested  in  a  felt  hat,  which  was  my  costume  through 
the  battle.  By  the  time  I  reached  Harrison's  Landing  this 
was  pretty  well  played  out,  having  served  as  a  night  cap 
pretty  constantly.  I  next  purchased  a  straw  hat  which 
showed  very  prettily  at  first,  but  rain  and  dust  soon  spoiled 
its  looks.  I  wore  this  till  we  arrived  here  and  had  it  on 
when  my  picture  was  taken.  As  it  had  become  the  laughing 
stock  of  the  company  I  took  the  first  opportunity  to  dispose 
of  it.  ... 

Sept.  24,  1862.  General  Whipple  appears  to  take  consid 
erable  interest  in  our  getting  our  guns  and  horses,  and  his 
staff  are  congratulating  themselves  upon  having  gained  an 
'experienced'  battery  in  the  Division. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  ist  of  January  will  see  states 
enough  in  rebellion  to  make  a  very  general  emancipation. 
The  rebellion  will  not  be  crushed  at  once,  and  the  campaign 
in  Maryland  is  not  all  rose  colored.  We  have  driven  them 
out  of  Maryland,  but  it  proved  our  weakness  that  they  ever 
got  there,  and  we  did  no  more  than  they  did  when  they 
drove  us  off  the  Peninsula.  The  fights  at  South  Mountain 
were  not  decisive  defeats,  and  the  battle  of  Antietam  Creek 
was  almost  a  drawn  game. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  449 

Richmond  will  not  be  taken  this  year  unless  it  is  done  by 
gunboats. 

General  Whipple's  Division  is  a  great  Division  for  drill 
ing.  We  had  two  reviews  last  week,  and  day  before  yester 
day  he  had  the  infantry  of  his  Division  form  hollow  squares, 
while  four  companies  of  cavalry  charged  all  over  the  field 
sometimes  in  good  order,  but  more  frequently  in  disorder. 
Altogether  it  was  a  remarkable  exhibition." 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FORT  CORCORAN,, 
ARLINGTON  HEIGHTS,  VA. 

Sept.  25,  1862. 

When  I  last  wrote  you  we  were  with  the  3d  Battery,  with 
the  pieces  'in  Battery'  at  Upton's  Hill,  but  on  the  I2th  we 
received  marching  orders  and  started  towards  Washing 
ton.  When  we  arrived  at  the  bridge, — to  Georgetown, — 
we  were  very  agreeably  surprised  to  see  that  our  days  with 
the  3d  Battery,  4th  Rhode  Island  and  5th  Regulars  were 
numbered.  The  scattered  remains  of  the  old  Fifth  gradu 
ally  collected,  and  we  are  now  in  camp,  waiting  for  recruits, 
guns,  and  horses.  Many  of  our  men  who  left  us  at  Harri 
son's  Landing,  sick,  have  returned  to  us  hale  and  hearty. 
We  received  our  knapsacks  when  we  arrived  here,  having 
been  without  them  33  days.  Everything  in  mine  was  dry 
and  as  perfect  as  the  day  I  packed  it,  but  others  had  been 
rifled  of  their  contents.  ...  I  do  not  want  you  to  think 
that  I  am  not  willing  to  take  my  share  of  the  hardships  of 
the  war,  neither  do  we  have  an  unusual  dread  of  battles 
ahead  when  there  is  the  least  chance  of  accomplishing  any 
thing,  but  I  must  say  that  I  am  disgusted  with  the  summer 
campaign  in  Virginia.  There  have  been  several  'loose 
screws,'  in  fact  the  only  one  that  was  fast  and  firm  to  one 
policy  was  McClellan,  but  the  screw-drivers  at  Washington 
kept  twisting  him  round  until  they  nearly  split  his  head,  and 


450  HISTORY    OF    THE 

finally  the  only  screw  that  held  the  machine  together  also 
became  loose,  his  plans  were  abandoned  and  here  we  are 
just  in  sight  of  Abraham's  house.  Where  the  blame  in  the 
main  rests  I  will  not  attempt  to  say,  for  I  do  not  know,  all  I 
can  account  for  is  my  own  conduct.  I  have  endeavored  to 
do  my  humble  part  as  well  as  I  could.  Let  every  one  ac 
count  for  his  own  doings.  You  say  you  have  been  fighting 
for  McClellan  but  some  have  been  down  on  him.  Well,  no 
matter,  let  'em  croak.  'Truth  crushed  to  earth  will  rise 
again,'  so  will  George.  Where's  old  Pope  now?  His 
'Head  Quarters  are  in  his  saddle,'  but  where's  his  saddle? 
Ask  the  breezes  that  ruffle  the  Potomac  north  of  Bull  Run. 
We  have  received  our  battery  wagon,  forge,  and  har 
nesses,  and  our  new  sabres  have  come  today." 

FROM  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS'  LETTERS. 

"Sept.  28,  1862.  A  week  ago  yesterday  we  were  told  that 
our  guns  would  be  ready  for  us  at  the  Arsenal  on  Monday 
morning,  so  we  went  in  on  Monday  morning  to  find  that 
General  Burnside  had  sent  down  on  Sunday  for  six  guns 
and  off  they  had  gone.  However,  unless  some  other  general 
in  the  field  wants  some  guns,  we  shall  get  ours  by  Tuesday. 
With  horses  the  thing  works  the  same  way.  Thursday 
night  the  numbers  had  been  so  reduced  that  there  were 
orders  for  .only  150  ahead  of  us.  Friday  morning  down 
came  an  order  from  McClellan  for  200,  and  this  must  be 
filled  before  anything  else.  It  is  rather  discouraging,  but 
we  can  wait.  Scott  and  I  have  had  a  floor  laid  in  our  tent 
for  the  first  time  since  leaving  Massachusetts.  Our  men 
have  built  an  oven  and  we  can  roast  and  bake  at  a  great 
rate.  Yesterday  we  had  roast  beef  for  dinner,  and  this 
morning  we  had  baked  beans  for  breakfast.  One  of  our 
latest  improvements  is  a  rack  to  hang  our  clothes  on.  The 
men  are  living  quite  comfortably,  having  foraged  a  great 
many  tents.  In  fact  the  camp  has  been  gradually  growing 
and  now  presents  quite  a  respectable  appearance. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  451 

One  of  General  Whipple's  brigades  has  gone  to  the  front, 
to  Miner's  Hill,  I  believe.  From  this  I  infer  that  General 
(Franz)  Sigel  has  moved  off  somewhere.  The  other  day 
when  I  was  up  at  Hall's  Hill,  I  learned  that  General  (R.  H.) 
Milroy's  brigade  had  gone  off.  Captain  Martin's  quarter 
master  sergeant  was  in  Washington  yesterday,  and  from 
him  I  learned  that  they  had  not  been  in  any  fight  yet.  He 
left  the  Division  at  Sharpsburg." 

The  rebel  army  had  been  driven  back  into  Virginia,  and 
under  date  of  September  30,  1862,  General  Halleck  thanked 
General  McClellan  and  his  army  for  hard  fought  battles, 
adding : — 

"For  the  well  earned  and  decided  victories  in  Maryland,  a  grateful 
country,  while  mourning  the  lamented  dead,  will  not  be  unmindful  of 
the  living." 

On  the  3<Dth  Lt.  Phillips  drew  two  guns  and  caissons,  and 
on  Oct.  i,  1862,  Wednesday,  Corporal  Chase  has  recorded: 
"Received  four  new  guns  and  81  horses,  again  equipping 
us  as  a  full  battery." 

Phillips  himself  says : — "The  remainder  of  the  horses  I 
shall  get  early  tomorrow  (Oct.  2d)  so  that  by  tomorrow 
night  I  shall  be  fully  equipped.  As  I  understand  it  I  cannot 
move  from  here  without  an  order  from  General  Whipple. 
I  shall  report  myself  to  him  tomorrow  ready  for  service  and 
tell  him  that  I  had  rather  stay  where  I  am.  If  I  stay  in  his 
Division  I  shall  do  it  under  favorable  auspices,  I  have  got  a 
very  good  set  of  horses,  good  guns  and  carriages,  and  better 
ammunition  than  we  had  before.  Altogether  I  am  quite 
well  satisfied  with  things." 

Captain,  then  Lieut.,  Scott  remembers  a  speech  made 
about  this  time  by  Lieut.  Phillips  to  the  men  "which  was 
the  only  model  speech"  he  "had  heard  in  the  Battery  up  to 
that  time. — Lt.  Phillips  called  the  men  into  line  and  said : — 

'Men,  once  more  we  have  our  guns  and  horses,  and  when 
they  go  to  Richmond,  we  go  with  them.'  ' 

"We  had  passed,"  Lt.  Scott  remarks,  "through  a  varied 


452  HISTORY    OF    THE 

experience,  but  now  we  felt  certainly  a  new  future  was 
before  us.  All  were  jubilant." 

Nineteen  more  horses  were  obtained  on  Thursday  (the 
2d)  and  in  the  afternoon  he  reported  to  General  Whipple 
that  he  was  ready  for  service. 

In  the  meantime  he  had  received  the  following  order  from 
Captain  Martin. 

GEN.  FITZ  JOHN  PORTER  DIRECTS. 

On  Sept.  27,  1862,  the  Fifth  Corps  went  into  camp  in  the 
vicinity  of  Sharpsburg,  Md.  directly  north  of  Harper's 
Ferry  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  battle  grounds  of 
Antietam  Creek. 

ORDER  FROM  CAPT.  MARTIN. 

CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD. 

September  27,  1862. 
LIEUT.  PHILLIPS 

Commanding  5th  Mass.  Battery. 
Lieut. 

General  Porter  directs  me  to  say  to  you  that  he  ivishes 
you  to  rejoin  the  Division  as  soon  as  possible.  He  says  if  you  have 
not  obtained  your  full  equipment,  and  there  seems  to  be  any  unnecessary 
delay,  to  call  on  General  Barry  in  Washington  for  assistance,  or  you 
can  communicate  with  him  by  telegraph  through  General  McClellan's 
Head  Quarters. 

Lt.  Walcott  will  give  you  information  about  the  road  etc. 
Very  repectfully 

Your  ob't  servant 

A.  P.  MARTIN  Capt. 
Commanding  Division  Artillery. 
Forwarded  with  the  following  indorsement. 

CAMP  NEAR  FORT  CORCORAN, 

Oct.  6,  1862. 

The  within  is  respectfully  referred  to  Brigd'r  General  Whipple 
Com'd'g  Division. 

I  expect  to  be  ready  to  move  by  the  8th  of  October. 

(Signed)     CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS  ist  Lt. 

When  Lt.  Phillips  called  upon  General  Whipple  on 
Thursday,  Oct.  2d,  this  order  from  Captain  Martin  was  in 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  453 

his  possession,  though  of  course  without  the  indorsement 
at  that  time.  "I  had  shown  him"  (Gen.  Whipple),  he  says, 
"the  order  I  had  received  from  Captain  Martin,  but  as  Gen 
eral  Barry  told  me  that  I  was  to  receive  orders  from  General 
Whipple  only,  and  that  General  Porter  had  no  power  to 
order  me  away,  I  told  him  I  was  a  little  uncertain  what  I 
was  going  to  do.  He  promised  to  give  me  proper  orders, 
and  said  that  he  should  like  to  keep  me  in  his  Division.  I 
told  him  that  would  please  me  and  my  officers  as  we  had 
no  particular  desire  to  rejoin  Morell's.  The  Division 
(Whipple's)  is  not  everything  that  could  be  desired.  It  is 
composed  of  two  brigades,  General  Piatt's  and  another, 
made  up  mostly  of  green  troops.  There  are  two  batteries : 
Battery  H,  ist  Ohio  Art'y,  under  a  major  or  Lt.  Colonel, 
and  the  nth  N.  Y.  Battery,  Captain  something-or-other- 
hamer.  The  nth  N.  Y.  has  been  in  one  fight  only,  where 
they  lost  four  guns,  so  that  we  have  companions  in  misfor 
tune.  Still  I  think  the  Division  will  be  a  good  one.  ...  I 
have  been  to  see  the  General  several  times,  and  I  always  meet 
with  a  cordial  reception.  His  staff  appears  to  be  composed 
of  very  good  officers.  His  ass't  adj't  general  is  Captain 
Henry  Dalton,  and  one  of  his  aides  Lt.  Eddy  has  been  here 
frequently. 

The  trouble  in  Morell's  Division  was  that  we  never  had  a 
fair  start.  Yesterday  (Oct.  2d)  we  hitched  up  and  had  a 
drill,  and  found  our  horses  work  very  well :  there  is  not  a 
balky  one  in  the  lot.  One  animal  distinguished  himself  by 
jumping  round  when  being  harnessed,  actually  jumping 
square  over  one  man,  but  after  tying  up  his  leg  and  giving 
him  a  short  Rarey-izing,  he  came  to." 

Chase's  Diary.  "Oct.  2,  1862.  On  guard  last  night  and 
today  2d  relief.  In  camp  near  Georgetown.  Company  pre 
paring  to  march  all  day. 

Oct.  3d.  Battery  drilled  by  sections.  Hitched  up  p.  m. 
A  perfect  success.  Sent  my  old  memorandum  book  home 


454  HISTORY    OF    THE 

yesterday.     Sent  secesh  cartridge  box  home  today  by  ex 
press."  - 

From  the  ist  to  the  4th  of  October,  President  Lincoln  was 
with  the  army  in  the  different  encampments  and  on  the 
battlefields.  He  approved  of  what  had  been  done,  and  prom 
ised  supplies  should  be  sent  immediately. 

The  army  was  in  need  of  everything,  and  McClellan 
dared  not  cross  the  Potomac,  where  the  enemy  was  in 
strong  force,  with  the  river,  which  might  rise  above  a  forda- 
ble  stage  at  any  time,  between  him  and  his  army  and  base 
of  supplies. 

On  the  5th  in  the  forenoon  there  was  an  inspection  of  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  It  took  place  at  9  o'clock  and  General 
Whipple  sent  two  of  his  staff  down  to  witness  it,  "though  I 
wished,"  says  Phillips,  "they  had  stayed  away  till  we  had 
got  our  horses  broken  in,  and  our  harnesses  fitted.  We  had 
not  got  out  of  park  when  one  trace  unhooked,  then  another, 
and  then  another,  causing  a  halt  every  dozen  steps.  Finally 
we  got  in  line  and  prepared  for  inspection.  I  felt  pretty 
grumpy  as  we  rode  round  through  the  Battery.  However, 
I  got  through  with  it,  and  then  took  the  Battery  out  on  a 
two  hours'  drill,  and  I  think  they  will  do  better  next  time. 
This  afternoon  we  took  a  ride  out  into  the  country.  I  have 
recitations  in  tactics  every  evening,  and  it  is  curious  to  see 
how  some  things  strike  the  company  officers.  I  never  found 
the  slightest  difficulty  in  learning  tactics  from  the  book,  and 
long  before  we  ever  hitched  up,  I  could  do  any  manoeuvre 
in  the  book.  Mere  manual  dexterity  of  course  can  be  ac 
quired  only  by  practice." 

October  6th,  1862,  Captain  Martin's  order,  indorsed  by 
Lt.  Phillips  (see  p.  452)  was  sent  to  General  Whipple.  Con 
cerning  this  he  wrote  on  the  7th : — "I  have  referred  the  or 
der  I  received  from  Captain  Martin  to  General  Whipple, 
and  he  has  ordered  me  to  go  ahead  with  my  preparations 
and  report  when  ready  to  him.  Meanwhile  he  has  made 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  455 

application  to  have  the  Battery  transferred  to  his  Division." 
McClellan  had  been  ordered  on  the  6th  by  General  Hal- 
leek  to  cross  the  Potomac  at  once,  and  "move  now,  while  the 
roads  are  good."  The  cavalry  had  moved  north  and  would 
intercept  the  rebel  general  Stuart's  raid  through  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania.  The  army  must  move,  although  besides 
every  other  needful  thing  horses  were  scarce,  and  a  new 
supply  was  indispensable. 

Orders  were  received  for  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  to 
start  Wednesday  morning  Oct.  8. 

MARCHING   ORDERS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
WHIPPLE'S  DIVISION, 

3D  ARMY  CORPS, 
FORT  CORCORAN,  VA. 

Oct.  8,  1862. 
Special  Orders 
No.  167. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  Lt.  Phillips  commanding,  is  hereby  relieved 
from  duty  with  this  Division,  and  will  report  as  soon  as  practicable  to 
the  commanding  officer  of  Morell's  Division,  Porter's  Corps. 
By  command  of  Brig.  Gen'l  Whipple. 

DANIEL  HALL 
Act'g  Ass't  Adjt.  General. 

ON    THE   MARCH. 

"On  the  8th  of  October  [1862,  Scott's  Notes]  the  Battery 
crossed  the  Potomac  on  the  Aqueduct  bridge,  and  followed 
the  road  taken  by  the  army  through  Maryland  to  join  the 
Fifth  Corps  at  Sharpsburg.  Phillips  was  in  command. 

The  weather  was  dry  and  warm,  and  the  dust  that  rose 
was  stifling  and  blinding. 

Passing  through  Urbana  we  found  the  rebel  general 
Stuart  in  his  raid  in  Maryland  had  crossed  our  line  of 
march  but  an  hour  before.  Had  we  been  a  little  earlier  we 
would  likely  have  been  captured,  as  we  had  no  escort. 

Arriving  on  the  Monocacy  River  at  night  near  Frederick 


456  HISTORY   OF    THE 

City,  completely  exhausted  with  the  heat  and  dust  of  the 
day,  the  men  at  once  went  in  bathing  and  got  rid  of  some 
of  the  accumulated  dust  of  our  travel." 


CORPORAL  CHASE'S  ACCOUNT. 

"Oct.  9,  1862,  (Diary  of  Corporal  Chase)  Reveille 
at  4  a.  m.  Hitched  up  and  left  camp  about  half-past  5  a.  m. 
Passed  through  several  villages  and  halted  for  the  night 
about  2  miles  from  Frederick  City,  Md.  Bivouacked  near 
the  bridge  over  Monocacy  River  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
R.  R.  loth:  Reveille  at  4  a.  m.  Broke  camp  and  left  about 
6  a.  m.  Passed  through  Frederick,  Md.,  and  over  the  road 
around  South  Mountain,  and  halted  about  two  miles  from 
Boonsboro',  Md.  Marched  again  through  Sharpsburg, 
about  3  p.  m.  and  halted,  and  went  into  park  just  outside 
the  town.  Saw  much  evidence  of  the  recent  battle  on  the 
route,  both  at  South  Mountain  and  Sharpsburg:  buildings 
shattered  and  trees  scarred  by  shells  and  musketry  gave 
proof  of  the  bloody  battle  of  Antietam.  Visited  some  rebel 
prisoners  in  a  hospital  near  Boonsboro',  and  found  among 
them  privates  of  the  5th  and  6th  Alabama  regiments,  who 
charged  on  our  Battery  at  the  Battle  of  Gaines  Mills,  June 
27,  1862.  They  belonged  to  General  Rhodes'  Brigade, 
General  Hill's  Division,  and  were  taken  prisoners  at  the 
battle  of  Antietam. 

The  people  along  the  route  all  seemed  loyal  and  welcomed 
us  heartily." 

With  respect  to  this  assignment  and  the  march  back  to 
the  First  Division  Captain  Phillips  wrote : — 

"General  Whipple  wished  to  keep  us  in  his  Division,  but 
was  hardly  enterprising  enough,  so  we  got  our  orders  to 
start  Wednesday  morning.  At  ten  o'clock  we  started, 
crossed  the  Aqueduct,  turned  up  the  left  by  the  reservoir 
and  kept  on  through  Tenallytown  and  Rockville.  We 


TIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  457 

camped  a  mile  beyond  the  latter  place.  The  day  was  hot 
and  dusty  but  the  road  good.  Thursday  morning  we  started 
a;  5  o'clock.  The  road  was  excellent,  macadamized,  but  the 
country  very  hilly.  Leaving  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain  on  our 
left,  we  pushed  on  through  Clarksburg  and  Urbana  for  the 
Monocacy.  About  5  o'clock  we  reached  the  Monocacy, 
crossed  the  turnpike  bridge  and  camped  on  the  banks  be 
tween  the  two  bridges.  I  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity 
to  wash  off  the  dust  which  had  accumulated  very  thick, 
got  a  glass  of  ale,  at  the  railroad  saloon  and  went  to  sleep. 
The  next  morning  we  started  at  daybreak  and  passed 
through  Frederick  before  the  people  were  up.  The  day  was 
cloudy,  with  a  little  sprinkle  once  in  a  while.  Soon  after 
leaving  Frederick  we  crossed  a  range  of  hills,  passing 
through  the  little  village  of  Fairview.  The  valley  in  which 
Frederick  is  situated  is  a  splendid  farming  country,  and 
finely  cultivated.  The  people  appear  to  be  very  enterprising 
as  they  had  already  repaired  their  fences  where  they  had 
been  torn  down.  After  crossing  this  range  of  hills  we  came 
to  another  valley  of  equal  fertility  and  cultivation.  In  the 
centre  was  the  town  of  Middletown :  on  the  opposite  side 
were  South  Mts.  Passing  across  the  valley  and  through 
Middletown,  we  began  to  ascend  South  Mountain  Pass 
where  one  battle  came  off.  Half  way  up  the  hill  I  halted  in 
front  of  a  little  inn  to  rest  the  horses.  On  the  descent  we 
passed  a  long  train  of  ambulances  full  of  wounded  Federal 
and  Secesh;  the  Secesh  being  a  better  looking  set  than  I 
have  seen  before.  At  the  bottom  of  the  hill  we  halted  an 
hour  to  rest.  In  the  house  near  by  were  several  wounded 
Secesh,  and  our  men  strolling  around,  found  one  of  them 
who  had  one  of  my  men's  blankets  taken  at  Gaines  Mills. 
I  did  not  see  the  men  myself,  but  they  said  their  regiment 
suffered  greatly  in  getting  our  guns,  and  would  not  believe 
our  loss  was  so  small.  [See  p.  351  Barnard.]  We  next 
passed  through  Boonsboro',  turned  to  the  left,  and  passed 


458  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  village  of  Keedysville,  crossed  the  little  Antietam,  and 
came  to  the  hills  occupied  by  our  troops  in  the  battle  of 
Antietam.  Across  the  creek  the  hill  rose  steeply,  and  just 
over  the  crest  lay  the  village  of  Sharpsburg.  Almost  every 
house  had  a  cannon  ball  through  it;  chimneys  knocked  off 
and  the  mischief  played  generally.  At  present  the  town 
presents  quite  a  busy  appearance.  Churches  and  houses  are 
turned  into  hospitals.  The  U.  S.  Sanitary  Commission 
occupy  a  couple  of  stores,  and  the  streets  are  quite  crowded. 
Just  beyond  the  town  I  halted  the  Battery,  and  rode  ahead 
to  report  to  General  Morell." 


FREDERICKSBURG. 


/.  Position  o/  S^-Mass.  Battery  dvrinj  fhe  tattle.    2.7ne  Poor*  House. 
3.T~he  2h~ic%    K"il~n.  4-.  PTace  Tjuhere  Corpora?  Watt's  100.6   faried  J.  TTie 
buifdJTTcf   of-  the.  Yoicng    Men's  CTi-rist-icm  Association   used  as  a  hospital 
(Jurinq   tne   "battle.  b.Tne.  'Ri^'ht  Grand  Division.  7.  Left  Grand  JJiv. 
8   Centre    Grand  Dii/.    9.  "Position  of  31*.  /^ass.  Sattery.    lO.Hunrffhreys' 
II.  Griffin's  Division.    A2.  <S~ul<eS  J)ivisiOT).  13. (J-ppe.r Bridge.  14-. 
idge.   IS.  Lowr  JBridoe.7 


Middle,   Bridge. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG. 

DECEMBER  13,   1862. 

"The  armies  stand  by  to  behold  the  dread  meet 
ing: 

The  work  must  be  done  by  a  desperate  few, 
The  black  mouthed  guns  on  the'  height  give  them 

greeting — 
From  gun-mouth  to  plain  every  grass  blade  in  view." 

At  Fredericksburg. — JOHN  BOYLE  O'REILLY. 

Having  seen  the  rebel  army  safely  across  the  Potomac,  it 
appeared  to  be  the  duty  of  the  officials  who  were  to  formu 
late  and  regulate  the  campaign,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  recuperation  of  the  army,  more  especially  as  the  Stuart 
dash  into  Maryland  had  resulted  in  a  loss  of  horses,  which  it 
was  absolutely  necessary  should  be  supplied  at  once,  as  well 
as  the  pressing  demand  for  clothing,  shoes  and  blankets, 
which  it  was  impossible  longer  to  ignore.  Recruiting  must 
also  be  strenuously  urged  in  order  to  restore  the  diminished 
ranks.  Regiments  in  some  instances  had  no  officer  of  higher 
rank  than  captain,  and  many  companies  were  without  any 
commissioned  officers.  All  possible  dispatch  should  be  used 
in  the  forwarding  of  supplies. 

While  these  most  important  objects  were  being  accom 
plished,  the  Army  waited  and  watched  the  banks  and  fords 
of  the  river,  and  the  camp  for  a  brief  period  fell  into  the  fa 
miliar  routine  of  constant  drill  and  frequent  inspections  by 
day,  and  at  night  the  suspended  animation  of  a  bivouac  near 
battle  grounds,  which  had  been  the  scene  of  too  much  ruth 
less  sacrifice  of  human  life  ever  to  be  obliterated  from  the 

459 


460  HISTORY    OF    THE 

memory,  or  to  give  unbroken  rest  to  those  who  fell  asleep 
in  their  neighborhood. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1862,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
commenced  to  cross  into  Virginia.  General  George  Webb 
Morell  was  placed  in  command  of  all  the  Union  forces  re 
maining  on  the  upper  Potomac,  from  Antietam  Creek  to 
Cumberland,  Md.,  and  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  ist  Divi 
sion  of  the  Fifth  Corps  was  filled  by  General  Charles 
Griffin. 

General  McClellan's  plan  was  to  follow  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  in  a  southern  direction,  occu 
pying  the  various  gaps,  and,  turning  the  tables  on  General 
Lee,  to  place  the  Army  between  him  and  Richmond.  By  the 
2d  of  November,  the  Army  had  crossed  either  at  Harper's 
Ferry  or  at  Berlin,  and  the  various  corps  had  followed  the 
various  routes  marked  out  for  them.  On  Nov.  9,  1862,  the 
disposition  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  as  follows  :— 

The  First,  Second,  and  Fifth  Corps,  the  Reserve  Artillery 
and  Army  Head  Quarters  were  at  Warrenton,  the  Ninth 
Corps  was  at  Waterloo,  the  Sixth  Corps  and  the  Eleventh 
Corps  at  New  Baltimore  with  part  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  at 
Gainesville  and  Thoroughfare  Gap,  part  of  the  Third  Corps 
posted  along  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad  from 
Manassas  to  Warrenton  Junction.  Part  of  the  cavalry  were 
confronting  Longstreet  at  Hazel  River  six  miles  from  Cul- 
peper  Court  House,  and  Rappahannock  Station  was 
guarded.  The  rebel  general  Jackson  was  near  Chester  and 
Thornton  Gaps,  but  the  mass  of  the  rebel  army  was  west  of 
the  Blue  Ridge. 

At  Warrenton,  having  relieved  Washington  from  danger, 
with  a  successful  campaign  in  prospect,  and  an  Army  full  of 
enthusiasm  and  sublime  faith  in  their  leader,  orders  came  on 
Nov.  7th  to  relieve  General  McClellan  from  the  command 
of  the  Army  and  General  Fitz  John  Porter  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  461 

assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Gen 
eral  Joseph  Hooker  of  the  Fifth  Corps. 

General  Burnside,  on  assuming  the  command  substituted 
for  the  plan  of  campaign  originated  by  McClellan  a  new 
one,  which  involved  the  seizure  of  the  heights  south  of  Fred- 
ericksburg  after  fording  the  Upper  Rappahannock  River; 
the  railroad  to  Fredericksburg  being  reopened  by  sending  a 
small  force  north  of  the  Rappahannock  for  that  purpose. 

Previous  to  this  movement  Burnside  reorganized  the 
Army,  by  forming  Three  Grand  Divisions,  the  Right, 
Centre,  and  Left.  The  Right  was  composed  of  the  Second 
and  Ninth  Army  Corps  Major  Gen.  Edwin  V.  Sumner  in 
command,  the  Centre  consisted  of  the  Third  and  Fifth  Army 
Corps  Major  Gen.  Joseph  Hooker  in  command,  and  the 
Left,  of  the  First  and  Sixth  Army  Corps,  Major  Gen.  Wil 
liam  B.  Franklin,  commanding. 

The  Fifth  Corps  was  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Daniel 
Butterfield,  and  the  ist  Division  to  which  the  Artillery 
Brigade  in  which  was  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  attached, 
was  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Charles  Griffin. 

General  Burnside  commenced  his  movement  on  the  I5th 
of  November,  1862,  and  instead  of  crossing  the  Rappahan 
nock  River,  marched  the  entire  Army  down  its  north  bank, 
the  advance  of  the  Right  Grand  Division  arriving  in  the  vi 
cinity  of  Falmouth,  Va.  on  the  i7th  but  was  unable  to  cross 
to  Fredericksburg,  on  account  of  a  rebel  force  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  sent  for  the  purpose  of  obstructing  the 
passage  at  this  point.  The  bridge  across  the  river  to  Fred 
ericksburg  had  been  destroyed. 

A  corps  of  the  Confederate  Army  was  awaiting  develop 
ments  in  the  vicinity  of  Orange  Court  House.  In  anticipa 
tion  of  our  attempting  to  gain  the  heights  near  that  city 
Longstreet  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Fredericksburg.  On 
the  i Qth  the  Fifth  Corps  was  at  Hartwood  a  few  miles  above 
Falmouth.  On  the  2ist  at  5  p.  m.  in  the  midst  of  a  rain 


462  HISTORY    OF    THE 

storm,  the  Right  Grand  Division  having  arrived  at  a  point 
where  the  Potomac  Creek  crossed  the  Acquia  Creek  and 
Fredericksburg  railroad,  General  Sumner  summoned  the 
authorities  of  the  city  of  Fredericksburg  to  surrender.  In 
the  event  of  their  refusal,  he  threatened  to  bombard  the 
place  at  9  a.  m.  the  next  morning.  The  city  then  under  the 
control  of  the  confederate  general  Lee  did  not  surrender, 
and  was  not  bombarded.  Longstreet  established  his  com 
mand  on  Marye's  Heights  in  the  rear  of  Fredericksburg, 
and  a  part  of  Jackson's  Corps  was  near  Port  Royal  on  the 
Rappahannock  River,  when  on  Nov.  26th  our  gunboats  had 
arrived. 

General  Burnside  ordered  the  construction  of  five  bridges 
from  the  upper  part  of  the  town  to  the  lower,  within  a  dis 
tance  of  about  two  miles,  and  the  artillery  were  employed 
not  only  to  protect  the  building  of  the  bridges,  but  to  protect 
the  Left  flank  of  the  Army  from  attack  in  the  direction  of 
the  Massaponax  River,  and  to  control  the  enemy's  move 
ments  on  the  plain  between  the  ridges  of  hills  on  both  sides 
of  the  river.  To  supply  this  unusual  demand  some  of  the 
artillery  was  withdrawn  from  the  Grand  Divisions,  and  tern 
porarily  added  to  the  Artillery  Reserve.  The  Reserve  was 
then  formed  into  four  Divisions  viz.,  the  Right,  the  Right 
Centre,  and  the  Left  Centre,  and  the  Left,  numbering  in  all 
147  Guns,  and  disposed  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappa 
hannock  River.  Battery  C,  ist  Rhode  Island,  and  Battery 
D,  5th  U.  S.  were  detached  from  the  Fifth  Corps  and 
placed  in  position  to  join  in  the  general  fire  directed  upon 
the  town  and  hills  beyond,  but  the  Third  and  Fifth  Massa 
chusetts  Batteries  crossed  the  river  and  entered  the  city. 

The  Right  Grand  Division  of  the  Army  was  concentrated 
near  the  upper  and  middle  bridges;  the  Left  Grand  Division 
near  the  bridge  below  the  town ;  and  the  Centre  Grand  Divi 
sion  near  to  and  in  the  rear  of  the  Right. 

On  December  nth  the  Fifth  Corps  marched  three  miles 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  463 

to  the  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  the  artillery  moving  in 
the  rear  of  the  Division,  and  was  massed  on  a  level  tract  of 
land  in  the  rear  of  the  batteries  on  the  ridge. 

The  pontoons  for  the  bridges  had  to  be  taken  down  the 
Potomac  and  up  the  Rappahannock,  and  Burnside  waited 
for  them  12  days  on  the  Stafford  Hills  all  ready  to  cross.  In 
the  early  morning  of  Dec.  nth  the  teams  carried  them 
down  to  the  river  banks. 

Edwin  Forbes  in  his  description  of  "The  Pontoon 
Train"  attached  to  his  picture,  thus  describes  the  train  and 
the  method  of  building  a  pontoon  bridge:— 

"One  of  the  finest  sights  during  the  march  of  the  great  army  was 
the  pontoon  train.  The  huge  scows  resting  on  their  heavy  wagons, 
went  tossing  over  the  rough  roads  pulled  by  six  mule  teams.  .  .  .  On 
Hearing  a  stream,  a  road  was  chosen  where  the  approach  to  cross  would 
not  be  too  steep.  The  wagons  were  drawn  near  the  bank,  and  the 
pontoon  boats  were  slid  off  from  the  rear  of  them  into  the  water. 
This  work  was  often  accomplished  under  the  enemy's  fire  from  an  op 
posite  bank  of  the  river ;  but  our  men  worked  with  a  will,  loading  the 
boats  and  pushing  them  off  with  a  dash  and  a  cheer  to  clear  the  enemy 
away.  Then  the  real  work  of  building  a  bridge  would  begin.  Boats 
would  be  pushed  out,  turned  lengthwise  with  the  current,  and  placed  at 
regular  intervals  across  the  stream,  anchored  at  both  ends.  Then  a 
set  of  men  would  quickly  attach  stringers  from  boat  to  boat,  and  an 
other  set  would  hurry  forward  with  planks  to  place  over  them,  thus 
forming  a  floor.  In  an  incredibly  short  time  the  bridge  would  be  com 
pleted,  and  the  main  body  of  the  army  would  march  across  amid  great 
cheers." 

The  engineers  while  laying  the  pontoon  bridges  on  the 
nth  December,  1862,  being  continually  harassed  by  the 
rebel  sharpshooters,  our  batteries  on  the  Heights  com 
menced  a  terrific  cannonading  which  was  continued  two 
hours,  in  order  to  drive  them  out  of  the  house  which  con 
cealed  them;  setting  fire  to  the  city  in  several  places,  and 
under  cover  of  a  movement  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Michi 
gan  troops  the  pontoon  bridges  were  completed.  Three 
regiments  of  infantry  crossed  in  boats,  under  fire,  drove  the 
enemy  from  their  entrenchments  and  took  possession  of  the 
town,  fighting  their  way  through.  These  were  the  Mass. 


464  HISTORY    OF    THE 

1 9th  and  2Oth  and  the  7th  Michigan.  When  these  men  of 
Massachusetts  and  Michigan  crossed,  in  the  words  of  the 
poet  Baker:— 

"Cheer  after  cheer  we  sent  them 

As  only  armies  can — 
Cheers  for  old  Massachusetts, 
Cheers  for  young  Michigan." 

Two  distinct  combats  made  up  the  Battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg  on  the  1 3th.  One  the  fight  on  the  Federal  Left  wing- 
with  Jackson  and  Stuart's  cavalry  and  horse  artillery  on  the 
east,  and  the  assault  of  the  Federal  Right  and  Centre  direct 
ly  upon  the  Heights,  when  our  artillery  from  the  Falmouth 
bank  of  the  river,  from  40  to  50  feet  high  and  sloping,  fired 
over  the  heads  of  our  troops  on  the  banks  and  in  the  city, 
when  the  shells  did  not  fall  short  on  account  of  defective 
ammunition,  and  the  Confederate  artillery  from  Marye's 
Heights  fired  over  them  and  into  them. 

During  the  action  the  headquarters  of  Generals  Burnside 
and  Hooker  were  at  the  Phillips  house,  and  of  Sumner  at 
the  Lacey  house.  The  latter  stood  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Rappahannock,  directly  opposite  Fredericksburg. 

They  met  the  enemy  first  on  the  plain,  then  he  withdrew 
to  the  Heights  after  the  rifle  pits  had  been  taken  by  the  regi 
ments  who  volunteered  to  cross  over  in  boats,  while  the 
bridge  was  being  built.  The  turnpike  to  Fredericksburg 
crosses  the  plain  half  a  mile  from  the  river,  and  between 
it  and  the  Heights  extends  the  railroad.  There  was  a  canal 
in  the  rear  of  the  town,  which  the  troops  must  cross  before 
making  the  attack  on  Marye's  Heights,  which  conducted  the 
waters  of  the  Rappahannock  River  at  Falmouth  to  the  lower 
end  of  Fredericksburg  for  manufacturing  purposes.  At  the 
base  of  the  bluff  was  a  sunken  road  which  sheltered  numbers 
of  Confederates.  Half  way  up  the  ridge  they  hid  behind  a 
trench,  and  on  the  crest  were  the  breastworks  and  artillery. 
There  was  not  the  least  chance  of  an  attacking  column  car- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  465 

rying  the  position.  While  other  attacks  were  in  progress 
General  Butterfield  was  ordered  to  attack  and  break  the 
enemy's  line  and  carry  the  Heights  on  his  front. 

The  crowded  streets  of  the  city  proved  a  great  impedi 
ment  to  the  passage  of  the  artillery.  Batteries  were  placed 
in  position  on  the  left  side  of  Hanover  Street  on  the  right 
and  left  of  the  point  of  attack. 

The  historian  of  the  Fifth  Corps  says  of  the  Battery : — 

"The  5th  Mass,  crossed  the  river^  at  4  p.  m.  on  the  I3th  and  was 
placed  in  an  advanced  position  near  the  centre  of  the  corps  line  between 
the  poor  house  and  some  brick  yards,  and  opened  fire  at  about  six  hun 
dred  yards  from  the  stone  wall.  After  dark,  having  fired  107  rounds  of 
shrapnell  and  shell,  the  Battery  was  withdrawn,  under  orders,  to  the 
city,  but  returned  to  the  same  position  on  the  I4th,  remaining  until 
after  dark  on  the  I5th,  when  it  was  withdrawn,  and  early  on  the  i6th 
recrossed  the  river  and  returned  to  its  camp." 

At  the  time  of  this  attack  at  the  stone  wall,  General 
Andrew  A.  Humphreys  commanding  the  3d  Division  Fifth 
Corps,  describes  its  appearance  as  "a  sheet  of  flame  that 
enveloped  the  head  and  flanks  of  the  column." 

On  the  1 5th  the  enemy  still  holding  the  Heights  held  the 
town.  General  Butterfield  held  the  portion  of  Fredericks- 
burg  extending  from  the  Rappahannock  River  on  the  right 
to  Hanover  Street,  and  was  ordered  to  put  it  into  a  state 
of  defense. 

In  the  disposition  of  the  troops  General  Griffin  held  the 
left  to  Fauquier  Street.  Captain  Stephen  H.  Weed,  Chief 
of  Artillery  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  was  charged  with  the  dis 
tribution  of  the  batteries. 

After  dark  of  the  I5th  earthworks  were  constructed  be 
tween  the  streets  which  were  barricaded  for  artillery,  but  at 
4  a.  m.  of  the  i6th  General  Burnside  ordered  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Army  from  Fredericksburg.  This  was  accomplished 
at  8  o'clock  a.  m.,  in  a  storm  of  hail  and  rain  but  in  perfect 
order.  When  they  removed  the  pontoons  they^  did  so  as 
noiselessly  as  possible,  and  the  enemy  was  surprised  the  next 
morning  to  find  they  had  all  crossed  and  the  bridges  were 
gone. 


466  HISTORY    OF    THE 


THE   MONUMENT. 

At  the  Thirty-First  Annual  Reunion  of  the  Society  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  held  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  May 
25th  and  26th,  1900,  General  Daniel  Butterfield  announced 
his  intention  to  erect  in  the  National  Cemetery  on  the  field 
of  Fredericksburg,  a  monument  to  the  honor  of  the  Fifth 
Army  Corps,  and  in  memory  of  the  honored  dead  of  that 
Corps. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  26th  the  corner-stone  was  laid  by 
the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Fredericksburg  in  which  George 
Washington  was  made  a  Mason.  The  act  was  performed 
with  a  silver  trowel  on  which  was  engraved  a  representation 
of  the  proposed  monument.  Brevet  Colonel  Horatio  C. 
King  presided. 

These  ceremonies  took  place  on  Marye's  Heights,  in  the 
presence  of  the  Society,  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
his  Cabinet,  members  of  congress,  heads  of  Departments 
and  other  guests. 

The  number  of  Union  men  engaged  was  30,000.  Of 
these  over  16,000  are  buried  there,  14,000  in  unknown 
graves,  in  the  words  of  General  Edward  Hill  who  made  the 
address,  "buried  where  they  fell.  In  time  their  honored 
bones  found  sepulture  on  these  terraced  heights."  He 
quotes  General  Butterfield  in  his  presence  as  saying:— 

"I  have  always  felt  that  the  magnificent  services  of  the  Fifth  Corps, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  as  well  as  on  other 
fields,  deserve  a  lasting  memorial.  As  I  read  the  order  issued  by  me 
after  the  battle,  (see  p.  519)  I  feel  today  the  same  heartfelt  appreciation 
that  it  expresses,  and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  place  a  lasting  memo 
rial  of  enduring  granite,  to  record  my  feeling  toward  the  Fifth  Corps, — 
whom  I  had  the  great  honor  to  command  in  that  battle, — over  the 
graves,  not  only  of  the  many  brave  men  of  the  corps  who  are  buried 
there,  but  also  in  honor  of  all  the  gallant  and  splendid  soldiers  in  that 
famous  battle." 

General  Hill  was  an  officer  of  the  Fifth  Corps  who  par- 


FIFTH    MASS.    BATTERY.  467 

ticipated  in  the  battle.     He  closed  his  address  with  the  fol 
lowing  words : — 

'This  column  of  imperishable  granite,  bearing  the  insignia  of  the 
Fifth  Army  Cor^s,  the  Maltese  Cross,  garlanded  with  laurel  and  oaken 
wreaths,  emblematic  of  fame  and  victory,  crowned  with  the  ball  of  in 
folding  fire,  will  carry  down  the  ages  the  story  of  Fredericksburg,  and 
forever  stand  a  monument  to  the  lofty  patriotism  and  military  ardor  of 
the  founder,  an  incentive  to  noble  deeds,  a  glorious  tribute  to  the  brave 
men  of  the  Fifth  Corps  who  fell  in  defense  of  the  flaer  that  from  reveille 
to  retreat  bends  above  this  consecrated  ground." 

The  Monument  was  dedicated  May  30,  1901,  with  ap 
propriate  ceremonies  in  which  the  Society  of  the  Fifth 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  as'  a  body,  participated. 

THE    MEMBERS'    STORY. 
AFTER  REPORTING  TO  GENERAL  MORELL. 

Notes  of  Lieut.  Scott:  "Reaching  Sharpsburg  on  the  nth 
of  October,  1862,  we  took  our  place  with  the  Artillery 
Brigade  of  Morell's  Divison  5th  Corps." 

FROM  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD. 

Oct.  11,  1862. 

He  (Gen.  Morell)  seemed  glad  we  had  got  up,  and  told 
us  to  go  into  camp  where  we  were,  which  we  did.  Last 
night  it  rained,  and  tomorrow  when  the  ground  gets  dried 
I  shall  move  ahead  a  mile,  near  the  rest  of  the  Division. 
Everything  is  very  quiet,  and  no  enemy  around." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Sunday  Oct.  12,  1862.  Moved  camp  a 
mile  to  the  front  near  Gen.  Morell's  Head  Quarters." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  II.  .  .  .  Detailed  for  guard  3d  re 
lief  p.  m.  Oct.  12.  ...  Camped  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  Sharpsburg,  Md." 

Phillips'  Diary  :  "Tuesday,  Oct.  I4th.     Sent  Scott  to  Har- 


468  HISTORY    OF    THE 

per's  Ferry  after  horses.     Oct.  15:  Scott  returned  with  n 

horses.     All  quiet." 

FROM  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.   PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD. 
Thursday  Evening,  Oct.  16,  1862. 

Griffin's  Brigade,  four  of  Hazlett's  guns,  and  two  of 
Martin's  with  considerable  cavalry,  went  over  the  river  to 
day  on  a  reconnoissance.  We  have  heard  more  or  less  firing 
all  day.  The  long  expected  event,  the  rising  of  the  river, 
seems  close  at  hand.  We  have  got  an  oven  built  and  had 
some  baked  beans  this  morning.  We  can  get  soft  bread  at 
Sharpsburg,  but  the  meanest  bread  I  ever  tasted,  dry  and 
tasteless  as  sawdust." 

On  Friday  the  Reconnoissance,  which  was  sent  across  the 
river  the  day  before  returned  with  no  news  of  importance, 
and  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Battery  received  the  fol 
lowing  circular : — 

FROM  CHIEF  QUARTERMASTER  CHARLES  B.  NORTON. 

Circular.  HEAD  QUARTERS  STH  ARMY  CORPS, 

NEAR   SHARPSBURG,  MD. 
Oct.  17,  1862. 

It  having  been  ascertained  that  Trains  have  gone  to  the  various 
depots  for  supplies  without  a  commissioned  officer  in  charge,  notice  is 
again  given  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  such  an  officer  should 
accompany  all  Trains. 

On  the  first  day  of  each  month  Division  Quartermasters  will  send 
to  these  Head  Quarters  a  consolidated  report  of  all  Quartermasters' 
Stores  and  estimates  of  funds,  in  detail,  required  in  their  Divisions  for 
the  month  then  current.  This  report  is  necessary  in  order  that  the 
wants  of  the  Corns  may  be  known  in  sufficient  time  to  be  ordered  to 
the  nearest  depot.  Regimental  and  Brigade  Head  Quarters  will  inform 
the  Division  Quartermaster  of  their  wants  in  season,  so  that  the  Di 
vision  Quartermaster  can  send  in  his  report  on  the  day  mentioned. 
Brigade  Quartermasters  wll  make  requisitions  on  Capt.  Alex.  Bliss 
A.  Q.  M.  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  for  one'  wagon  in  addition  to  the  pres- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  469 

ent  allowance,  which  will  be  used  exclusively  for  the  transportation  of 
medical  stores  of  the  Brigade. 

Hereafter  supplies  of  all  kinds  can  be  obtained  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
on  requisitions  properly  approved.  Brigade  Quartermasters  can  inform 
themselves  by  telegraph  as  to  what  there  is  on  hand  at  the  Depot.  But 
few  stores  will  be  sent  to  Frederick  and  Hagerstown.  Transportation 
will  be  always  kept  in  condition  for  an  immediate  move. 

Division  Quartermasters  will  send  copies  of  this  circular  to  Quar 
termasters  of  Brigades  who  will  furnish  each  Regimental  Quartermas 
ter  with  a  copy  of  the  same. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Fitz  John  Porter. 

(Signed)    CHARLES  B.  NORTON, 
Li.  Col.  Chief  Quartermaster, 

5th  Armv  Corps. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  19,  the  Battery  was  inspected  by 
Captain  Martin." 

SPECIAL  ORDERS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
MORRELI/S  DIVISION,  CAMP 
NEAR   SHARPSBURG,   MD. 

Oct.  20,  1862. 
Special  Orders 
No.  257. 

In  accordance  with   instructions   from  Head  Quarters,   Battery   E, 
Mass.  Artillery,  Lieut.  Phillips  commanding,  is  hereby  detailed  to  re 
lieve  Captain  Diedrichs'  Battery  now  on  duty  with  3d.  Brigade. 
Relief  will  be  made  by  9  a.  m.  tomorrow. 

By  command  of  Brig.  General  Griffin. 

FRANCIS   S.  EARLE, 

Ass't.  Adft.  Gen  I. 
Capt.   Martin.    Lieut.   Phillips. 


PHILLIPS'    COMPANY    ORDER. 

Lieut.  Phillips,  when  he  issued  the  following  order  must 
have  been  of  the  same  mind  as  General,  then  Major, 
Thomas  W.  Hyde  of  the  7th  Maine  Infantry,  who  said  that 
"the  clean  and  careful  soldier  is  also  pretty  sure  to  make  a 
good  officer." 


470  HISTORY    OF    THE 

CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD. 

October  20,  1862. 
Company  Orders. 

No.  7. 

The  Battery  will  be  formed  in  line  for  inspection  tomorrow  morn 
ing  at  8  o'clock. 

The  drivers'  valises  will  be  strapped  on  the  saddles.  After  the  Bat 
tery  is  dismissed  the  men  will  remain  in  uniform,  and  keep  round  the 
quarters  until  the  camp  and  quarters  have  been  inspected.  Everything 
is  expected  to  remain  neat  and  clean  during  the  day.  The  men  are 
expected  to  have  as  much  anxiety  as  the  commander  that  th'e  Battery 
should  obtain  a  good  name. 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS  ist  Lieut. 
Com'd'g  Battery  E.  Mass.  Artillery. 

LETTER    OF    LIEUT.    PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG^  MD. 

Evening  Oct.  20,  1862. 

I  have  received  a  copy  of  a  Special  Order  from  McClel- 
lan's  Hd.  Qrs.  honorably  discharging  Captain  Allen  from 
the  service,  dated  Oct.  iy\h.  .  .  .  The  programme  for  to 
morrow  was  an  inspection  of  the  Division  Batteries,  camps, 
company  books,  &c.,  &c.,  by  Lieut  Col.  (Alex.  S.)  Webb  to 
commence  at  8  o'clock.  I  have  just  received  orders,  how 
ever,  to  relieve  Captain  Diedrichs'  Battery  (Otto  Diedrichs, 
A,  ist  Battalion  N.  Y.)  Dutch,  20  pdr.  Parrotts,  now  with 
the  Third  Brigade — Butterfield's — at  the  mouth  of  Antie- 
tam.  Relief  to  be  made  at  9  o'clock.  I  shall  start  at  8.  I 
am  rather  sorry  to  miss  the  inspection,  as  I  can  show  the 
cleanest  battery  and  the  neatest  camp,  except,  perhaps, 
Hazlett's,  of  all  the  Batteries. 

I  would  recommend  for  Junior  2cl  Lieut,  ist  Sergt.  Joseph 
E.  Spear  of  Quincy.  He  started  as  Corporal  but  his  Serg't 
being  sick,  took  entire  charge  of  his  piece  at  Games  Mills 
and  brought  it  off  safely,  entirely  by  his  own  efforts.  Upon 
the  reorganization  of  the  Battery  I  made  him  ist  Sergt.  He 
is  only  19  years  old,  but  I  am  not  likely  to  blame  any  one 
for  their  youth." 


TIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  471 

Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  20,  1862.  Usual  drill  a.  m.  and 
drilled  by  sections :  hitched  up  p.  m.  Broke  the  pole  of  our 
caisson  4th  Detachment.  A  good,  lively,  drill.  Official 
notice  of  the  acceptance  of  Captain  Allen's  resignation  read 
in  line  at  Roll  Call  p.  m." 

Shackley's  Notes:  "On  the  2ist  of  October  the  Battery 
was  ordered  to  Antietam,  and  placed  in  position  to  defend 
the  neighborhood  where  the  battle  took  place." 

ACCOUNT  OF  OCT.  2iST  IN  LETTER  OF 
LIEUT.   PHILLIPS  OCT.  26™. 

"CAMP    NEAR   THE    MOUTH    OF    THE 

ANTIETAM,  Oct.  26,  1862. 

On  Tuesday  morning  agreeably  to  orders  from  General 
Griffin,  commanding  Division,  General  Morell  being  absent, 
we  marched  at  8  o'clock.    We  returned  back  to  the  centre  of 
Sharpsburg  and  then  turned  to  the  right.     At  9  we  crossed 
the  Antietam,  near  the  mouth,  on  a  stone  bridge,  and  turned 
to  the  left.    Just  above  the  bridge  there  is  a  dam  across  the 
Antietam,  making  quite  an  extensive  mill  pond.     Close  by, 
on  the  left  bank,  are  the  ruins  of  the  Antietam  Iron  Works. 
Some  8  or   10  houses  are  scattered  round  in  the  vicinity. 
Proceeding  a  short  distance  along  the  creek  we  found  Cap 
tain  Diedrichs'   Battery  on  top  of  a  hill  on  the  right.     I 
waited  till  he  had  hauled  his  guns  down,  and  then  put  mine 
in  their  place,  and  pitched  my  camp.  .   .   .  The  roads  have 
so  far  been  excellent,  but  let  the  mud  once  prevail,  and  then 
farewell  to  all  hopes  of  an  'onward  movement.'     There  are 
no  signs  of  moving  round  here,  everything  is  very  quiet  and 
has  been  so  for  the  last  month." 

The  same  date  account  of  Oct.  23d  &c. :  "Thursday  after 
noon,  Capt.  (Elijah  D.)  Taft  of  the  5th  N.  Y.  Battery,  ar 
rived  with  four  20  pdr.  Parrotts,  which  he  placed  on  the  hill 
with  mine.  On  Friday  forenoon  we  were  inspected  by 


472  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Lieut.  Col.  Webb,  and  after  inspection  I  moved  my  guns 
farther  down  river,  where  I  had  a  better  command  of  the 
ford." 


LETTER    OF    SERG'T.    PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  ANTIETAM,  MD. 

Oct.  23,  '62. 

We  are  on  top  of  Antietam  Hill,  almost  a  mountain,  our 
Guns  in  position  all  ready  for  action.  The  hill  commands 
the  Ford  at  this  point  of  the  river.  We  were  up  all  last 
night  by  our  Guns,  but  the  Rebs  gave  up  the  attempt  they 
made  to  cross.  The  weather  is  very  cool  up  here,  particu 
larly  when  we  have  no  regular  tents  to  sleep  under.  There 
are  only  a  few  shanties  and  one  large  Iron  Works  in  this 
place,  and  but  few  traces  of  the  late  battle  to  be  seen.  We 
are  so  short  of  men  that  it  keeps  us  at  work  all  the  time 
running  the  machine.  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  stop  the 
remainder  of  my  three  years,  for  the  War  will  not  end 
sooner  than  that  time." 


Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  23,  1862.  Routed  out  with  the  4th 
Detachment  at  i  o'clock  this  morning  to  man  the  guns. 
Each  Detachment  stood  guard  an  hour  in  turn  through  the 
night.  Indications  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy  caused  the 
alarm.  All  quiet  through  the  night.  Oct.  24th.  .  .  .  Can 
noneers  removed  their  quarters  nearer  the  guns  in  the  p.  m. 
Detailed  for  guard  2d  Relief  p.  m." 

Phillips'  Letter  of  Oct.  26  continued:  "Taft's  guns  are 
placed  on  a  very  high  hill  commanding  a  view  for  miles. 
The  sides  of  the  hill  are  as  steep  as  the  roof  of  a  house.  My 
tent  is  placed  on  a  sort  of  terrace  which  runs  round  the  hili, 
while  Captain  Taft  had  to  dig  out  a  place  for  his.  My  guns 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  473 

are  in  a  little  hollow  between  two  hills.  In  front  of  them 
the  ground  slopes  gently  for  100  yards,  then  tumbles  into  a 
stone  quarry,  and  then  comes  a  level  meadow  to  the  river. 
.  .  .  No  enemy  in  sight,  not  even  any  picket  firing.  One 
of  the  Batteries  of  the  Divison  has  been  firing  a  few  shots 
this  afternoon,  but  after  looking  on,  I  have  come  to  the  con 
clusion  that  they  were  firing  at  the  other  side  of  the  river 
and  succeeded  in  hitting  it." 


Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  26,  1862.  Sunday.  No  inspection 
today  and  guard  mounting  and  roll  call  omitted  this  p.  m. 
Orders  to  cook  two  days'  rations  late  p.  m.  On  fatigue  duty 
about  an  hour  bringing  water,  and  hanging  the  baggage- 
wagon  in  the  evening.  Thoroughly  drenched  with  rain." 

LETTER   OF   LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  THE  MOUTH  OF  THE  ANTIETAM, 

Oct.  26,  1862. 

Altogether  the  situation  is  a  very  pleasant  one,  and  I  am 
not  sorry  for  the  change.  We  have  got  a  good  oven,  and 
have  our  baked  beans  regularly.  As  cold  weather  is  coming 
on  we  have  been  trying  various  contrivances  for  warming 
up,  but  cannot  get  rid  entirely  of  the  smoke.  At  present  we 
have  a  fireplace  resembling  very  much  a  hole  in  the  ground, 
from  which  the  smoke  is  conducted  by  an  underground  rail 
road  to  a  chimney  outside.  The  chimney  being  as  yet  in  an 
unfinished  state,  it  does  not  draw  to  complete  satisfaction 
but  tomorrow  we  shall  raise  the  chimney  a  few  feet,  when 
we  expect  the  apparatus  to  be  entirely  successful." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  26,  1862,  night  cold  and  rainy  and 
the  tent  leaky.  Oct.  27th.  Pleasant  about  1 1  o'clock  a.  m. 
No  drill  today.  Built  a  fireplace  for  my  tent  this  p.  m. 
Works  to  a  charm.  Oct.  29:  Usual  drill  a.  m.  and  a  drill 
hitched  up  p.  m.  The  5th  Detachment  upset  their  caisson 


474  HISTORY    OF    THE 

while  drilling,  and  practised  dismounting  the  spare  wheel. 
Righted  the  caisson  and  came  to  camp." 

Phillips'  Diary  has  it  "At  section  drill  the  side  of  the 
caisson  was  broken  and  middle  rails." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  ANTIETAM 
IRON  WORKS,  Oct.  29,  1862. 

Our  stove  has  at  last  been  completed  to  our  satisfaction. 
I  deployed  the  contrabands  on  it  and  built  a  chimney  7  or  8 
feet  high,  and  it  now  draws  hugely :  in  fact  I  do  not  think 
the  contrabands  appreciate  it  as  much  as  we  do,  considering 
the  amount  of  wood  it  consumes.  The  men  are  all  pretty 
well  supplied  with  fireplaces  and  chimneys  of  unique  if  not 
elegant  pattern;  chimneys  of  stones,  bricks,  mud,  and  iron 
piges,  one  of  them  finished  off  with  the  bellows  nozzle  from 
the  blast  furnace  near  by;  stoves  of  mud  and  sheet  iron; 
stoves  above  ground  and  stoves  below  ground;  stoves  within 
doors,  and  stoves  without  doors ;  stoves  that  heat  and  stoves 
that  don't;  stoves  that  smoke  and  stoves  that  don't;  and  in 
short  every  variety  of  stoves.  .  .  .  Thinking  that  things 
looked  like  a  permanent  stay,  I  have  had  a  chair  made  of  a 
different  pattern  from  the  famous  chair  of  Yorktown  (see 
p.  228)  but  about  as  comfortable.  The  frame  is  of  chest 
nut,  the  bottom  and  back  of  grain  bags,  and  the  whole  ar 
rangement  is  very  luxurious.  I  have  only  one  fault  to  find. 
When  I  put  it  in  my  tent  there  is  no  room  for  anything  else. 
In  the  middle  of  the  day  it  is  quite  warm  and  comfortable 
out  of  doors,  but  evenings  I  prefer  to  sit  inside.  Night 
before  last  it  was  quite  cold,  the  water  freezing  in  our  wash 
bowls.  We  always  have  our  tent  pretty  warm  when  we  turn 
in,  but  it  gets  quite  cold  before  morning.  However,  I  take 
advantage  of  my  position,  and  instead  of  turning  out  at 
reveille  I  lie  abed  till  the  contrabands  have  got  the  fire 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  475 

going.  The  canal  is  now  in  operation  to  this  point  and  we 
are  in  hopes  of  getting  some  hay  for  our  horses,  at  present 
they  have  it  about  a  third  of  the  time.  Artillery  horses  have 
a  pretty  hard  time  of  it  these  cold  nights.  They  have  to 
stand  out  doors  without  any  shelter,  have  a  scant  supply  of 
food,  and  when  on  the  march  a  large  supply  of  work.  They 
thin  out  under  the  treatment  amazingly. 

I  hear  that  General  Burnside  has  crossed  the  river  below. 
This  afternoon  I  thought  I  would  have  a  drill,  instead  of 
keeping  my  guns  idly  staring  at  the  opposite  bank,  and  the 
exercises  were  varied  by  capsizing  a  caisson.  They  were  on 
a  side  hill  when  the  whole  concern,  horses  and  all,  went  over. 
The  wheel  driver  executed  some  airy  manoeuvres  not  laid 
down  in  the  book,  but  got  off  without  any  serious  damage. 
The  caisson  was  somewhat  broken  but  will  be  repaired  by 
morning.  .  .  .  Brig.  Gen'l.  Butterfield,  it  is  said,  has  been 
appointed  to  the  command  of  a  Division  under  Burnside, 
and  his  Brigade  is  now  commanded  by  Col.  Stockton  of  the 
1 6th  Michigan." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  30,  1862.  The  2cl  Mass.  Regiment 
with  Gordon's  Brigade,  Gen.  Banks's  Corps,  bivouacked 
near  our  camp  last  night,  having  marched  from  Maryland 
Heights.  Met  H.  Longfellow  of  the  2d  Mass.  Regt.  Usual 
drill  on  piece  a.  m.  Hitched  up  and  drilled  about  15  min 
utes.  Indications  of  leaving  here  tomorrow.  A  liberal  ra 
tion  of  potatoes  for  dinner  today.  Detailed  for  guard  p.  m." 

MARTIVS  ORDER. 

CAMP  NEAR  HARPER'S  FERRY,  VA. 

Oct.  30,  1862 
LIEUT.  C.  A.  PHILLIPS, 

Com'd'g  5th  Mass.  Battery. 
Lieut. 

You  will  please  march  at  6  o'clock  tomorrow  morn 
ing  and  join  the  Division,  which  is  now  in  camp  near  Harper's  Ferry. 
I  neglected  to  notify  you  of  the  march  this  evening,  as  I  was  informed 


476  HISTORY    OF    THE 

that  you  would  be  notified.     The  bearer  of  this  will  remain,  and  come 
with  you  as  a  guide. 

Very  Respflly. 

iour  obt.  serv't, 

A.    P.   MARTIN,   Capt. 
Com'd'g  Div.  Artillery. 

On  the  30th  of  October  the  Fifth  Corps  commenced  its 
march  from  Sharpsburg  to  Harper's  Ferry  where  it  arrived 
on  the  3ist,  and  found  there  the  supplies  which  were  needed 
to  render  the  campaign  effective  that  McClellan  had  planned 
to  intercept  Lee.  The  entire  Army  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
points  convenient  for  the  several  Corps.  McClellan  sought 
by  moving  South  and  occupying  the  Gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
to  force  Lee  to  fight  him  where  he  chose  to  give  battle. 

Scott's  Notes:  "October  3ist  the  Army  moved  to  Har 
per's  Ferry  and  crossed  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  Riv 
ers  and  camped  on  Loudon  Heights,  Va." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Friday  Oct.  31,  1862.  The  Division 
marched  last  night,  General  Griffin  in  command,  General 
Morell  having  been  relieved.  Somehow  no  orders  were  sent 
to  me.  This  morning  received  orders  to  join  them.  Started 
at  6  a.  m.  and  after  trying  the  shore  road  concluded  to  go 
round  by  Burkittsville  to  Berlin.  Passed  Brooks'  Division, 
Franklin's  Corps,  and  camped  near  Berlin.  Sat.  Nov.  ist. 
Marched  to  Harper's  Ferry,  crossed  the  Potomac  and 
Shenandoah,  and  joined  the  Division  about  4  miles  from  the 
river." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Oct.  31,  1862.  On  guard  last  night  3d 
Relief.  Drivers  harnessed  up  about  9  o'clock  last  night,  and 
awaited  orders  till  up.  m.,  when  they  unharnessed  and 
remained  in  camp  all  night.  Reveille  at  5  o'clock  this  morn 
ing.  Hitched  up  and  broke  camp  and  marched  about 
6  o'clock  a.  m.  Marched  about  a  mile  towards  Harper's 
Ferry,  then  countermarched,  halted,  and  watered  the  horses. 
The  road  ahead  blocked  up  by  baggage  wagons.  A  bounti 
ful  breakfast  of  baked  beans  this  morning.  Delightful 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  477 

morning.  Battery  took  another  road  and  continued  the 
march  over  the  mountains.  Marched  through  Burkittsville 
and  Petersboro'  and  camped  about  a  mile  from  the  latter. 
The  5th  New  York  marched  ahead  of  us  all  day.  Saw  large 
numbers  of  troops  moving  today.  Camped  opposite  Mary 
land  Heights  and  Harper's  Ferry.  Very  pleasant  march 
and  the  weather  delightful." 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"Snickers  Gap,  Nov.  3,  1862.  .  .  .  Yesterday  marched  to 
this  place  and  camped.  Have  not  seen  the  rebels  yet.  Por 
ter's  Corps  is  all  here.  Breakfasted  this  morning  on  boiled 
goose  and  beefsteak. 

REVIEW  OF  THE  WEEK. 

Nov.  4,  1862.  Last  Friday  afternoon  we  received  orders 
to  be  ready  to  march  at  short  notice.  I  made  all  my  prep 
arations  and  waited.  About  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  I 
found  that  Stockton's  Brigade  had  left,  and  also  that  the 
rest  of  the  Division  was  on  the  march  down  the  river  road. 
I  sent  Lull  down  to  make  observations,  and  he  reported  that 
the  rear  guard  had  just  passed,  going  down  to  Harper's 
Ferry.  So  I  went  to  bed.  About  midnight  an  orderly 
came  back  from  Captain  Martin,  (see  p.  475)  stating  they 
were  in  camp  1^2  miles  from  Harper's  Ferry,  and  ordering 
me  to  rejoin  them  in  the  morning.  It  seems  General  Morell 
had  been  relieved  of  his  command  and  in  the  confusion  they 
had  forgotten  to  send  me  my  orders.  So  the  next  morning 
I  hitched  up  and  started.  About  a  mile  down  the  road  I 
ran  into  the  tail  end  of  the  wagon  train  of  the  Division. 
They  had  been  on  the  road  all  night  with  a  prospect  of 
waiting  all  day.  Disgusted  at  this  state  of  things  I  turned 
back  and  started  on  the  river  road.  We  passed  through  a 


478  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Gap  in  South  Mts.  where  we  found  a  beautiful  prospect. 
The  woods  were  colored  up  magnificently,  and  presented  a 
splendid  sight.  About  noon  the  road  turned  into  another 
where  we  ran  into  Slocum's  Division  on  the  march.  We 
contrived  to  get  in  ahead  of  their  wagon  train  and  pushed 
on.  They  soon  stopped  for  dinner,  and  we  passed  them 
and  kept  on  for  Berlin,  where  I  understood  the  Division  had 
been  ordered.  We  crossed  another  range  of  hills,  and 
passed  through  Burkittsville  at  the  foot.  Here  we  made  a 
short  halt  to  allow  the  column  to  close  up.  The  village 
was  full  of  wounded  soldiers.  About  4  p.  IYL  we  passed 
through  Petersville  and  camped  about  a  mile  from  Berlin. 
I  have  learnt  that  the  Division  had  crossed  at  Harper's 
Ferry.  Sunday  morning  I  struck  across  country  for  Har 
per's  Ferry.  Within  a  short  distance  of  this  place  I  ran 
into  a  wagon  train  which  delayed  us  for  some  time.  After 
a  while  we  got  by,  crossed  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah 
on  pontoon  bridges,  passed  around  the  base  of  Loudon 
Heights,  and  gradually  getting  up  hill,  pushed  for  the  in 
terior.  About  4  miles  from  Harper's  Ferry  I  found  the 
Division  and  went  into  camp  alongside  Waterman.  Rec'd 
an  order  from  Gen.  Butterfield  assuming  command  of  the 
Division.  The  next  morning  we  marched  in  the  following 
order : — 

ist  Sykes's  Div'n.  2d  Humphreys'  Div'n.  3d  But- 
terfield's  Div'n.  4th  Sykes's  wagons.  5th  Humphreys4 
wagons.  6th  Butterfield' s  wagons.  7th  Rear  Guard,  2d 
Maine  and  Lieut.  Scott's  Section. 

The  Division  in  this  order : — 

ist  Third  Brigade.  2cl  Waterman's  Battery.  3d  First 
Brigade.  4th  Martin's  Battery.  5th  U.  S.  Sharpshoot 
ers.  6th  Phillips'  Battery.  7th  2d  Brigade.  8th  Haz- 
lett's  Battery. 

We  marched  off  at  a  smart  rate  keeping  the  Blue  Ridge 
on  our  right.  By  dusk  we  had  made  about  15  miles  and 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  479 

camped  near  Snicker's  Gap.  The  country  is  very  good  for 
foraging,  and  most  of  the  men  have  had  plenty  of  goose, 
mutton,  pork  and  chicken.  Last  night  we  got  orders  to 
have  three  days'  rations  in  our  haversacks,  but  have  not 
moved  yet.  Sykes  is  up  in  the  Gap,  and  yesterday  Pleas- 
anton  drove  the  Rehs  over  the  Shenandoah.  A  little  can 
nonading,  but  nothing  important." 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  SCOTT. 
FROM  HARPER'S  FERRY  TO  WHITE  PLAINS. 

"On  the  2cl  of  November  the  2d  Maine  Regt.  acting  as 
rear  guard  with  my  section  of  the  5th  Battery,  I  had  an  all 
night's  march  to  Snicker's  Gap  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Moun 
tains.  The  night  was  fearfully  cold,  and  we  moved  rapidly. 
Nothing  occurred  on  our  march  from  Snicker's  Gap  to 
White  Plains,  where  we  camped  for  the  night  in  a  raging 
snow  storm.  During  the  day  the  Battery  halted  in  front 
of  a  fine  country  residence.  The  men  ransacked  the  place. 
They  found  sweet  potatoes  covered  up  in  the  garden,  over 
turned  a  bee-hive,  and  we  saw  the  men  with  honey  from  the 
honey-comb  running  down  their  faces  regardless  of  the 
stinging  bees.  A  pig  was  chased  and  caught,  but  had  to  be 
given  up.  Rights  must  be  respected.  It  was  amusing  to  say 
the  least." 

THE  BEES'  BUSY  DAY. 
NOTES  OF  SERGT.  WM.  H.  BAXTER. 

OCT.  15,  1900. 

"Time  and  place  have  passed  from  memory,  but  the  scene 
is  vivid  before  me. — A  deserted  farm  house  of  the  Old  Vir 
ginia  type,  pleasantly  situated  on  a  knoll,  rising  gradually 
from  the  road,  and  surrounded  by  stately  trees,  with  old 


480  HISTORY    OF    THE 

fashioned  flowers  growing  along  the  path  up  to  the  front 
door. 

The  writer  was  not  much  interested  in  the  surroundings, 
nor  at  that  time  much  interested  in  the  sentiment  of  the 
flowers.  They  looked  pretty;  still  the  attraction  was  at  the 
rear  of  the  house,  where  about  50  of  the  boys  were  assem 
bled,  all  talking  at  once,  trying  to  devise  a  plan  to  get  the 
honey  from  9  bee  hives,  which  were  ranged  in  a  row  across 
the  front  of  the  vegetable  garden. 

As  the  writer  swung  around  the  corner  of  the  house,  a 
shout  went  up, — 'Here  comes  Baxter!' 

After  viewing  the  situation  a  moment,  we  took  two 
clothes  poles,  fastening  one  across  the  end  of  the  other  at 
right  angles,  giving  us  a  battering  ram  covering,  say,  four 
of  the  hives.  It  was  arranged  that  the  writer  should  push 
the  hives  over,  while  the  boys  should  jump  in  and  get  the 
honey,  but  at  the  moment  of  applying  the  battering  ram,  it 
occurred  to  the  writer  'where  do  I  come  in?'  so  instead  of 
pushing  the  hives  over  and  waiting  for  some  one  to  get  the 
honey,  I  just  pushed  and  jumped  at  the  same  time,  landing 
squarely  in  the  mess,  and  it  did  not  take  many  seconds  to  fill 
my  haversack  with  honey,  bees,  dirt,  and  beeswax.  But, 
suffering  humanity!  I  reached  the  conclusion  as  I  crawled 
out  of  the  mob,  that  what  bees  I  did  not  sweep  into  my 
haversack  with  the  honey,  wax  and  dirt,  had  crawled  into 
my  hair  and  down  my  neck,  and  at  every  prod  of  a  stinger 
I  could  see  stars  and  black  spots  on  the  sun,  and  I  ran  up  to 
Lieut.  Spear,  who  came  riding  into  the  yard  at  that  moment. 
He  whacked  me  on  the  head,  back,  and  everywhere  I  desig 
nated  that  a  bee  was  getting  his  work  in.  It  was  laugh 
able,  his  following  me  around  that  yard,  giving  me  a  wrhack 
here  and  there,  but  I  couldn't  stand  still,  the  bees  were  too 
busy.  Upon  getting  shed  of  the  bees  and  greasing  the  jabs 
with  my  pork  ration,  we  started  along  for  the  Battery,  but 
on  approaching  the  gate  at  the  head  of  the  lane  in  rear  of 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  481 

the  house,  there  was  old  General  Griffin,  sitting  stolidly  on 
his  horse,  with  the  Provost  Marshal  beside  him  scooping  in 
as  they  passed  through  the  gate  all  who  had  taken  part  in 
the  raid  on  the  potato  mines  and  bee  hives.  The  writer  put 
on  a  sweet  Sunday  school  face  and  like  'Mary's  little  lamb* 
passed  through  in  safety.  That  evening  in  camp  we  had  a 
feast.  Fried  pork  spread  over  with  a  mixture  of  honey  and 
dirt,  with  a  bee  or  two  for  fresh  meat,  and  a  little  beeswax 
to  make  a  good  chew  to  the  whole,  was  a  feast  fit  for  any 
body  when  one  could  not  get  any  better,  and  fully  repaid  all 
the  suffering  caused  by  meddling  with  the  business  end  of 
those  Virginia  bees." 


Chase  notes  in  his  Diary  Nov.  8,  1862,  on  the  march  they 
passed  some  of  General  Sigel's  troops  in  camp.  On  the 
9th  Serg't.  Morgridge  and  other  convalescents  returned  to 
the  Battery. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  WARRENTON,  VA. 

Nov.  9,  1862. 

Thursday  morning  Nov.  6th  we  left  Snicker's  Gap.  In 
the  order  for  marching  it  said  no  communication  hereafter 
with  Harper's  Ferry.  The  Rebels  followed  our  rear  guard 
occupying  the  Gap  after  we  left  it.  In  the  afternoon  we 
passed  through  Middleburg  and  saw  plenty  of  Secesh  uni 
forms,  wounded  and  paroled,  about  the  streets.  That  night 
we  camped  in  the  fields.  The  weather  was  quite  cold  and 
raw.  The  next  morning  we  marched  a  few  miles,  to  Rector- 
ville  or  White  Plains,  arriving  about  9  o'clock.  Before  our 
tents  were  pitched  it  commenced  to  snow  and  continued 
through  the  day.  It  was  quite  warm  and  comfortable. 
The  next  morning  we  marched  to  New  Baltimore.  This 


482  HISTORY   OF    THE 

morning  we  started  at  six  and  arrived  here  at  about  8.    We 
have  not  yet  seen  any  Rebels." 

THE  COMMAND  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
WARRENTON,  VA.  Nov.  9,  1862. 

General  Orders 
No.  i. 

Extracts. 

In  accordance  with  General  Orders  No.  182,  issued  by  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  I  hereby  assume  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  .  .  .  With  diffidence  for  myself,  but  with  a  proud  confi 
dence  in  the  unswervable  loyalty  and  determination  of  the  gallant 
Army  now  intrusted  to  my  care.  I  accept  its  control  with  the  steadfast 
assurance  that  the  just  cause  must  prevail. 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE 
Major  General  Commanding. 


Corporal  Shackley  in  his  Notes  of  the  Qth  observed  that 
the  removal  of  General  McClellan  "caused  much  dissatisfac 
tion  in  men  of  Democratic  sympathies." 

(To  be  read  to  the'  Company  before  the  Review.) 

McCLELLAN'S    FAREWELL    TO    THE    ARMY    OF    THE 

POTOMAC. 

HEAD  QuARfERS, 
ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
CAMP  NEAR  RECTORTOWN,  VA. 

Nov.  7,  1862. 
Officers  and  Soldiers   . 

of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac: 

An  Order  of  the  President  devolves  upon  Major  General  Burn- 
side  the  command  of  this  Army. 

In  parting  from  you,  I  cannot  express  the  love  and  gratitude  I  bear 
to  you.  As  an  army  you  have  grown  up  under  my  care.  In  you  I  have 
never  found  doubt  or  coldness.  The  battles  you  have  fought  under 
my  command  will  proudly  live  in  our  nation's  history.  The  glory  you 
have  achieved,  our  mutual  perils  and  fatigues,  the  graves  of  our  com 
rades  fallen  in  battle,  and  by  disease,  the  broken  forms  of  those  whom 
wounds  and  sickness  have  disabled, — the  strongest  associations  whLh 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  483 

can  exist  among  men, — unite  us  still  by  an  indissoluble  tie.  We  shall 
ever  be  comrades  in  supporting  the  Constitution  of  our  Country,  and 
the  nationality  of  its  people. 

GEO.   B.   MCCLELLAN, 
Maj.  Gen' I.  U.  S.  A. 


Chase's  Diary:  "Nov.  10,  1862.  Camp  in  the  direction 
of  Warrenton.  Reveille  at  half  past  5  o'clock  this  morning. 
Delightful  morning.  General  McClellan's  farewell  address 
to  the  Army  read  to  us  in  line  this  morning.  Company 
called  in  line  with  the  other  troops  to  give  our  old  General 
a  parting  cheer  as  he  passed  us.  McClellan  with  other 
generals  passed  us  about  9  o'clock.  Martin's  Battery  fired 
a  salute  as  they  approached.  General  Burnside  takes  com 
mand  of  the  Army,  and  his  address  to  the  troops  was  read 
to  us  in  line  this  p.  m." 


Nov.  n,  1862,  under  the  cartel  a  large  number  of  pris 
oners  were  exchanged,  officers  and  privates :  of  the  privates 
the  balance  due  the  United  States  was  6000. 

Chase's  Letter:  "Camp  near  Warrenton,  Va.,  Nov.  n, 
1862 :  Ere  this  reaches  you,  you  will  know  that  General 
McClellan  has  been  called  from  the  field,  and  that  General 
Burnside  now  has  command  of  the  Army.  We  regret  to 
lose  the  leader  who  has  taken  us  into  so  much  danger  and 
taken  us  out  safely,  but  if  he  is  to  take  new  and  increased 
responsibilities  upon  himself,  then  we  are  satisfied.  Mc 
Clellan  has  the  confidence  of  the  whole  Army,  and  I  think, 
with  few  exceptions,  the  love  of  the  people.  He  has  been 
kicked  about  more  than  any  other  man  in  the  Army,  yet  he 
has  always  been  ready  to  extricate  the  Army  from  the  traps 
and  snarls  in  which  the  ambitious  generals  have  placed  it. 
He  has  cleaned  up  all  their  bad  work,  and  the  Army  is  again 
in  the  field  with  solid  ranks. 

Our  march  here  was  a  very  pleasant  one.  We  came  via 
Harper's  Ferry,  a  place  I  have  always  wanted  to  see,  not  on 


484  HISTORY    OF    THE 

account  of  its  being  the  scene  of  John  Brown's  short  cam 
paign,  but  the  sublimity  of  its  natural  scenery.  It  is  an  old 
proverb,  'See  Naples,  then  die,'  but  I  would  say,  see  Har 
per's  Ferry,  then  be  willing  to  die,  and  if  you  can  live  yet 
longer  then  all  the  better.  It  is  worth  a  year's  service  to 
visit  that  place.  We  halted  there  about  two  hours,  which 
gave  me  a  fine  chance  to  look  around.  There  seems  to  be 
no  regularity  about  the  mails  of  late,  and  when  a  mail  leaves 
we  generally  have  about  half  an  hour's  notice.  .  .  .  Please 
ask  Mrs.  T.  if  she  will  send  me  a  darning-needle  next  letter, 
as  I  am  greatly  in  need  of  one." 

"I  parted  from  my  brave  old  corps ;  'twere  matter,  lad,  for  tears." 
JOHN  BOYLE  O'REILLY. — Uncle  Ned's  Tale. 

PORTER'S  FAREWELL  ORDER. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
STH   ARMY   CORPS. 
CAMP   NEAR  WARRENTON,   VA. 

Nov.  12,  1862.  , 
General  Orders 
No.  25. 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Major  General 
Hooker  has  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  this  Corps. 

It  has  been  my  privilege  to  lead  the  little  band  of  regulars,  the  per 
manent  Army  of  the  United  States,  inheriting  the  names,  the  records, 
and  the  traditions  of  regiments  that  have  borne  the  banner  of  our  coun 
try  through  all  its  wars. 

It  has  been  my  privilege  to  lead  noble  regiments  of  volunteers, 
coming  from  different  states,  but  becoming  equally  national  through 
having  the  same  purpose,  the  same  dangers,  and  the  same  suffering. 

Having  shared  their  perils  and  privations  in  the  camp,  in  the 
bivouac,  on  the  march,  and  in  half  a  score  of  bloody  fields :  to  the  of 
ficers  and  men  of  both  classes  I  address  myself. 

The  confidence,  which  if  I  may  judge  by  your  acts,  you  have  reposed 
in  me,  it  has  been  my  earnest  effort  to  meet  and  requite.  The  per 
sonal  regard  which  I  am  proud  to  feel  that  you  bear  towards  me,  is 
reciprocated  by  an  ardent  affection  and  a  deep  respect,  which  time  can 
not  efface.  The  personal  good  fortune  of  each  of  you  will  be  always  a 
matter  of  heartfelt  interest  to  me.  The  professional  successes  you  will 
attain  will  be  doubly  grateful  to  me,  inasmuch  as  they  will  be  identified 
with  the  success  of  our  cause. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  485 

Among  the  most  gratifying  of  my  thoughts  of  you  will  be  the  as 
surance  that  your  subordination  and  loyalty  will  remain  in  the  future 
as  in  the  past,  firm  and  steadfast  to  our  country  and  its  authorities. 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Major  General. 

General  Fitz  John  Porter  took  leave  of  the  Fifth  Corps 
at  4  p.  m.  and  the  same  evening  left  for  Washington. 

At  each  leavetaking  Martin's  3d  Mass.  Battery  fired  the 
national  salute  of  13  guns,  a  salute  of  honor  for  the  retiring 
commander,  as  he  rode  past. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Nov.  n,  1862.  Eight  hard  crackers  for 
a  day's  ration  today. 

Nov.  12.  In  camp  all  day.  Battery  called  in  line  to  bid 
farewell  to  Major  General  Fitz  John  Porter  this  p.  m.  .  .  . 
General  Porter  appeared  to  be  much  affected,  and  his  fare 
well  address  was  read  to  us  by  Captain  Martin. 

Weather  mild  and  cloudy.  Beef  steak  for  dinner ! !  No 
meat  served  out  to  us  except  salt  pork  for  the  last  ten  days, 
until  today.  Short  rations  of  bread  again  today.  Bought 
bread  for  5  cts.  per  lb.  from  commissary.  Entered  upon  my 
arduous  and  responsible  duties  as  2d  Corporal  of  the  2d  De 
tachment  this  p.  m.  Nov.  13  :  Posted  guard  last  night,  last 
half.  Morning  cold  and  windy.  Drilled  on  manual  of  the 
piece." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  WARRENTON,  VA. 

Nov.  13,  1862. 

The  events  of  the  last  few  days  have  made  quite  an  altera 
tion  in  the  appearance  of  things.  On  Monday  we  were 
astonished  to  hear  that  General  McClellan  had  been  re 
lieved  and  General  Burnside  placed  in  command.  At  9 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon  Porter's  Corps  was  drawn  up  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Warrenton  and  Gainesville  turnpike  and 
Sumner's  Corps  on  the  other  side,  facing  inward.  Soon 


486  HISTORY    OF    THE 

after,  General  McClellan  rode  through,  accompanied  by 
General  Burnside,  General  Porter  and  brigadiers  and  of 
ficers  of  lower  grade  innumerable.  A  major  general's 
salute  was  fired,  everybody  cheered,  and  then  we  all  went 
home.  At  ii  o'clock  General  McClellan  held  a  levee  at 
General  Porter's  HcL  Qrs.,  where  the  customary  handshak 
ing  took  place,  and  then  he  left. 

So  ended  the  second  removal  of  General  McClellan.  Of 
course  there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  and  feeling  on  the  sub 
ject.  .  .  .  The  siege  of  Yorktown  I  pronounced  a  failure  at 
the  time.  After  the  battle  of  Williamsburg  I  thought,  and 
still  think,  that  McClellan  could  have  followed  the  enemy 
into  Richmond.  .  .  .  The  Army  was  never  in  better  health 
or  condition  than  while  we  were  lying  idle  on  the  Potomac; 
the  roads  were  never  better.  Why  we  did  not  move  I  can 
not  say.  .  .  .  Following  close,  came  the  removal  of  General 
Porter.  Everybody  knew  that  he  must  follow  General 
McClellan,  but  nobody  knew  exactly  how  it  would  be 
brought  about.  General  Porter  re-enacted  General  McClel- 
lan's  departure  in  his  own :  the  Corps  was  all  drawn  up, 
salute  fired,  and  cheers  given.  As  he  passed  the  batteries 
he  shook  hands  with  Captain  Martin  and  bade  him  good 
bye.  General  Hooker  has  assumed  command.  We  now 
belong  to  Butterfield's  Division,  Hooker's  5th  Army  Corps." 

GENERAL  ORDER  RESPECTING  THE  OBSERVANCE  OF 
THE  SABBATH  DAY  IN  THE  ARMY 

AND  NAVY. 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION, 
WASHINGTON,   November   15,    1862. 

The  President,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  desires 
and  enjoins  the  orderly  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  by  the  officers  and 
men  in  the  military  and  naval  service.  The  importance  for  man  and 
beast  of  the  prescribed  weekly  rest,  the  sacred  rights  of  Christian  sol 
diers  and  sailors,  a  becoming  deference  to  the  best  sentiment  of  a 
Christian  people,  and  a  due  regard  for  the  Divine  will,  demand  that 
Sunday  labor  in  the  Army  and  Navy  be  reduced  to  the  measure  of 
strict  necessity. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  487 

The  discipline  and  character  of  the  national  forces  should  not  suffer, 
nor  the  cause  the^  defend  be  imperilled,  by  the  profanation  of  the  day 
or  name  of  the  Most  High. 

"At  this  time  of  public  distress" —  adopting  the  words  of  Washing 
ton  in  1776 — "men  may  find  enough  to  do  in  the  service  of  God  and 
their  country  without  abandoning  themselves  to  vice  and  immorality." 
The  first  General  Order  issued  by  the  Father  of  his  Country  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  indicates  the  spirit  in  which  our  institu 
tions  were  founded,  and  should  ever  be  defended:  "The  General  hopes 
and  trusts  that  every  officer  and  man  will  endeavor  to  live  and  act  as 
becomes  a  Christian  soldier  defending  tlie  dearest  rights  and  liberties 
of  his  country." 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  IN  THE  FIELDS, 

Nov.  20,  1862. 

Last  Saturday  General  Hooker  reviewed  the  Division. 
After  it  was  through  he  had  a  reception  at  General  Butter- 
field's  Hd.  Qrs.  While  Butterfield  was  in  command  of  the 
Division  he  introduced  a  change  in  marching  orders.  He 
published  a  circular  containing  six  forms  for  marching  as 
follows :— " 

COPIED  FROM  PHILLIPS    DIARY. 

Form  i. 

ist     First  Brigade  Battery 25  minutes 

2d      Second   Brigade   Battery 25  minutes 

3d      Third   Brieade  Battery 25  minutes 

4th     ist  U.  S.  S.  S.  Battery. 
5th    Ambulances. 


Form  2. 

ist     Second  Brigade   Battery 25  minutes 

2d     Third  Brigade   Battery 25  minutes 

3d      ist  U.  S.  S.  S.  Battery 10  minutes 

4th     ist  Brigade  Battery. 
5th    Ambulances. 


488  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Form  3. 

ist    Third    Brigade   Battery 25  minutes 

2d      First  U.  S.  S.  S.  Battery  10  minutes 

3d      First  Brigade  Battery 25  minutes 

4th     Second  Brigade  Battery. 
5th    Ambulances. 

Form  4. 

ist     ist  U.  S.  S.  S.  Battery 10  minutes 

2d      ist  Brigade  Battery 25  minutes 

3d      Second  Brigade  Battery 25  minutes 

4th.    Third    Brigade    Battery 25  minutes 

5th    Ambulances. 

Form  5. 

ist  First  Brigade    20  minutes 

2d  ist  U.   S.   S.   S 5  minutes 

3d  All  the  Batteries   • 20  minutes 

4th  Second  Brigade    20  minutes 

5th  Third  Brigade   20  minutes 

6th  Ambulances. 


Form  6. 

ist  All  the  Batteries    20  minutes 

2d  Third  Brigade    20  minutes 

3d  Second   Brigade    20  minutes 

4th  First   Brigade    20  minutes 

5th  ist  U.   S.  S.   S 20  minutes 

6th  Ambulances. 


FROM  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS'  LETTER. 

"So  now  it  is  only  necessary  to  send  an  order  'The  Divi 
sion  will  march  tomorrow  at  6  a.  m.  in  Form  i.'  Then  the 
First  Brigade  marches  at  6  followed  by  a  Battery,  the  Sec 
ond  Brigade  at  6.25,  Battery  following.  Third  Brigade 
and  a  Battery  at  6.50.  Sharp  Shooters  at  7.15  &c  &c. 
Captain  Martin  designates  the  batteries  to  follow  the  Bri 
gades.  Monday  we  marched  at  6  in  'Form  i,'  following 
the  Sharp  Shooters,  and  camped  about  four  miles  beyond 
Warrenton  Junction,  having  turned  off  the  railroad  to  the 
left.  Tuesday  we  marched  in  'Form  2,'  following  the  Sec 
ond  Brigade,  and  yesterday  we  marched  in  'Form  3'  follow- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  489 

ing.  the  Sharp  Shooters.     We  arrived  at  this  place  at  2 
o'clock. 

Camp  near  Falmouth,  Va.  Nov.  26,  1862.  On  the  i/th 
we  marched  down  to  Warrenton  Junction  then  down  the 
railroad  towards  the  Rappahannock  a  few  miles,  and  then 
struck  across  country  for  Fredericksburg.  That  night  we 
camped  in  the  fields.  The  next  day  we  resumed  the  march; 
marched  about  4  miles  and  camped.  There  we  remained 
Thursday,  Friday,  and  Saturday.  Sunday  morning  we 
were  again  on  the  move.  About  noon  we  passed  the  Artil 
lery  Reserve  in  camp  about  3  miles  from  Falmouth.  We 
then  switched  off  the  main  road,  and  leaving  Falmouth  on 
our  right  marched  through  the  woods.  At  7  o'clock  in  the 
middle  of  the  woods,  dark  as  midnight,  we  came  to  a  mud 
hole.  Here  we  stuck :  horses  got  mired,  wheels  sank  to  the 
hub  and  things  looked  pleasant.  Our  horses  had  had 
nothing  to  eat  for  two  days.  We  doubled  up — put  ten 
horses  on  a  carriage,  and  hauled  through.  By  12  we  had 
got  through.  Just  beyond  the  mud  hole  the  road  was  very 
narrow,  with  a  bank  about  6  feet  high  on  each  side.  As 
the  Battery  wagon  came  through  at  full  speed  with  the 
horses  on,  the  drivers  missed  the  road  and  drove  up  on  the 
bank.  As  the  Battery  wagon  got  well  on  the  top,  over  it 
went  into  the  road  below,  and  landed  bottom  side  up,  the 
pole  horses  in  a  heap,  and  their  driver  getting  out  of  the 
way  with  a  lame  leg.  Here  was  'a  pretty  kettle  of  fish.' 
The  Battery  wagon  weighs  over  4000  Ibs.,  and  is  no  easy 
thing  to  handle.  However,  we  managed  to  clear  the  horses, 
and  then  binding  on  a  rope,  we  soon  righted  it.  Our  camp 
ing  ground  fortunately  was  only  about  half  a  mile  ahead, 
and  we  arrived  there  about  10  o'clock.  As  we  were 
crowded  with  infantry  we  moved  yesterday  about  a  mile, 
to  this  spot,  where  the  4  batteries  have  a  large  field  all  to 
themselves.  We  are  on  the  northern  side  of  it,  and  about 
5  miles  from  the  railroad  from  Acquia  Creek  to  Falmouth, 


490  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  about  six  miles  from  the  latter  place.  It  is  quite  a 
pleasant  spot,  and  we  mean  to  enjoy  it  while  we  are  here." 

In  Corporal  Shackley's  account  of  the  overturning  of  the 
Battery  wagon  he  says,  "The  wheeldriver  was  so  injured  as 
to  be  taken  to  camp  in  an  ambulance." 

Corporal  Chase  gives  this  description : — "Battery  de 
coyed  into  a  narrow  road  through  a  slough  where  most  of 
the  pieces  and  caissons  were  mired  in  the  ruts,  and  the  Bat 
tery  wagon  upset,  completely  inverted.  Obliged  to  double 
up  most  of  the  teams  to  draw  out  the  pieces  and  caissons. 
Fourteen  horses  hitched  to  the  2d  Detachment's  caisson  to 
extricate  it.  All  hands  ordered  to  the  rear  to  right  the 
Battery  wagon.  Succeeded  in  righting  it  with  ropes  and 
levers,  and  the  whole  Battery  went  into  park  about  ten 
o'clock  p.  m.  Very  scanty  rations.  Weather  clear,  cold, 
and  frosty.  A  good  night's  rest.  Marched  about  seven 
miles  today  and  camped  near  Falmouth,  Va." 

RECRUITING  SERVICE. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
CENTRE  GRAND  DIVISION, 
CAMP  NEAR  POTOMAC  CREEK,  VA. 
Nov.  24,  1862. 
Special  Order 
No.  ii. 

Extract 

.  .  .  2d  Lieut.  Frederick  A.  Lull,  Battery  E.  Mass.  Artillery,  is  de 
tailed  to  proceed  to  Cambridge,  Mass,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  and 
bringing  back  recruits  that  are  there. 

He  will  execute  this  duty  with  dispatch  and  rejoin  his  Battery  with 
out  any  unnecessary  delay. 

By  command  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  HOOKER. 
(Sd.)      Jos.    DICKINSON, 

Asst.  Adjt.  General. 
HEAD  QUARTERS 

STH  ARMY  CORPS, 

Nov.  25th,  1862. 
Official : 

(Sd.)     F.W.PERKINS,  Official: 

A.  A.  A.  G.  A.  P.  MARTIN  Capt. 

Com'd'g  Division  Art'y. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  491 

Chase's  Diary:  "Nov.  25,  1862.  .  .  .  Lieut.  Lull  went 
home.  On  the  25th  General  Burnside  issued  a  circular  con 
taining  the  following  words  : — 

'Hereafter  no  salute  will  be  fired  in  this  Army  unless  by  authority 
from  these  Head  Quarters.' 

Nov.  26  1862.  In  camp  (near  Falmouth  by  the  side  of 
the  Acquia  Creek  and  Fredericksburg  R.  R. )  all  day,  trying 
to  live  till  the  27th',  Thanksgiving  Day.  Scanty  rations  of 
bread  and  pork.  Weather  cold  and  cloudy. 

Nov.  27th  1862.  Thanksgiving  in  Massachusetts.  Ten 
crackers  and  a  ration  of  fresh  beef,  boiled,  for  our  rations. 

Nov.  28th  1862.  The  engine  'Government'  passed  here 
this  a.  m.  The  first  one  through  from  Acquia  Creek  since 
McClellan's  retreaj:.  A  drill  on  the  piece  a.  m. 

William  Wilcox  died  today  of  consumption.  Nov.  29. 
Company  called  in  line  and  after  a  brief  service  followed  the 
remains  of  Wm.  Wilcox  to  their  final  resting  place.  A 
short  drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  this  morning.  The 
engine  'Osceola'  passed  up  this  morning." 

Corporal  Shackley:  "William  S.  Wilcox  died  Nov.  28, 
1862,  and  was  buried  in  this  place."  He  was  from  New 
Bedford. 


FROM  A  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,,  VA. 

Nov.  30,  1862. 

Things  here  roll  on  in  a  monotonous  kind  of  way.  We 
have  now  been  encamped  here  about  a  week,  doing  nothing 
in  particular.  Everybody  expects  the  Army  to  move,  and 
nobody  knows  why  it  does  not.  I  see  some  of  the  papers 
are  beginning  to  bring  up  the  old  story  of  Burnside's  being 
disappointed  by  the  Quartermaster's  Department,  the  non- 
arrival  of  the  pontoon  train,  just  as  they  did  in  McClellan's 


492  HISTORY    OF    THE 

time.  The  railroad  from  Acquia  Creek  to  Falmouth  is  now 
in  running  order,  and  cars  run  over  it  daily.  Everything 
is  apparently  ready.  Why  wait  till  Jackson  has  joined  Lee 
before  attacking?  Although  the  railroad  is  completed,  sup 
plies  are  not  forwarded  very  rapidly,  five  cars  being  the 
longest  train  that  has  gone  up  yet.  The  work  of  unloading 
&c  at  Acquia  Creek  does  not  seem  to  be  pushed  very  rapidly. 
.  .  .  Meantime  we  must  wait  and  hope.  This  forenoon 
was  occupied  with  inspection,  which  I  have  every  Sunday,  if 
possible.  My  horses  are  in  poor  condition,  as  are  all  the 
rest  of  the  batteries'.  Forage  of  late  has  come  very  irregu 
larly,  and  two  meals  a  day  has  been  rather  the  exception 
than  the  rule.  All  the  horses  out  here  have  been  affected 
with  a  sort  of  hoof  rot,  which  has  troubled  the  batteries 
very  much;  some  batteries  losing  30  or  40  horses.  Men 
are  about  as  scarce  as  horses,  in  fact  I  have  more  horses 
than  men.  We  have  now  pretty  comfortable  quarters.  Our 
two  tents  are  pitched  facing  each  other,  the  space  between 
enclosed  by  a  high  evergreen  hedge,  with  small  doors,  and  a 
fire  constantly  burning  in  the  middle. 

Dec.  i,  1862 :  The  first  day  of  winter  and  no  movement 
yet.  General  Butterfield  is  having  his  tent  lined  with 
blankets,  which  does  not  look  like  an  immediate  march. 
The  men  are  stockading  their  tents,  building  log  houses  &c. 
These  things  however  do  not  prove  anything.  Nobody 
here  wants  or  expects  an  inactive  winter  like  the  last,  spent 
in  looking  at  the  Rebels.  Last  night  Captain  Gibson  and 
Quartermaster's  Sergeant  Upton  of  the  35th  stopped  here  all 
night,  and  I  gave  up  my  bed  to  Captain  Gibson,  turning  my 
self  in  on  a  pile  of  hay.  The  guard  at  our  quarters  was 
instructed  to  keep  the  fire  up  all  night,  and  by  keeping  the 
tent  open  I  slept  warm  with  my  overcoat  on.  Our  diet  now 
is  rather  monotonous.  The  usual  hard  bread  forms  the 
basis  of  all  culinary  attempts.  We  have  some  very  good 
bread  now :  salt  pork  adds  an  occasional  relish  to  the  bill  of 


FIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  493 

fare,  salt  beef  is  now  esteemed  a  delicacy,  while  potatoes 
and  rice  are  things  of  the  past.  This  morning  we  had  baked 
beans  cooked  in  our  subterranean  oven.  Tomorrow  we  ex 
pect  to  have  broiled  salt  mackerel,  roast  beef  and  other  lux 
uries.  Blake  ran  afoul  of  a  sutler,  who  had  some  cheese, 
40  cts.  a  pound,  some  chow-chow  all  engaged  by  a  Brig. 
Gen'l,  and  ginger  cakes.  He  managed  to  get  a  bottle  of 
chow-chow  and  this  with  cheese  and  crackers,  help  down 
our  meals  considerably.  We  have  now  got  to  roasting  meat 
to  perfection  in  a  very  simple  manner.  We  dig  a  hole  in 
the  ground  about  two  feet  across,  and  two  feet  deep,  build  a 
fire  in  it,  and  when  our  oven  is  heated  put  in  the  meat  in  a 
kettle,  cover  with  coals,  pile  on  the  dirt  and  let  it  roast." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  i,  1862.  .  .  .  Commenced  prepar 
ing  winter  quarters.  Dec.  2.  Posted  the  guard  last  night, 
first  half,  and  today.  Weather  delightful.  Dec.  3d.  Drill 
on  the  piece  a.  m.  Finished  stockading,  and  completed  my 
tent  for  'Winter  Quarters.'  " 


GEN'L  BARRY  TO  GOV.  ANDREW. 

William  F.  Barry,  Brig.  Gen.  Inspector  of  Artillery,  in  a 
letter  to  Gov.  Andrew  dated  Washington,  D.  C.  Dec.  3, 
1862,  names  several  Massachusetts  batteries,  which  at  dif 
ferent  times  had  been  under  his  command,  including  the 
Fifth,  and  adds : — 


'  The  officers  and  men  of  these  batteries  have  been  generally  distin 
guished  for  a  high  order  of  intelligence,  for  aptitude  in  acquiring  the 
theory  and  promptness  in  executing  the  practice  of  their  special  ser 
vice.  They  have  generally  been  conspicuous  for  good  discipline,  and 
as  far  as  they  came  under  my  observation,  for  courage  and  conduct 
under  fire." 


494  HISTORY    OF    THE 

GENERAL  ORDERS  OF  DEC.   4.    1862.     FIRING  GUNS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  CAMP 
NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Dec.  4,  1862. 
Orders:  Extracts. 

.  .  .  par.  3. 

In  no  case,  except  when  firing  canister  at 

short  range,  should  the  fire  exceed  from  each  gun  one  round  in  two 
minutes ;  and  that  rate  should  only  be  reached  at  critical  moments  when 
the  distance,  numbers,  and  formation  of  the  enemy  are  such  that  the 
fire  is  sure  to  be  effective. 

At  all  other  times  one  round  in  four  or  six  minutes  is  as  rapid  firing 
as  should  be  permitted.  The  value  of  the  Rifled  Cannon  consists  prin 
cipally  in  its  accuracy;  accuracy  requires  careful  pointing  with  close 
observation  of  the  effect,  and  these  require  time.  Twelve  shots  in  an 
hour  at  an  object  over  1000  yards  distant,  the  time  being  spent  in  care 
ful  loading  and  pointing,  will  produce  better  results,  than  fifty  shots 
will  ordinarily  produce  from  the  same  gun  in  the  same  time. 

The  campaign  allowance  of  250  rounds  per  gun,  carried  with  the 
Division  is  calculated  to  suffice  for  a  general  action,  and  the  combats 
which  usually  precede  it,  and  under  ordinary  circumstances  an  officer 
who  expends  all  his  ammunition  in  a  few  hours,  renders  himself  liable 
to  a  suspicion  that  his  reckless  expenditure  was  prompted  by  a  desire  to 
quit  the  field.  In  future,  Batteries  will  not  be  permitted  to  leave  the 
field  or  their  position  under  this  plea.  The  guns  and  cannoneers  will 
remain  on  the  ground  until  ammunition  is  furnished.  As  soon  as  one 
caisson  of  each  section  has  been  emptied,  the  empty  caissons  will  be 
sent  to  the  rear,  under  charge  of  a  non-commissioned  officer  to  replen 
ish  at  the  ammunition  train. 

If  the   expenditure  of  ammunition   continues  to  be  as   extravagant 
as  heretofore,  it  will  be  impossible  to  keep  the  Army  supplied.  .  .  . 
By  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  Burnside. 

HENRY  J.  HUNT  Brig.  Gen'l, 
Chief   of  Artillery. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  6,  1862.  About  three  inches  of 
snow  on  the  ground  this  morning.  Scraped  the  snow  from 
the  guns  and  pieces  and  hitched  up  for  a  general  inspection 
a.  m.  Left  park  and  obliqued  into  line  a  few  rods  from 
camp,  and  immediately  countermarched  and  returned  to 
park  and  unhitched :  'a  false  alarm.'  Dec.  7,  Sunday.  Last 
night  and  today  very  cold.  Frederick  Manchester  left  for 
home  today." 


FIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  495 

Chase's  Letter  of  Dec.  8,  1862:  "Well,  here  we  are,  as 
usual,  'waiting-,'  like  Micawber,  'for  something  to  turn  up.' 
Shovels,  picks  and  siege  guns  are  as  usual  going  to  the 
front,  and  they  may  turn  up  some  new  feature  in  the  war, 
similar  to  our  old  one  at  Yorktown,  several  months  ago, 
but  when  the  performance  is  to  commence  has  not  yet  been 
announced,  and  in  fact  we  do  not  think  much  about  it.     I 
have  entirely  outgrown  the  childish  interest  I  used  to  take 
in  the  movements  of  the  Army,  and  I  now  take  about  as 
much  interest  in  war  matters  as  I  did  in  the  rise  and  fall  of 
steak,  when  I  was  at  work  for  $1.25  per  day.     'Variety  is 
the  spice  of  life,'  and  although  we  have  had  quite  a  variety, 
yet  there  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  sameness  to  our  way  of  exist 
ing  here,  and  we  want  a  nezv  variety.     General  Joe  Hooker 
now  commands  our  Corps,  and  as  he  has  been  a  successful 
fighting  man,  I  trust  he  will  be  in  future.     Thanksgiving 
passed  off  very  quietly  here.     I  did  not  hear  of  any  drunken 
carousals,  or  sickness  from  hearty  eating.     We  had  nearly 
as  much  as  we  could  eat  of  prime  mess  pork  and  hard  bread, 
and  all  the  various  viands  we  make  of  it." 

Diary :  "Dec.  Qth.  Inspection  of  the  Battery  by  Captain 
Weed,  5th  regulars,  at  noon  today.  Went  through  a  short 
drill  in  presence  of  Captains  Weed  and  Martin,  and  re 
turned  to  camp.  Three  new  recruits  came  to  us  this  even 
ing.  Dec.  loth.  Ordered  to  fit  our  ammunition  for  ac 
tion.  The  4th  Rhode  Island  Battery  broke  camp  and  moved 
to  the  front  p.  m.  One  more  recruit  came  today.  Dec. 
nth.  Reveille  at  half  past  three  this  morning.  Broke 
camp,  packed  up,  and  hitched  up,  and  left  camp  about  half 
past  six  a.  m.  Cannonading  commenced  in  the  direction 
of  Fredericksburg  about  five  o'clock  this  morning.  .  .  . 
The  ground  frozen  solid.  Bombardment  of  Fredericksburg, 
with  but  slight  intervals  of  cessation,  from  about  5  a.  m. 
until  5  p.  m.  Battery  halted  about  a  mile  from  Fredericks 
burg  and  remained  hitched  up  until  sunset,  when  we 


496  HISTORY    OF    THE 

bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  city  of  Fredericksburg  on 
fire  in  several  places  p.  m." 

Captain  Phillips'  Diary:  "Thursday,  Dec.  n,  1862. 
Broke  camp  (near  Falmouth,  Va.)  at  daybreak  and  marched 
towards  the  river.  Batteries  had  been  in  position  the  night 
before  and  the  bridges  were  thrown  over  under  their  fire. 
Our  troops  crossed  towards  evening.  We  camped  near  the 
river.  Abandoned  a  horse.  Dec.  I2th.  Hitched  up  all 
day  and  got  about  ^2  mile  nearer  the  river." 

From  Lieut.  Scott:  "On  the  morning  of  the  I2th  of  De 
cember,  5  days'  rations  were  taken,  the  Battery  hitched  up 
and  early  were  on  the  march  towards  Fredericksburg,  5 
miles  distant.  Within  two  miles  of  the  city  we  stood  all 
day,  camping  at  night  in  and  near  a  wood,  where  we  suf 
fered  through  the  night  from  the  cold,  chilly  atmosphere 
that  prevailed.  The  ground  was  partly  covered  with 
snow." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  I2th.  Cannonading  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Fredericksburg  commenced  again  this  morning 
about  8  o'clock.  Left  camp  about  9  a.  m.  and  proceeded 
towards  Fredericksburg:  halted  near  the  R.  R.  and  re 
mained  hitched  up  until  about  4  p.  m.,  when  we  unhitched 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  An  artillery  duel  across  the 
river  between  the  opposing  armies  this  p.  m.  A  brisk  can 
nonading  on  both  sides.  Weather  perfectly  delightful." 

Phillips'  Diary  Dec.  I3th,  1862.  "Crossed  the  river  about 
4  p.  m.  Came  into  Battery  and  opened.  The  enemy  fired 
on  us  from  several  guns  in  commanding  entrenchments, 
killing  Corporal  E.  M.  Platts  and  several  horses.  With 
drew  at  dark  and  bivouacked  in  the  city,  sleeping  in  a  house. 
Fired  about  100  rounds, — 47  Hotchkiss  shell,  60  Schenkle 
Perc.  Fuze  Shrapnell." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  13,  1862.  Fine  morning.  A  very 
brisk  and  heavy  cannonading  commenced  this  a.  m.  about 
9  o'clock.  Packed  up,  and  hitched  up  about  half  past  8 


FIFTTl   MASS.   BATTERY.  497 

a.  m.  Heavy  cannonading  at  12  m.  The  flank  of  the 
enemy's  artillery  plainly  visible.  A  sharp  musketry  fire, 
apparently  in  the  city,  commenced  about  ^2  past  12  p.  m. — 
A  steady  firing  of  artillery  and  musketry.  An  awful  battle 
is  raging — 3  p.  m. — in  and  about  the  city.  Troops  moving 
to  the  front.  Left  our  camp  and  moved  towards  the  front 
about  54  past  three  p.  m. 

Four  p.  m.  Battle  still  raging.  Incessant  firing  both  of 
artillery  and  musketry  since  the  battle  commenced.  The 
balloon  'Eagle'  up  during  the  engagement.  Battery  halted 
on  the  way  to  the  front.  Troops  fast  moving  forward. 
Quarter  past  4  p.  m.  Battery  crossed  the  Rappahannock 
over  a  pontoon  bridge  and  passed  through  the  city  and 
took  a  position  and  commenced  shelling  the  enemy  with 
shrapnell  with  4  second  fuze.  The  enemy  replied  to  our 
fire  with  well-directed  shots. 

Acted  as  No.  4  and  6  man  during  the  engagement.  Bat 
tery  fired  about  120  rounds  at  the  enemy  and  limbered  up 
and  left  the  field.  Corporal  E.  M.  Platts  seriously  wounded. 
Lost  5  horses.  Halted  in  the  streets  of  the  city,  and  let  the 
horses  remain  hitched  up  all  night.  Posted  the  guard,  first 
half,  this  night.  Weather  during  the  day  perfectly  delight 
ful,  and  the  night  very  mild.  One  hour's  rest  tonight. 
Dec.  1 4th,  Sunday.  Mild,  pleasant  morning.  Musketry  fire 
commenced  about  6  o'clock  this  morning,  just  outside  the 
city,  and  artillery  firing  began  about  half  an  hour  later  on 
the  left.  Corporal  Platts  died  of  his  wound  last  night. 
His  remains  decently  interred  this  morning.  Robert  Brand 
also  wounded  yesterday. 

Battery  ordered  to  the  front  about  9  o'clock  this  morning. 
Left  the  street  with  four  guns,  and  placed  them  in  the  same 
position  we  occupied  yesterday.  Remained  in  position  all 
day  and  night.  No  firing  by  the  Battery  this  day.  Infan 
try  and  sharpshooters  cracking  away  all  day  with  irregular 
fire.  The  enemy  plainly  visible  and  their  camp  fires  in  full 


498  HISTORY   OF    THE 

blaze  in  our  front.  Guns  in  position  close  to  the  Fred- 
ericksburg  Alms  House.  Provisions,  bedding,  and  other 
pauper  fare  very  acceptable  to  us,  this  day  and  night.  Slept 
near  our  guns  and  had  a  good  night's  rest.  No  fighting 
today." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Dec.  31,  1862. 

I  was  in  the  fight  but  as  I  did  not  go  in  until  about  4 
p.  m.  on  the  I3th  I  did  not  see  the  principal  part,  nor  could 
I  see  the  whole  of  the  field.  I  had  a  view  of  the  rebel  bat 
teries,  and  they  were  kind  enough  to  send  quite  a  number 
of  their  shells  towards  the  spot  where  I  was,  so  that  I  ascer 
tained  their  guns  to  be  12  pdrs.  and  3  inch  chiefly.  I  lost 
one  man  and  several  horses.  We  were  in  position  on  the 
left  of  our  Right  i.  e.  Franklin  on  our  left.  The  right  of 
the  Battery  rested  on  a  brick  kiln,  the  left  on  the  Fred- 
ericksburg  Poor  House.  The  Telegraph  Road  and  the 
stone  wall  were  1000  yards  in  front  of  us,  at  the  foot  of  a 
hill,  and  half  way  up  the  hill  was  the  line  of  rebel  batteries, 
earthworks  with  embrasures  for  the  guns.  The  rebels  fired 
at  us,  with  great  perseverance,  till  dark,  and  then  we  re 
turned  to  Fredericksburg  and  bivouacked  in  somebody's 
empty  house.  The  next  day  we  returned  to  our  former  po 
sition,  and  remained  there  all  day,  but  this  time  the  rebels 
didn't  shoot  at  us.  We  spent  the  night  in  the  Poor  House, 
and  the  next  day,  after  dark,  returned  to  Fredericksburg, 
where  I  slept  in  the  library  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association.  The  next  morning  we  re-crossed  the  river. 
As  for  the  reason  why  we  did  not  drive  the  rebels  out  of 
their  works,  in  my  opinion  it  was  simply  from  a  want  of 
adaptation  of  the  means  to  the  end.  The  history  of  all 
modern  wars  shows  the  folly  of  expecting  the  best  of  infan- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  499 

try,  unaided,  to  drive  out  even  poor  troops  from  behind 
breastworks.  All  such  attempts  only  repeat  Bunker 
Hill  over  again,  and  when,  as  in  this  case,  the  troops  op 
posed  were  of  equal  experience  and  bravery,  the  attempt 
becomes  more  strange.  I  do  not  learn  that  our  artillery 
was  used  to  any  advantage  at  Fredericksburg.  We  had  a 
couple  of  hundred  guns  mounted  on  the  northern  shore,  all 
very  well  for  shelling  the  city  and  covering  the  bridges,  but 
useless  for  any  other  purpose.  Some  4^2  siege  guns  under 
took  to  throw  shell  at  the  enemy,  while  the  fight  was  going 
on,  and  killed  more  of  our  own  men  than  of  the  enemy : 
they  generally  do.  The  fact  is  we  have  no  general  who  has 
shown  himself  able  to  handle  infantry,  artillery,  and  cavalry 
so  as  to  make  them  co-operate  together  Malvern  Hill  is 
the  only  battle  that  I  have  been  in  where  the  artillery 
was  even  decently  managed,  and  there  the  number  of 
pieces  was  so  small  that  it  could  not  have  been  mismanaged, 
very  well.  As  usual,  however,  they  had  a  battery  of  siege 
guns  a  mile  in  the  rear,  pitching  shells  round  at  random, 
killing  two  men  in  the  battery  next  to  me.  And  as  for 
cavalry,  they  have  not  been  of  the  slightest  use  in  a  single 
pitched  battle :  there  is  not  a  single  cavalry  charge  recorded 
in  the  annals  of  this  war.  You  may  say  the  country  is  not 
suitable :  there  could  not  be  a  better  spot  to  manoeuvre  a  bat 
talion  of  cavalry  than  the  battlefield  of  Malvern  Hill,  and 
they  were  just  what  was  wanted  at  that  fight.  However, 
I  do  not  want  to  be  blaming  Burnside  ...  if  he  did  make 
a  blunder  at  Fredericksburg  it  does  not  begin  to  compare 
with  Gaines  Mills.  I  do  not  understand  why  he  crossed 
where  he  did,  instead  of  crossing  lower  down,  and  I  do  not 
understand  why  he  does  not  cross  again." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Sunday,  Dec.  14,  1862.  Buried  Platts 
this  morning.  About  10  a.  m.  returned  to  yesterday's  po 
sition.  .  .  .  Martin's  Battery  was  placed  on  our  left.  No 
shots  exchanged.  I  slept  on  a  sofa  in  the  Poor  House." 


500  HISTORY    OF    THE 

LETTER   OF   CAPTAIN    PHILLIPS. 

"!N  BATTERY  BETWEEN  FREDERICKSBURG 
POOR  HOUSE  AND  A  BRICK  KILN. 
2J/2  p.  m.  Sunday,  Dec.  14,  1862. 

The  paper  on  which  this  is  written  (heavy  ruled  paper 
with  a  torn  edge)  came  out  of  an  account  book  from  the 
Poor  House,  and  I  am  sitting  in  a  cushioned  chair  writing 
this.  After  marching  round  for  several  days  we  got  started 
out  of  camp  yesterday  noon  for  the  front.  Hazlett  and 
Waterman  went  into  position  the  night  of  the  loth  and 
took  part  in  the  shelling  of  the  nth.  Night. before  last  we 
camped  near  Falmouth  railroad  station.  About  noon  we 
started  and  marched  down  opposite  the  lower  part  of  Fred- 
ericksburg.  The  infantry  of  the  Division  crossed  over,  and 
about  3  o'clock  Captain  Weed  sent  for  my  Battery,  Martin's 
remaining  on  the  other  side.  I  crossed  and  came  into  bat 
tery  on  this  ground,  my  guns  pointing  over  a  crest  of  a  hill. 
Our  infantry  were  deployed  in  front,  and  the  enemy  about 
1000  yards  in  front  of  us,  their  infantry  at  the  bottom  of  a 
hill  behind  a  stone  wall,  and  their  batteries  on  top  of  the 
hill,  100  ft.  higher  than  we  were.  As  soon  as  we  got  in 
position,  we  opened  on  them  and  they  on  us.  We  devoted 
our  attention  to  their  infantry  without  minding  their  bat 
teries,  while  their  artillery  paid  close  attention  to  us.  They 
made  some  good  shots,  the  Poor  House  being  riddled 
through.  We  stayed  in  position  about  an  hour,  and  fired 
107  rounds.  Corporal  Platts,  a  fine  young  fellow,  was 
killed  by  a  shrapnell  shot.  Brand,  a  new  recruit,  slightly 
bruised  and  badly  frightened  by  a  shell  which  killed  the 
horse  he  was  on  and  another  one.  Five  horses  killed  and 
several  scratched.  Mine  was  struck  in  the  flank.  Lieut. 
Scott  struck  by  a  spent  shell,  but  not  hurt,  &c.  &c.  At  dark 
we  withdrew  and  halted  in  the  streets  of  Fredericksburg. 
I  bivouacked  my  men  in  one  house,  and  turned  in  myself  in 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  501 

an  upper  chamber  in  another.  Scott  and  I  found  a  good 
bedstead  and  spread  our  blankets  and  went  to  sleep.  The 
slatted  bottom, — there  being  no  bed, — felt  a  good  deal  like 
a  gridiron,  but  we  managed  to  get  along.  The  ventilation 
was  quite  good,  one  shell  having  gone  through  the  head 
board  of  the  bed,  another  through  the  bureau,  and  half  a 
dozen  through  the  walls.  Several  stairs  were  knocked  out, 
and  the  house  was  in  a  general  state  of  dislocation.  We 
started  a  fire  in  the  stove,  out  of  chairs  and  washstands,  and 
after  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a  piece  of  .beef  steak  I  turned  in  and 
slept  till  morning.  This  forenoon  we  came  out  again  to 
this  position.  We  have  kept  our  guns  out  of  sight,  and 
have  interchanged  no  shots  with  the  enemy.  Martin's 
Battery  is  on  our  left.  A  pretty  brisk  picket  firing  is  going 
on  on  our  front,  but  nothing  important.  The  men  have 
found  some  flour  in  the  Poor  House  and  are  cooking  flap 
jacks  at  a  great  rate.  The  looting  process  has  brought  to 
light  a  varied  assortment  of  articles :  tin  ware,  plates,  cups, 
dishes,  clothes  &c. 

Monday  morning :  We  remained  in  battery  all  day  yester 
day,  without  firing  or  being  fired  at,  and  last  night  after  a 
supper  of  beef  steak  and  fried  onions,  we  turned  in  in  the 
Poor  House.  I  lay  down  on  a  sofa,  Scott  and  Blake  spread 
a  feather  bed  on  the  floor,  and  we  got  along  quite  comfort 
ably.  This  morning  I  drew  my  chair  up  to  the  table,  and 
eat  my  breakfast  in  a  very  civilized  manner.  We  are  now, 
8  a.  m.,  waiting  for  something  to  turn  up. 

Fredericksburg  Poor  House,  Monday  noon,  Dec.  15, 
1862.  For  some  reason  or  other  our  mail  has  been  inter 
rupted  for  the  last  fortnight,  and  no  letters  have  reached 
us  during  that  time.  I  have  sent  on  to  Washington  to  have 
it  forwarded.  The  inhabitants  of  the  building  stayed  in  it 
till  a  shell  came  through  the  window,  when  they  left  in  a 
hurry,  except  one  old  darkey,  who  improvised  a  bomb  proof 
in  a  corner  of  the  cellar  and  held  on.  The  keeper  of  the 


502  HISTORY    OF    THE 

institution  was  a  Mr.  Waite  who  lived  here  with  a  large 
family,  including  Mr.  Dana  Magee  his  son-in-law,  hailing 
from  Connecticut,  who  appears  to  have  carried  on  the  manu 
facture  of  tin  ware  in  an  upper  chamber.  They  do  not 
appear  to  have  had  time  to  carry  off  much  of  their  prop 
erty,  and  as  the  house  was  well  up  to  the  front,  our  men 
had  quite  a  chance  to  forage.  We  found  five  barrels  of 
flour,  all  gone  now,  and  the  men  have  been  quite  busy  mak 
ing  flapjacks  and  pancakes.  Cups,  jugs,  plates,  kettles,  and 
all  the  et  cetera  of  housekeeping,  were  quite  plenty,  and 
proved  quite  useful  to  a  lot  of  hungry  and  ingenious  men. 
I  had  some  very  good  soft  bread  baked,  and  foraged  an  old 
fashioned  bake  kettle,  which  will  work  in  well  in  our 
future  campaigns.  .  .  .  We  had  quite  a  noisy  place  on  Sat 
urday.  ...  I  had  to  send  two  guns  to  the  rear  as  I  had  not 
men  enough  to  work  them.  I  want  my  recruits  badly,  and 
I  have  written  Lieut.  Lull  to  hurry  them  up.  The  city  of 
Fredericksburg  is  pretty  well  cleaned  out.  Every  house 
that  I  have  seen  has  from  10  to  50  holes  through  it,  and  all 
the  furniture  &c.  has  been  smashed  by  shells,  burned  up  or 
carried  off.  The  fences  are  all  gone,  and  a  general  state  of 
desolation  apparent." 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

JANUARY  5,   1863. 

"One  thing  I  will  say,  I  don't  have  any  skulkers  when  I 
go  into  a  fight,  but  every  man  was  at  his  post  when  we  came 
into  battery,  and  only  two  men  went  to  the  rear  without 
orders :  one  to  help  Platts  off  the  field :  the  other,  a  raw  re 
cruit,  was  holding  two  horses  by  the  bridle,  when  a  shell 
took  off  both  animals'  heads,  and  he  got  knocked  down 
somehow.  Startled  at  such  an  unaccustomed  event  he  fan 
cied  he  was  wounded,  he  did  get  struck  on  the  shoulder  by 
the  horses  or  a  piece  of  shell." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  503 

ORDER   FROM   CAPTAIN   PHILLIPS   TO   SERGT. 

PEACOCK  AT   THE   BATTLE  OF 

FREDERICKSBURG. 

WRITTEN  IN  PENCIL. 

SERGT.  PEACOCK. 

When  an  empty  limber  comes  back  to  you,  send  one  of 
the  caisson  limbers  to  the  front,  and  fill  up  the  empty  limber 
from  the  middle  and  rear  chests.  When  one  of  the  two 
caissons  is  empty,  have  another  full  one  sent  up  to  you. 
Send  the  empty  caisson  to  the  Division  Ordnance  Train, 
probably  across  the  river  near  our  old  camp.  It  is  denoted 
by  an  American  Flag  marked  ist  Division,  5th  Army  Corps, 
and  Capt.  Batchelder  has  charge  of  it.  Put  the  caisson  in 
charge  of  the  most  intelligent  driver,  and  tell  him  to  fill  it 
up  and  keep  account  of  the  ammunition  he  gets  and  return 
without  delay. 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS, 

Capt. 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Dec.  15,  1862.  Remained  all  day  in 
position.  Ai  dark  marched  to  Princess  Anne  street. 
Halted  and  bivouacked  in  the  building  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association." 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  H.  D.  SCOTT. 

"  'Yet  we  faced  the  gay  battalions 
All  undaunted,   to  the   death.' 

About  3  p.  m.  of  the  I3th  of  December,  1862,  after  the 
Battery  had  been  standing  in  harness  nearly  two  days,  we 
were  ordered  to  cross  the  river.  After  crossing  the  Rap- 
pahannock  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  at  the  lower  part  of  the  city 
of  Fredericksburg,  laid  near  a  railroad  bridge  which  had 
been  destroyed,  we  filed  into  Water  street,  which  runs 
parallel  with  the  river.  We  halted  and  stripping  for  the 
fight,  the  caissons  were  parked  in  the  garden  of  a  house 
near.  Edwards'  [Captain  John  Edwards,  3d  U.  S.]  Regular 


504  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Battery  with  guns  stood  in  the  street,  having  been  in  posi 
tion  in  front  of  the  Heights  occupied  by  the  rebels  in  rear 
of  the  city,  when  they  had  been  driven  out  by  the  enemy's 
fire  in  15  minutes.  We  thought  if  that  Battery  could  not 
stay  longer,  how  long  would  we  be  likely  to  stay?  But  we 
were  in  for  it.  Passing  up  a  near  by  street  at  right  angles 
with  the  river,  we  went  into  position  on  sloping  ground 
where  we  were  covered  from  the  enemy's  fire  on  Marye's 
Heights,  the  left  of  the  Battery  resting  close  to  a  two  story 
brick  building  which  had  been  the  city's  asylum  for  the  poor. 
Our  right  rested  on  a  bank  where  the  clay  had  been  dug  out 
for  brick-making,  and  near  the  railroad,  which  passed  near, 
curving  past  our  front.  The  ground  was  cramped,  and  the 
guns  were  in  reduced  intervals,  close  to  one  another.  We 
could  see  the  fight  going  on  to  our  right  over  the  plain, 
where  Edwards'  Battery  had  been.  The  brick  house  stood 
on  the  side  of  the  hill,  the  ground  receding  rapidly  to  its 
north  front  facing  the  city,  thus  forming  a  basement.  A 
well  not  far  from  the  basement,  could  not  be  reached,  as  the 
rebel  sharpshooters  on  the  left  of  the  house  had  it  in  full 
view.  Several  dead  men  lay  around  it  and  during  daylight 
any  one  going  to  the  well  had  a  bullet  about  his  ears.  While 
going  into  position  we  had  not  been  molested.  We  com 
menced  firing  at  the  rebel  batteries  with  our  rifled  guns. 
After  loading  them,  we  would  run  them  up  the  slope  by 
hand,  so  the  muzzles  would  clear  the  bank,  take  aim  and  fire, 
the  guns  running  back  to  be  reloaded.  The  enemy  1000  to 
1200  yards  away  caught  on  to  us,  and  opened  their  fire 
which  was  kept  up  till  darkness  closed  the  scene.  For 
tunately  we  were  well  protected,  but  they  did  not  spare  us. 
Most  of  their  shot  passed  over  our  heads,  into  the  town 
behind  us,  and  the  noise,  as  the  shot  raked  through  the  city, 
was  terrific  and  very  demoralizing.  Some  of  their  shots 
striking  the  higher  ground  in  our  front,  would  ricochet, 
gassing  clear  of  our  heads,  but  we  worked  with  a  will,  men 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  505 

and  all.  As  the  ground  grew  soft  we  had  hard  work  to 
run  the  guns  up,  and  at  last  had  to  take  men  from  another 
gun  to  accomplish  it.  I  remember  of  being  so  thirsty,  that 
cotton  wool  soaked  in  water  would  have  been  refreshing. 

All  this  time  a  disastrous  fight  was  going  on,  for  the  5th 
Corps  on  our  right,  the  plain  being  fairly  covered  with  the 
blue  coats  which  we  could  see  in  part.  Still  we  kept  up 
our  fire.  As  one  of  my  drivers  dismounted  to  arrange  his 
harness,  not  far  from  where  I  was  standing,  on  higher 
ground,  a  solid  shot  passed  my  left  elbow,  causing  it  to  be 
black  and  blue,  struck  the  vacant  saddle  of  the  driver,  and 
passed  through  two  horses,  killing  them  instantly.  The 
horses  were  at  once  turned  into  the  pit,  and  4  horses  of  the 
team  remained.  A  shot  took  the  head  off  the  Bugler's  horse, 
and  Corporal  Platts  was  killed  by  a  bullet  from  an  explod 
ing  shell.  Two  men  were  slightly  wounded,  but  there  was 
no  other  loss. 

As  night  shut  in  we  returned  to  Water  street,  where  we 
had  left  the  caissons,  and  occupied  a  room  in  the  second 
story  of  a  house.  We  made  a  fire  from  such  wood  or  furni 
ture  as  we  could  find,  spread  our  blankets  on  a  slatted  bed 
stead  and  Phillips  and  I  passed  a  miserable  night,  trying  to 
adjust  ourselves  to  the  ever  widening  space  between  the 
slats. 

Sunday,  December  I4th,  1862,  opened  clear  and  quite 
warm.  We  hardly  knew  what  would  be  our  fate  this  day. 
Everything  was  as  still  and  solemn  as  a  New  England  Sab 
bath.  We  took  the  shutters  off  one  of  the  houses  and  made 
a  box  in  which  the  body  of  Corporal  Platts  was  placed.  A 
.grave  was  dug  in  an  adjoining  garden,  a  chaplain  of  the 
Brigade  read  the  service,  and  after  the  body  was  covered 
a  board  was  placed  at  its  head,  giving  his  name  and  Battery. 
It  was  a  solemn  time  as  Platts  was  a  great  favorite.  At 
10  a.  m.  we  were  ordered  into  the  position  occupied  the  day 
before,  and  in  this  movement  we  were  not  molested.  Not  a 


506  HISTORY    OF    THE 

gun  did  we  hear  during  the  day.  Here  the  horses  stood  in 
harness  two  days,  and  the  weather  was  favorable.  The 
brick  basement  of  the  house  on  our  left  was  occupied.  Find- 
ins;  a  barrel  of  flour  and  a  colored  slave,  who  had  been 
stowed  away,  we  set  him  to  work  making  pancakes,  and  we 
fared  high.  A  feather  bed  was  found  which  we  made  up 
on  the  floor,  and  that  made  up  for  the  uncomfortable  night 
previous.  Mahogany  chairs  upholstered  in  haircloth,  were 
used  by  the  men  to  sit  upon,  among  the  horses  and  guns. 

Monday  the  I5th  Dec.  1862,  we  remained  all  day  in  the 
same  position.  Some  picket  firing  was  heard  during  the 
clay,  but  it  quieted  down  to  a  gloomy  silence.  From  the 
second  story  of  the  brick  house  spoken  of,  we  could  see  the 
field  covered  with  the  blue  coats  of  the  dead  which  they  en 
closed.  The  rebels  in  their  fire  of  the  I3th  on  us  had  bored 
the  brick  house  through  and  through.  Looking  through  an 
opening  about  the  size  of  a  peck  measure,  we  could  see  the 
rebel  line  of  sharpshooters.  Holding  my  head  close  to  one 
of  these  openings  I  was  a  mark  for  one  of  them.  A  bullet 
struck  the  brick  alongside  my  face.  I  was  more  careful 
after  that.  However  we  were  not  molested  except  by  an 
alarm  in  the  night  by  picket  firing  near  us.  We  turned 
out  in  haste  but  soon  quieted  down  again. 

Monday  night,  after  dark,  we  were  ordered  to  retire  into 
the  city  with  as  little  noise  as  possible.  Getting  the  Battery 
together  on  Water  street  we  moved  up  the  street  to  near  the 
rentre  of  the  city.  We  halted,  and  the  Battery  stood  until 
near  daylight.  The  street  was  full  of  artillery  and  soldiers. 
Going  into  a  large  building  on  the  street,  which  had  been 
used  as  a  hospital  during  the  day  of  the  battle,  we  found  it 
lighted.  Evidently  it  had  been  a  public  library  as  it  was 
surrounded  by  shelves  containing  books  of  all  kinds.  In 
one  corner  were  the  legs  and  arms  of  the  soldiers  that  had 
been  amputated.  Piling  books  on  the  floor  for  a  pillow,  we 
lay  down  and  tried  to  sleep,  but  it  was  of  no  use.  The  sit- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  507 

nation  was  not  pleasant;  we  did  not  know  but  what  the 
enemy  would  be  down  on  us  before  morning." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  SPEAR. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Tuesday,  Dec.  23,  1862. 

Two  weeks  ago  tomorrow  night,  we  received  orders  to 
pack  up  and  be  ready  to  move  on  the  following  morning. 
At  3  o'clock  we  were  routed  up  and  commenced  the  striking 
of  tents,  and  at  daybreak  moved  towards  Fredericksburg, 
but  on  account  of  the  rebels  in  the  city,  our  forces  were 
unable  to  lay  a  pontoon  bridge  across  the  river  until  Friday 
night,  and  we  remained  encamped  this  side  of  the  river  until 
Saturday,  when  the  battle  commenced  and  we  were  ordered 
across  the  river  to  join  in  the  fight.  We  lost  8  horses  and 
had  2  men  wounded;  one  slightly,  one  dangerously.  About 
9  o'clock  we  received  orders  to  vacate  our  position  in  the 
field,  and  move  down  into  the  city,  and  so  down  into  the 
city  we  go,  and  after  unhitching  the  horses  and  feeding 
them,  we  all  went  into  a  large  house,  built  up  fires  in  the 
fireplaces,  and  then  turned  in  for  sleep.  At  3  o'clock  the 
next  morning  we  were  up  again,  and  all  went  to  work  feed 
ing  horses  and  cooking  breakfast.  This  was  Sunday  morn 
ing.  At  7  o'clock  we  were  ready  for  the  fight,  with  the 
exception  of  one  thing.  While  all  were  eating  breakfast 
one  of  the  Boys  came  along  and  told  us  that  Corp'l  E.  M. 
Platts,  who  was  dangerously  wounded  the  day  before,  had 
died.  So  I  went  to  work,  got  out  a  fatigue  party,  had  a 
grave  dug,  and  a  rough  coffin  made,  and  we  buried  him. 
He  was  beloved  and  respected  by  all,  and  one  that  always 
did  his  duty,  both  in  camp  and  on  the  field  of  action.  He 
was  called  by  the  company  'Corporal  Eddie.'  After  bury 
ing  Corp'l  Platts,  we  received  orders  to  move  up  on  to  the 
field,  and  occupy  the  same  ground  that  we  did  the  night 
before.  So  up  we  go  again  in  the  face  and  eyes  of  the 


508  HISTORY    OF    THE 

enemy,  only  1300  yards  from  their  artillery,  and  700  from 
their  infantry. 

As  there  was  not  much  firing  that  day,  except  now  and 
then  a  volley  of  musketry,  we  of  course  did  not  have  much 
to  do.  On  the  left  of  where  the  Battery  was  stationed  was 
a  large  two  story  house,  and  we  commenced  ransacking  it 
to  see  what  we  could  find.  I  was  among  the  first  to  enter. 
The  first  thing  I  came  across  was  a  closet  full  of  glass  and 
crockery  ware,  and  some  of  the  best  that  I  ever  saw,  but  as 
I  had  no  chance  to  carry  any,  1  only  took  a  couple  of  gob 
lets,  and  gave  them  to  Captain  Phillips.  The  next  things 
found  were  8  barrels  of  flour,  any  quantity  of  potatoes, 
onions,  &c.,  and  in  double  quick  time  the  Boys  had  fires 
built  in  the  stoves  and  were  frying  fritters,  boiling  pota 
toes,  &c.  We  lived  in  gay  style  during  Sunday  and  Mon 
day,  for  we  remained  in  this  position  until  Monday  night  at 
dusk,  when  we  received  orders  to  go  to  the  upper  part  of 
the  city.  So  we  packed  up  our  things  and  left  the  field, 
and  remained  in  the  city  until  4  o'clock  Tuesday  morning, 
when  we  received  orders  to  cross  the  bridge,  for  our  forces 
were  evacuating  the  place.  Tuesday  night  we  arrived 
back  in  the  same  camp  which  we  left  the  Thursday  before, 
and  which  camp  we  now  occupy.  I  brought  back  from 
across  the  river  about  a  ^  bbl.  of  flour,  besides  potatoes 
&c.  So  have  had  good  food." 

SPEAR'S  NOTES  OF  JULY  24,  1901. 

"Our  position  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  on  the  right  of  the 
Poor  House,  and  directly  in  front  of  Marye's  Heights,  was 
occupied  by  a  battery  of  regular  artillery,  but  the  fire  from 
the  Confederates  being  so  concentrated,  it  was  obliged  to 
retire,  and  Captain  Phillips  was  ordered  by  General  Weed 
to  cross  the  river  with  the  5th  Battery  and  endeavor  to  hold 
the  position,  which  we  did,  owing  in  part  to  the  lateness  of 
the  day. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  509 

During  this  fight  tobacco  was  selling  at  ten  dollars  a 
pound,  and  the  last  night  of  our  being  in  Fredericksburg 
the  men  of  the  Battery  had  broken  into  a  warehouse  and 
found  all  kinds  of  the  weed,  and  carried  back  across  the 
river  enough  to  sell  to  the  sutler,  and  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale,  one  hundred  dollars,  was  the  starting  of  a  Company 
Fund.  (See  p.  865  Peacock.)  Of  course  some,  if  not 
nearly  all,  needed  a  drink,  and  so  hunted  for  whiskey.  One 
crowd  with  candles  was  in  a  drug  shop,  when  the  welcome 
cry  from  upstairs  was  heard, — 'We  have  found  some/  and 
it  started  to  ascend  when  the  candles  were  blown  out,  and  a 
terrible  rattling  noise  on  the  stairs  was  heard,  and  all  rushed 
to  the  street  more  frightened  than  when  in  battle.  After 
gathering  courage  we  examined  the  situation,  and  ascer 
tained  that  some  grave  joker  had  found  a  skeleton,  and 
thrown  same  down  the  stairs." 

LETTER  OF  SERG'T.  W.  H.  PEACOCK.— PLAITS' 
AVENGING    SHOT. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Dec.  30,  1862. 

Our  Battery  was  engaged  at  the  Battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
and  a  warm  time  we  had  of  it.  We  were  in  close  action 
for  nearly  two  hours,  and  the  way  shell  and  balls  flew 
around  us  was  a  caution.  On  my  Gun  two  horses  were 
killed,  but  none  of  my  men  hurt.  The  shell  that  killed  the 
horses  passed  through  one  of  them,  striking  near  me  as  I 
was  getting  the  time  on  a  patent  shell.  I  had  it  between  my 
knees,  when — bim !  something  hit  me,  knocking  myself  and 
shell  over  in  the  mud.  Picked  myself  up,  felt  of  my  head, 
found  that  all  right,  then  my  breast  and  legs,  and  they  were 
whole,  but  at  the  moment  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  feel  some 
thing  go  into  me.  It  proved  to  be  nothing  more  than  stones 
and  mud,  which  the  shell  had  kicked  up  when  it  struck  the 
ground.  One  of  our  men  was  killed :  Eddie  Platts  of  Bos- 


MO  ///.STOAT    <>/•'    7'///i 

ton,  a  pretty  little  boy,  only  K>  years  old.  He  was  a  great 
pet  with  the  boys,  by  his  being  so  young,  ami  always  having 
such  a  pleasant  smile  on  his  face-  even  in  death,  lie  was 
muler  mo  over  a  year,  and  a  short  time  ago  was  promoted 
to  (limner  in  another  Petachmcnt.  lie  had  just  given  the 
order  to  tire,  when  a  Schrapnel  Ixill  passed  through  his 
body.  \Ye  carried  him  to  the  rear,  and  he  died  in  about  u 
hours.  He  was  buried  in  a  garden,  on  one  of  the  principal 
streets  of  the  city,  amidst  a  terrible  shelling  of  the  place 
by  the  Rebels.  I  think  the  last  gun  he  fired  fully  avenged  his 
death,  as  it  was  a  splendid  shot  amidst  the  rebel  infantry. 
How  we  escaped  with  so  little  loss  1  am  unable  to  tell,  for  a 
Regular  battery  was  driven  from  the  same  position  only  a 
short  time  before  we  went  in.  with  the  captain  and  twenty 
men  killed.  Four  of  our  liuns  took  the  same  position  next 
day,  and  remained  for  two  days,  but  did  no  tiring.  My 
piece  being  disabled  rccrosscd  the  river,  and  I  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  caissons  on  a  street  in  the  city.  I  took  posses 
sion  of  a  nice  house,  all  furnished,  and  took  comfort  for  two 
days.  Fresh  pork,  tlour.  meal.  etc.  in  abundance.  At  night 
of  the  third  day.  the  linns  were  ordered  to  move  to  another 
part  of  the  city.  \\  e  halted  on  a  street  for  a  short  time, 
when  some  of  the  boys  discovered  a  large  store  tilled  with 
tlour,  tobacco,  beans,  meal,  preserves,  etc.  of  all  of  which 
we  got  a  good  supply.  1  took  all  my  used  up  horse  was  able 
to  carry,  about  _\s  Ibs.  After  leaving  this  street  we  moved 
on  to  another,  and  halted  in  front  of  a  large  building,  which 
we  were  ordered  to  occupy  for  the  night.  .  .  .  Since  writ 
ing  the  previous  page  a  sudden  order  came  for  us  to  hitch 
up  immediately.  So  I  threw  this  letter  into  my  knapsack, 
packed  up.  and  took,  as  I  supposed,  farewell  of  my  log 
house,  but  as  we  were  about  driving  out  of  park,  the  order 
was  countermanded,  so  we  had  to  unharness  and  fix  up  our 
quarters  again.  It  is  generally  the  time  when  we  consider 
ourselves  less  liable  to  move,  that  these  sudden  orders  come. 


It  is  reports!  that  our  Army  expects  an  attack  from  the 
Rebels.  As  I  have  my  house  arranged  I  will  proceed  from 
where  I  left  off: 

All  of  the  night,  we  were  in  the  city  it  was  still  as  death, 
yet  1>oth  sidewalk  and  street  were  full  of  soldiers,  most  of 
them  asleep,  under  arms,  previous  to  an  evacuation  in  the 
morning.  In  the  building  I  mentioned  was  a  large  room, 
which  we  were  ordered  to  sleep  in,  but  some  of  the  b-,ys. 
myself  among  the  rest,  wished  to  examine-  the  rest  of  the 
house,  so  we  started  off  in  the  dark  in  pursuit,  of  plunder. 
Almost  the  first  thing  we  fell  over  was  a  pile  of  legs,  arms, 
feet,  etc.,  that  our  I Joctors  had  amputated  the  day  before. 
We  left  that  room  satisfied,  'it  a  candle,  and  went  into  an 
other  room,  and  there  it  was  filled  full  of  dead  men,  mostly 
rebels.  We  had  seen  enough  at  12  o'clock  at  night  in  what 
seemed  to  us  a  haunted  house,  so  we  returned  to  the  room 
assigned  to  us,  turned  in  and  slept  sweetly  for  about  four 
hours. 

At  daybreak  next  morning,  we  all  recrossed  the  river,  and 
returner!  to  this  camp.  So  ends  our  pleasant  visit  to  Frcd- 
erieksburg." 

NOTKS  OF  CORP'!,  W.  If.  BAXTFR. 
OCT.   15,  1900. 

"We  were  in  camp  between  Acrjuia  Creek  and  Falmouth, 
about  i  mile  from  Stoncman's  Switch.  Tobacco  was 
scarce  among  the-  boys,  not  so  much  from  the  scarcity  of 
the  article  at  the  sutler's  as  from  the  scarcity  of  money  to 
buy  it  with,  and  it  was  a  most  amusing  sight  to  see  some 
generous,  whole-souled  fellow  possessed  of  a  piece  of  the 
weed,  sneak  from  camp  to  some  lonely  spot,  where  he 
could  fill  up  the  old  dudeen  and  enjoy  a  smoke  all  by  his 
lonesome,  congratulating  himself  that  no  one  knew  he  had 
any.  Oak  leaves  were  plentiful,  but  there  was  not  much 
virtue  in  them. 


512  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Orders  came  to  march,  which  finally  ended  in  the  Battle 
of  Fredericksburg  under  Burnside.  We  were  assigned  to 
the  Centre  Grand  Division,  and  directly  under  command  of 
Captain  A.  P.  Martin,  who  commanded  the  Brigade  Bat 
teries  in  this  battle. 

We  were  stationed  on  a  knoll  just  outside  of  the  city,  with 
the  Poor  House  on  our  left  and  a  Brick  Yard  on  rear  right. 
Some  of  the  boys  cut  quite  a  figure  when  arrayed  in  the 
dresses  and  bonnets  we  found  in  the  house.  It  seems  to  us 
now  that  nothing  under  heaven  could  keep  the  mischief-lov 
ing  boys  of  the  old  Fifth  under  control,  except  a  shot  in  the 
wind. 

After  exercising  a  few  hours  at  the  Guns  with  the  John 
nies  for  targets,  night  came  on,  when  we  were  ordered  out 
of  the  line  into  the  streets  of  the  city,  we  supposed  to  pre 
vent  the  possibility  of  being  rushed  by  the  Rebs  during  the 
night. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  Rooms  were 
allotted  to  us  for  a  sleeping  place.  They  had  been  used  for 
a  hospital  during  the  day  and  the  pile  of  legs,  arms,  hands, 
and  feet  with  the  shoes  on,  piled  up  in  one  corner,  was  not 
calculated  to  give  that  peace  of  mind  conducive  to  a  healthy 
night's  rest.  The  writer  was  Corporal  of  the  Guard  that 
night,  and  while  walking  along  the  street  occupied  by  the 
Battery  heard  a  commotion  at  the  door  of  a  large  store 
house,  and  upon  arriving  there,  what  a  sight  for  a  hungry 
man!  Tobacco  scattered  all  around  and  every  few  mo 
ments  would  be  launched  into  the  street  a  case  of  it,  which 
opened  upon  contact,  scattering  its  contents  broadcast. 
This  avalanche  of  the  precious  weed  was  caused  by  some  of 
our  boys  on  the  top  floor  of  the  warehouse,  rolling  the  cases 
to  the  chute,  which  ran  from  the  rear  of  the  top  floor  to  the 
sidewalk  at  the  front  door,  which  accounted  for  their  quick 
exit  from  the  building  after  gliding  down  the  chute. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  513 

But,  hark!  Trovo,  Provo,'  echoes  on  the  night  air. 
Tramp,  tramp,  down  the  street  they  come! 

Those  of  us  on  the  outside  were  not  in  it,  but  stood 
around  to  see  the  outcome  of  the  connection  between  the 
boys  on  the  inside  and  the  Trovo'  on  the  outside. 

The  Trovo'  did  not  venture  to  go  up  the  chute,  as  they 
were  afraid  of  being  swept  out  of  sight  by  one  of  the  cases 
on  its  way  down,  so  they  sought  entrance  at  the  rear  door, 
and  when  they  had  gained  it  the  fun  commenced.  The 
slide  down  that  chute  the  boys  took  that  night  could  never 
be  forgotten.  Some  came  down  on  their  feet;  others  in  a 
stooping  position;  others  on  a  board,  but  one,  Billy  Lap- 
ham,  afterwards  killed  at  Bethesda  Church  (see  p.  858) 
took  the  slide  sitting  in  the  chute  with  nothing  under  him 
but  one  thickness  of  trousers  and  'shoddy'  at  that.  Splin 
ters  and  blisters  were  as  thick  as  feathers.  We  hustled  him 
across  the  street,  and  after  a  time  we  got  him  picked. 
While  the  operation  was  being  performed,  his  remarks  were 
varied  and  to  the  point,  and  the  writer  has  always  thought 
that  they  were  exceptionally  appropriate  to  the  occasion. 

We  were  happy.  Tobacco  in  plenty.  Smoke,  smoke, 
smoke,  the  soldier's  solace. 

The  next- morning  at  3.30  we  received  orders  to  cross  the 
river-  and  move  back  to  our  old  camp,  where  we  enjoyed 
the  results  of  the  raid  on  the  tobacco  warehouse  for  many  a 
day." 


Chase's  Final  Notes  on  Fredericksburg :  "Dec.  15,  1862. 
Guns  still  in  position.  All  quiet  up  to  about  12  m.,  when  a 
vigorous  artillery  and  infantry  firing  commenced  on  the 
Right  front.  An  occasional  Minie  ball  whizzes  over  our 
heads  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  Rations  brought 
to  us  today.  Spend  my  time  reading  history  and  Byron's 
poems  from  the  Alms  House  library.  Weather  very  fine. 
Remained  in  position  until  after  dark,  when  we  left  the  field 


514  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  halted  in  the  main  street  of  the  city.  Left  the  place, 
where  we  first  halted,  to  make  room  for  the  infantry,  bur 
finally  came  back  to  the  same  place,  halted,  and  occupied  the 
building  used  as  a  library  for  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  of  Fredericksburg.  Amputated  limbs  in  the 
library  room,  and  an  adjoining  room  filled  with  the  dead, 
slain  in  battle.  Shovels  and  picks  sent  for  this  evening, 
and  we  expect  to_go  behind  breastworks  in  the  morning. 
Whiskey  served  to  us  this  night.  Laid  down  for  a  short 
rest,  and  after  about  an  hour's  noise  and  confusion,  all  was 
still,  and  'nature's  sweet  restorer'  came  to  our  relief.  Stores 
and  dwellings  ransacked  and  robbed  during  the  night  by 
the  troops.  Tobacco  very  cheap  and  plenty.  The  streets 
and  houses  lined  with  sleeping  and  carousing  soldiers. 

Dec.  1 6th.  Routed  out  about  half  past  four  this  morn 
ing,  and  at  once  recrossed  the  river  and  after  many  delays 
reached  the  ground  we  left  on  the  I3th  instant.  The  4th 
Detachment  capsized  their  caisson  into  a  ravine  on  the  road 
side,  killing  three  horses,  but  doing  no  other  damage.  The 
6th  Detachment  broke  the  pole  of  their  caisson  while  com 
ing  into  park.  A  heavy  rainstorm  commenced  about  six 
o'clock  a.  m.,  but  the  weather  cleared  up  fine  about  9  a.  m. 
Hitched  up,  and  left  for  our  old  camp  ground  which  we 
left  on  the  nth  inst.,  about  9  o'clock.  The  road  .very 
muddy.  The  3d  Detachment  broke  down  their  caisson  and 
left  it  on  the  road,  but  returned  for  it  with  another  limber 
p.  m.  Reached  our  old  camp  ground,  near  Falmouth,  Va., 
about  2  p.  m.  and  pitched  our  tents  in  the  same  old  spots 
as  before.  Made  comfortable  quarters  and  quietness 
reigned  again." 

LETTER  OF  THOMAS  E.  CHASE. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA.  Dec.  31,  1862. 
...  I  do  not  knowr  as  I  can  interest  you  by  any  new 
ideas  about  the  late  battle,  unless  I  tell  you  my  experience. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  515 

To  tell  you  that  it  was  a  wholesale  butchery  would  only  be 
to  tell  you  what  you  already  know.  The  city  was  shelled 
and  millions  of  property  destroyed  to  keep  a  few  sharp 
shooters  at  bay.  The  city  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  and 
could  have  been  held  by  our  artillery  from  this  side,  but  to 
take  the  Heights,  in  the  rear  of  the  city,  by  storm,  was  like 
a  corps  of  newsboys  armed  with  Colt's  revolvers  trying  to 
take  Gibraltar.  But  the  people  wanted  something  desperate 
done.  They  could  not  wait  for  the  slow  but  sure  process  of 
sieging.  Shovels  and  picks  are  played  out.  Storm  them 
out!  That's  the  way!  Make  a  dash! 

Well,  they  were  desperate,  they  made  a  dash  and  what 
followed?     A   useless  waste  of  blood,   and  regiments  of 
mutilated  humanity  to  attest  the  folly  of  such  a  movement. 
We  crossed  the  river  about  4  p.  m.  Saturday  the  I3th 
instant.     We  passed  through  the  city  and  took  position  in 
front  of  the  enemy's  fortifications.     Before  we  had  run  our 
guns  into  position  the  enemy  commenced  shelling  us  with 
well   directed  fire.     We  commenced   firing  with  our   full 
battery  but  being  short  handed  and  the  ground  soft,  we 
could  not  work  six  guns,  so  we  blazed  away  with  four.  .  .  . 
We  held  our  position  until  it  was  so  dark  that  we  could  not. 
see  what  to  fire  at,  when  the  firing  slackened  on  both  sides 
and  we  left  the  field.     We  resumed  our  position  again  Sun 
day  morning,  but  for  some  reason  we  did  not  discharge  a 
shot  all  day.     On  Sunday  we  found  the  body  of  a  man 
belonging  to  the  2d  Maine  Regt.  who  was  probably  killed 
by  a  shot  directed  at  us  the  night  before.     He  had  been  to 
the  front  and  fought,  and  in  his  lifeless  hand  was  a  'pass' 
from  the  surgeon  to  go  to  the  rear.     When  almost  to  the 
rear,  and  in  a  place  of  comparative  safety,  he  was  struck 
down.     His  coat  was  literally  torn  from  his  body  and  one 
arm  nearly  severed.     Fredericksburg  is  one  vast  scene  of 
destruction.  ...  If  the  papers  and  'our  specials'  tell  you 
that  the  troops  are  hopeful,  cheerful,  &c.,  I  will  say  that 


516  HISTORY    OF    THE 

these  encouraging  words  do  not  apply  to  any  troops  I  have 
seen.  They  are  disheartened,  and  nothing  but  the  restora 
tion  of  our  old  Corps  will  relieve  that  despondency." 

INDEX  TO  CAMPS. 

On  a  fly  leaf  of  the  Diary  of  Corporal  Thomas  E.  Chase 
is  the  following  useful  index  to  camps : — 

"Oct.  2,  1862.     In  Camp  at  Fort  Corcoran,  Arlington  Heights,  Va. 

Oct.  8th  at  Rockville,  Md. 

Oct.  pth  &  loth  Frederick  City,  Boonsboro'  and  Sharpsburg. 

Oct.  2ist  Antietam  Iron  Works. 

Oct.  3ist  Burkittsville  and  Petersboro',  Md. 

Nov.  ist  Berlin,  Knoxville.  and  Harper's  Ferry. 

Nov.  2d   Snicker's  Gap,  Va. 

Nov.  ;th  White  Plains. 

Nov.  9th  Near  Warrenton,  Va. 

Nov.   23d  Near   Falmouth,   Va. 

Dfec.    i6th   Near   Faimouth,   Va. 

Notes  of  Corporal  Jonas  Shackley :  "The  horse  of 
James  Winters,  the  Bugler,  was  killed  in  one  of  the  streets 
of  the  city.  ...  In  the  march  back  to  camp  one  of  the 
caissons  was  thrown  into  a  ravine,  turning  over  two  or 
three  times/' 


NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  SCOTT. 

"About  daylight  the  i6th  Dec.  1862,  we  crossed  the  Rap- 
pahannock  on  an  upper  pontoon  bridge,  following  the  river 
bank  down  stream  until  the  road  following  the  bank  of  a 
ravine  led  up  to  the  plateau  above.  The  rain  had  begun  to 
pour,  and  the  ground  getting  soft  in  passing  up  the  ravine 
one  of  the  caissons  slid  off  the  bank  to  the  bottom  below, 
but  an  infantry  regiment  coming  along,  by  the  use  of  ropes 
it  was  soon  placed  upon  a  firm  foundation.  One  of  the 
drivers  was  quite  badly  hurt. 

Soon  the  last  of  the  Army  was  across,  and  the  enemy 
were  on  the  banks  of  the  river  again.  Moving  back  about 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  517 

half  a  mile  from  the  river,  we  pitched  our  tent,  and  with 
the  water  running  down  the  hill  under  us,  we  found  rest  for 
the  remainder  of  the  night,  glad  we  were  so  well  out  of  the 
fight. 

While  in  the  fight  at  Fredericksburg,  General  Griffin  had 
instructed  Captain  Phillips  to  confine  the  most  of  his  fire  to 
the  Telegraph  Road,  coming  past  the  centre  of  the  rebel 
lines,  to  prevent  reinforcements  from  their  flank  on  their 
Right.  The  rebel  lines  were  not  assailable  at  any  point. 
General  Griffin  was  pleased  with  the  part  the  Battery  took 
on  that  day. 

The  fight  at  Fredericksburg  was  most  cruel.  Changing 
commanders  almost  in  the  face  of  an  enemy  will  not  always 
be  successful,  and  the  Army,  for  the  most  part,  were  so 
bound  up  in  McClellan!  No  time  was  given  the  men  to 
understand  the  new  Commander.  In  fact  they  foretold  his 
defeat  in  advance.  Jealousy  and  politics  had  taken  pos 
session  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

Chase's  Diary:  Dec.  17,  1862.  Back  from  Fredericks 
burg  to  the  camp  near  Falmouth,  Va. :  "Refreshing  sleep 
last  night.  In  camp  all  day.  Filled  the  chests  with  new 
ammunition.  Weather  fine  but  rather  cold." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

After  one  more  reference  to  the  last  night  in  Fredericks 
burg  on  Princess  Anne  street,  where  they  "pillowed  their 
heads  on  dictionaries"  and  tried  to  sleep,  Captain  Phillips 
proceeds  as  follows,  in  a  letter  dated  Camp  near  Falmouth, 
Va.  Dec.  i;th  1862:— 

"Every  effort  is  being  made  to  prepare  for  another  brush, 
and  I  have  reported  my  Battery  ready  for  service.  My  car 
riages  and  harnesses  are  pretty  well  cut  up.  One  saddle 
was  knocked  all  to  pieces  by  a  shell,  and  two  horses  had 
their  heads  shot  off  rather  injuring  their  bridles.  After  I 
had  recrossed  the  river  one  caisson  tumbled  off  a  bank  10 


518  HISTORY    OF    THE 

or  15  feet  high  owing  to  the  road  giving  way,  and  killed 
two  horses,  broke  the  caisson-stock  and  smashed  things 
generally.  The  traces  were  all  cut  up  in  clearing  the 
horses.  How  the  drivers  escaped  death  is  a  wonder  to  me. 
However,  our  damages  are  now  about  all  repaired,  and  I 
am  ready  to  try  our  luck  again  on  the  other  side  as  soon  as 
the  order  is  given.  Captain  Martin  says  that  General 
Wilcox  complimented  us  very  highly.  We  had  5  men  who 
have  only  been  with  us  a  week,  and  they  thought  they  had 
a  pretty  good  breaking  in.  Fredericksburg  is  pretty  well 
sacked,  and  the  men  had  a  good  chance  to  get  the  great  de 
sideratum  of  a  soldier,  tobacco.  From  the  quantity  I  have 
seen  I  should  judge  that  we  brought  off  about  a  ton  of  it; 
every  man  having  15  or  20  pounds.  We  found  5  barrels 
of  flour  (see  p.  508)  in  the  Poor  House,  and  a  barrel  of 
salt,  another  article  that  the  Rebels  are  popularly  supposed 
not  to  have.  Furniture  and  dishes  ad  libitum  were  brought 
off,  and  our  table  is  now  ornamented  with  an  elegant  glass 
sugar  bowl  and  salt  cellar,  while  we  all  have  china  cups  to 
drink  from.  We  were  not  in  season,  however,  to  make  the 
most  of  our  opportunities,  and  we  unfortunately  crossed 
into  the  lower  and  unfashionable  portion  of  the  city. 

Dec.  1 8.  P.  S.  I  enclose  a  proclamation  of  Governor 
Letcher  which  I  found  kicking  around  in  Fredericksburg. 
Lieut.  Blake's  brother  is  among  the  missing.  He  was  in 
the  1 8th  Mass.  Regt.  and  fell  in  a  charge  on  the  Rebel  lines. 
The  last  seen  of  him  he  put  his  hand  to  his  head  exclaiming 
'I  am  shot.'  " 


Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  21,  1862.  Promotion  of  Lieut. 
Phillips  as  our  future  Captain  received  in  line  this  a.  m." 

Lieut.  Phillips'  promotion  is  dated  Oct.  18,  1862.  It 
took  all  that  time  to  get  round. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  519 

GENERAL    BUTTERFIELD'S    FAREWELL    ORDER. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  STH  ARMY  CORPS, 
Dec.  24,  1862. 

By  the  orders  of  the  Major  Gen'l  commanding  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  Maj.  Gerferal  Meade  is  placed  in  command  of  the.  5th  Army 
Corps.  Duty  not  less  than  inclination  prompts  the  sincere  and  heart 
felt  acknowledgment  of  the  devotion  to  duty,  the  cheerful  obedience  to 
orders,  and  the  kindly  spirit  which  has  been  evinced  by  the  subordinate 
commanders  of  this  Corps  during  the  time  it  has  been  under  my  com 
mand. 

Words  fail  to  express  my  proper  appreciation  of  the  unparalleled 
bravery  and  soldierly  qualities,  exhibited  by  its  officers  and  members 
during  the  late  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  and  the  operations  connected 
therewith.  On  duty  with  and  of  the  Corps  since  its  organization,  I  may 
be  permitted  with  pride  to  say  that  neither  remarks  from  me  or  the 
gallant  record  of  my  senior  and  successor,  will  be  necessary  to  insure 
to  him  the  reception  and  support  due  his  rank  and  position. 

(Signed)     DANIEL  BUTTERFIELD 
Brig.  Gen'l. 

Dec.  26,  1862,  Maj.  Gen'l  George  G.  Meade  assumed 
command  of  the  5th  Army  Corps. 


Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  25th,  1862.  On  Board  Steamer 
'Commonwealth'  of  the  New  York  and  Stonington  line  one 
year  ago  tonight  en  route  for  Washington,  D.  C. !  Fin 
ished  our  tent  and  dedicated  the  fireplace." 

FROM  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  SPEAR. 

"Friday  morning:  (Dec.  26,  1862.)  Yesterday  was 
Christmas,  and  now  one  year  has  passed  away  since  I  left 
my  native  state.  What  scenes  and  changes  have  taken 
place  during  the  past  year!  but  I  hope  before  the  end  of 
another  year  comes  creeping  along  that  this  cursed  rebel 
lion  will  be  at  an  end,  and  all  persons  now  engaged  in  this 
civil  war  at  home  with  their  friends  and  families.  For 
breakfast  yesterday  had  baked  beans  and  soft  bread,  for 
dinner  baked  beans  and  pudding,  and  for  supper  boiled 


520  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Chase's  Diary:  "Dec.  29,  1862.  Battery  drilled  half  an 
hour  on  the  manual  this  morning.  The  promotion  of  ist 
Serg't.  J.  E.  Spear  to  Jr.  2d  Lieut,  read  in  line  by  Serg't. 
Smith,  acting  Orderly." 

Lieut.  Spear's  commission  is  dated  Oct.  18,  1862. 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  POTOMAC  CREEK, 

Dec.  29,  1862. 

I  sent  a  man  to  Washington  a  few  days  ago  after  ord 
nance  stores,  and  this  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  replenish 
our  mess  stores.  We  got  half  a  barrel  of  flour,  and  calculate 
to  have  soft  bread  now  right  along.  Among  other  things 
which  Serg't.  Nye  brought  back  from  Washington  was  a 
barrel  of  brown  bread.  We  took  what  we  wanted  and  he 
disposed  of  the  rest  to  the  men.  By  the  way  they  rushed 
for  it  I  thought  they  appreciated  it.  We  are  now  in  winter 
quarters,  i.  e.  the  men  are  all  comfortably  disposed  of  in  such 
huts  as  they  can  construct.  Of  course  they  do  not  know 
how  soon  they  may  have  to  leave  them.  I  have  built  unto 
myself  a  log  house  9  ft.  by  10,  covered  over  with  a  tent  fly, 
and  have  a  good  solid  floor,  a  capital  bedstead,  a  door  with 
hinges  and  a  latch,  and  a  fireplace  which  smokes.  This  last, 
however,  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  is  not  quite  finished. 
Tomorrow  will  complete  the  job.  As  it  is  I  manage  to 
have  a  great  deal  of  comfort,  and  think  I  have  rather  the 
best  quarters  in  this  vicinity.  I  have  not  carpeted  the  floor 
or  papered  the  walls,  but  probably  shall  if  we  remain  here 
long  enough.  It  is  quite  a  luxury  to  have  a  place  where  I 
can  walk  round,  hang  up  things,  and  where  the  wind  does 
not  blow.  I  shall  be  quite  busy  for  the  next  3  weeks  with 
Rolls,  Quarterly  Returns  &c. 

Dec.  31,   1862. 

My  log  house,  chimney  and  all,  is  finished,  at  last,  and  I 
manage  to   enjoy  it  very  much.     Such  luxuries  as   solid 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  521 

walls  and  floors  are  only  appreciated  in  camp.  As  it  is, 
when  I  come  in  evenings,  hang  up  my  cap,  put  on  my  slip 
pers  and  sit  down  in  my  easy  chair  in  front  of  a  big,  blazing 
fire,  I  am  nearly  as  comfortable  as  in  a  parlor  at  home.  I 
only  want  a  few  books  to  make  the  evenings  pass  quite 
cheerfully.  Newspapers  are  quite  a  treat,  when  they  come; 
but  they  are  hardly  numerous  enough  to  occupy  my  spare 
time.  We  thought  yesterday  that  we  were  going  to  be 
routed  out  of  all  these  comforts.  About  nl/2  a.  m.  Cap 
tain  Waterman,  acting  Chief  of  Artillery  in  Captain  Mar 
tin's  absence,  came  by  and  said  that  he  had  just  received  a 
note  from  Division  Head  Quarters  that  the  Division  would 
march  at  12.  We  got  all  ready  for  a  start,  but  in  half  an 
hour  Captain  Waterman  sent  over  that  he  had  received  an 
order  to  detail  Lieut.  Hazlett's  Battery  to  accompany  the 
Division,  so  we  subsided  into  our  statu  quo  ante,  and  went 
on  with  our  dinner.  Meanwhile  I  believe  the  Division 
marched  off. 

Lieut.  Spear's  commission  has  arrived,  so  that  we  have 
four  in  our  mess  now.  A  glass  sugar  bowl  (see  p.  508)  that 
I  obtained  in  Fredericksburg  figures  conspicuously  on  the 
table,  also,  two  glass  sauce  dishes.  If  Burnside  intends  to 
get  to  Richmond  before  summer  he  must  be  moving  soon. 
Last  winter  the  rainy  season  commenced  January  zoth  and 
it  did  not  stop  raining  till  the  ist  of  July.  So  we  must 
expect  some  rain  soon. 

In  my  opinion  Fredericksburg  could  and  should  be  taken 
in  a  week.  We  could  have  routed  the  Rebels  when  we  were 
over  there  before,  had  our  artillery  been  properly  handled, 
but  we  cannot  do  anything  until  our  generals  learn  to 
use  this  arm.  ...  I  do  not  understand  what  he  (Burnside) 
is  waiting  for.  We  have  men  enough,  and  the  rebels  must 
be  driven  out  of  the  works  towards  Richmond,  and  the 
sooner  we  are  at  it  the  better.  The  roads  are  good,  weather 


522  HISTORY    OF    THE 

good,  health  of  the  Army  good, — in  a  month  all  these  will 
be  bad." 


LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  P.  W.  BLAKE. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FREDERICKSBURG. 

Jany.   i,   1863. 

Our  Division  went  on  a  reconnoissance  day  before  yester 
day  up  the  Rappahannock  River  some  15  miles,  as  far  as 
Burnett's  Ford.  They  crossed  the  river  and  took  some 
prisoners,  and  destroyed  a  bridge,  and  were  ordered  back- 
by  some  authority  at  Washington. 

The  Division  got  back  today.  We  hitched  up  our  Bat 
tery  to  go,  but  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  only  took 
the  regular  Battery  D.  U.  S.  Army. 

We  are  encamped  alongside  of  the  railroad  that  runs 
from  Acquia  Creek  to  Fredericksburg,  near  Potomac  Creek 
that  runs  across  the  railroad.  You  can  see  by  referring  to 
the  map.  I  made  a  dot  where  we  lay  at  the  present  time. 
I  have  dotted  the  course  we  came  last  summer  from  Acquia 
Creek  to  Manassas  Junction,  the  last  Bull  Run  battle,  to 
Hall's  Hill  where  we  started  from  last  spring.  From 
Sharpsburg,  Maryland,  I  have  dotted  the  course  we  came 
this  fall  to  where  we  are  now.  I  must  close  now.  I  will 
tell  you  the  fighting  part  when  I  get  home." 


Scott's  Notes:  "The  first  of  January,  1863,  the  Battery 
was  camped  at  Stoneman's  Switch  on  the  Fredericksburg 
and  Acquia  Creek  Rail  Road,  where  it  had  been  previous 
to  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  as  winter  quarters.  The 
winter  was  unusually  severe,  there  being  no  less  than  20 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  523 

LETTER  OF  CAPT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  POTOMAC  CREEK, 

Jan'y  4,  1863. 

Although  newsboys  come  rather  irregularly,  and  the 
Post  Office  Department  does  not  take  great  pains  to  for 
ward  papers  regularly,  still  Ave  manage  to  get  an  occasional 
'N.  Y.  Herald'  or  'Philadelphia  Inquirer'  or  'National  Re 
publican/  while  the  'Boston  Journals'  sent  from  home  all 
arrive,  though  sometimes  sadly  behind  the  times.  The 
high  price  of  paper  and  consequent  rise  in  the  'dailies'  does 
not  affect  us  out  here  where  the  standard  price  of  a  N.  Y. 
paper  has  always  been  10  cents  with  an  occasional  rise  to  15. 

My  log  house  is  better  built  than  the  average;  the  logs 
being  fitted  snugly  together  so  as  to  dispense  with  mud  as 
much  as  possible.  The  dimensions  of  the  edifice  are  9  ft. 
by  10.  It  is  six  feet  high  at  the  eaves  so  that  I  can  stand 
up  anywhere,  a  great  comfort,  I  assure  you.  The  gable 
ends  are  built  up  with  logs,  and  the  roof  is  composed  of  a 
tent  fly  which  admits  the  light.  In  one  end  of  my  room  is 
my  fireplace,  quite  capacious  and  comfortable  if  not  elegant, 
two  bricks  and  two  stones  form  the  andirons.  From  the 
fireplace  rises  a  chimney  of  stone  and  mud,  which  answers 
all  the  objects  of  a  chimney,  and  draws  beautifully.  Oppo 
site  the  fireplace  is  the  door,  a  good,  substantial  door  of  pine 
boards,  with  a  latch  and  'fixins.'  The  apartment  is  floored 
with  boards  which  were  once  parts  of  packing  boxes  to 
convey  Ordnance  Stores  to  the  Battery.  On  the  left  hand 
as  you  enter  is  my  bedstead  built  up  substantially  of  frag 
ments  of  hard-bread  boxes,  where  I  stretch  my  weary  limbs 
on  a  mattress  stuffed  with  husks.  I  have  also  a  feather 
pillow,  trophy  from  Fredericksburg,  which  adds  materially 
to  my  comfort.  This  side  of  the  room  is  wainscoted  with 
pieces  of  hard-bread  boxes,  which  keep  me  from  contact 
with  the  pitch  pine  logs,  and  give  an  elegant  appearance. 


524  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  remainder  of  the  room  is  'papered'  with  empty  grain 
bags  which  look  more  cheerful  than  bare  logs.  On  the  side 
opposite  to  my  bed,  in  the  corner  next  the  door  is  my  wash- 
stand  holding  my  wash  bowl,  soap,  and  all  the  luxuries  oi 
the  toilet.  Pendant  over  this  is  my  looking-glass.  ...  In 
the  middle  of  this  side  is  my  writing  desk,  an  elegant  struc 
ture  of  planed  boards.  In  the  corner  by  the  fireplace  is  my 
wood  box  filled  with  wood.  My  trunk  stands  between  my 
desk  and  washstand.  Sabre,  haversack,  canteen,  field 
glass,  overcoat,  caps  &c.  hanging  round  the  walls  complete 
the  picture,  which  in  my  eyes  is  a  very  comfortable  one.  In 
the  course  of  my  travels  I  have  not  seen  any  more  comfort 
able  quarters.  I  have  an  easy  chair,  and  in  the  evenings  I 
can  draw  it  up  to  the  fire,  and  put  my  feet,  not  on  the  man 
tel-piece,  for  there  isn't  any,  but  over  the  fireplace,  in  the 
most  civilized  way  imaginable.  My  quarters  have  excited 
the  admiration  of  all  my  visitors,  and  on  the  whole  I  con 
sider  myself  a  lucky  man.  I  have  a  fire-shovel,  from  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  only  need  a  pair  of  tongs  to  make  the  set 
complete.  Then  we  are  living  like  princes.  We  have  a 
Dutch  oven  and  plenty  of  flour  and  have  fresh  bread  and 
cakes  every  day;  roast  beef  or  beef  steak  for  dinner  regu 
larly,  pickles,  apple  sauce,  for  side  dishes,  and  regular  pota 
toes  and  onions.  Some  officers  of  the  33d  were  over  here 
yesterday,  and  were  quite  taken  down  by  the  style  in  which 
we  did  things. 

The  fact  is,  a  man  has  to  have  experience  to  know  how  to 
live  in  the  army,  and  we  do  not  calculate  to  live  on  hard  tack 
and  salt  junk  as  long  as  we  have  any  money.  Artillery 
officers  have  an  advantage  over  infantry  officers  in  the  fact 
that  we  can  carry  round  about  as  large  a  mess  kit  as  we 
choose,  and  however  large  a  stock  of  eatables  we  have  on 
hand,  we  can  get  it  along  on  the  march. 

January  5th.  All  quiet  on  the  Rappahannock !  I  am 
afraid  this  phrase  will  become  as  stereotyped  as  the  similar 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  525 

one  in  regard  to  the  Potomac,  and  that  Burnside,  if  not 
careful,  will  become  as  sluggish  as  his  predecessor.  Now 
is  the  time  for  Burnside.  If  he  remains  still,  Lee's  army 
will  be  off  to  reinforce  the  Western  Rebels,  while  we  shall 
be  held  at  bay  by  empty  entrenchments  and  visionary  hosts. 
If  Burnside  strikes  now,  we  shall  attack  the  foe  at  every 
point,  and  he  cannot  hold  them  all.  If  our  generals  expect 
to  do  anything,  why  don't  they  give  our  artillery  a  chance 
to  operate,  and  not  send  infantry  to  dive  into  ditches,  or  run 
their  heads  against  a  stone  wall  ?  .  .  .  I  have  made  an  addi 
tion  to  my  articles  of  comfort  and  luxury,  in  the  shape  of  a 
boot- jack.  After  mature  deliberation  I  came  to  the  con 
clusion  that  I  needed  a  boot-jack  out  here,  as  much  as  I  did 
at  home.  I  cannot  pull  my  boots  off  a  bit  easier  than  I 
could  two  years  ago,  so  why  should  not  I  have  a  boot- jack? 
The  argument  seemed  to  me  perfectly  logical  and  the  conse 
quence  thereof  was  a  boot-jack  as  aforesaid. 

The  Army  is  getting  quite  discontented  on  the  subject  of 
pay.  We  have  not  been  paid  since  the  ist  of  July.  The 
recruits  who  come  out  start  with  a  couple  of  hundred  of 
dollars  in  their  pockets  and  do  not  care  much  about  pay  for 
some  time;  consequently  they  are  not  very  popular  with  the 
Army  and  the  '200  dollar  men'  stand  a  chance  to  do  the 
hardest  work.  They  are  very  apt  to  be  detailed  on  fatigue 
parties  &c. 

There  is  a  great  rush  for  furloughs  just  now.  All 
our  generals  are  gone  off,  and  a  colonel  commands  the  Di 
vision.  (Col.  Barnes  of  the  i8th  Mass.)  I  expect  soon  to 
hear  of  colonels  commanding  army  corps  in  the  great 
scarcity  of  brig,  generals.  It  seems  as  if  Congress  had 
made  enough  to  furnish  at  least  one  to  a  Division.  .  .  . 
One  of  my  new  men  that  Lull  sent  out,  after  a  short  career, 
tumbled  off  his  horse  and  laid  himself  up  for  a  couple  of 
months,  and  in  consequence  of  such  accidents  as  these,  my 
numbers  just  about  hold  their  own.  .  .  ." 


526  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Chase's  Diary:  "Jan'y  7>  1863.  Posted  the  guard  last 
night  and  today,  ist  half.  Morning  drill  as  usual. 
Hitched  up  and  drilled  by  sections  p.  m.  A  good,  lively 
drill.  Weather  very  fine,  but  rather  cold  p.  m.  Counter 
sign  'Buffalo/  "  (See  p.  797.) 

Diary  of  Private  John  E.  Dyer:  "Thursday,  Jan'y  8, 
1863.  'Boots  and  saddles'  sounded  at  9  a.  m.  Hitched  up 
and  marched  about  i^  miles  towards  Falmouth,  to  be  re 
viewed  by  Generals  Burnside,  Hooker,  and  staffs.  Arrived 
back  at  camp  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.  Captain  Phillips  acting 
commander  of  Division  Artillery  today,  vice  Martin  absent. 
Saw  two  ladies  at  the  Review." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 
Jan'y  9,   1863. 

I  am  glad  the  ist  of  January  is  past  and  freedom  an  es 
tablished  fact  at  last,  and  I  think  we  can  now  see  the  begin 
ning  of  the  end.  Everything,  in  my  mind,  points  to  the 
exhaustion  of  the  South  and  in  the  tone  of  their  papers  and 
speeches  and  above  all  in  Jeff  Davis' s  proclamation,  I  can 
see  indications  which  show  that  they  are  conscious  of  their 
inability  to  carry  on  the  struggle,  when  the  issue  is  once 
fairly  made  between  freedom  and  slavery. 

I  have  read  Butler's  farewell  address,  and  like  it  much. 
Like  all  his  other  actions  it  is  characteristic  of  the  man.  J 
think  that  however  much  fault  we  may  find  with  the  small 
details  of  his  conduct,  there  is  no  man  who  has  stamped  his 
mark  and  his  own  characteristics  so  strongly  on  the  present 
age  as  Benj.  F.  Butler;  no  man  who  has  done  so  much  to 
bend  public  opinion,  or  has  seen  more  clearly  the  proper 
issue  of  this  struggle. 

We  had  a  Review  yesterday  ...  in  all  say  15,000  men. 
About  half  an  hour  before  we  started  Captain  Waterman 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  527 

sent  over  that  he  was  too  sick  to  go  out,  and  as  Captain 
Martin  was  off  on  a  furlough,  I  would  have  to  act  as  Chief 
of  Artillery.  Now  I  am  able  and  willing  to  handle  my  own 
battery,  but  I  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  having  the  care  of 
four  batteries  stuck  on  my  shoulders.  (Martin's,  Water 
man's,  Phillips',  Hazlett's.)  However  I  made  the  best  of 
it  and  started  the  batteries  out.  Arrived  on  the  ground  we 
formed  on  the  designated  ground,  and  waited.  Pretty  soon 
things  looked  as  if  the  show  was  about  to.  commence.  So  I 
stationed  myself  in  front  of  my  battalion  and  prepared  to 
roar  myself  hoarse.  Inflating  my  lungs  to  their  full  ca 
pacity  I  bellowed  forth  : — 'Attench  ho-o-o-o-o-n' — short 
stop  to  rest  and  puff  up. — 'Draw — Sabre!' — another  inter 
val,  during  which  General  Burnside  with  100  officers  more 
or  less  after  him,  rode  down  to  the  right  of  the  line:  then 
after  due  preparation, — 'Present — Sabre !'  and  the  four  bat 
teries  presented  sabre. 

General  Burnside  then  rode  down  our  front,  and,  as  he 
passed,  bowed,  and  appeared  to  recognize  me  in  my  new 
dignity.  When  he  had  reached  the  left  flank,  more  puffing 
up  preparatory  to, — 'Carry — Sabre!'  Then  we  waited 
while  he  reviewed  the  infantry,  when  they  broke  into  col 
umn  and  passed  in  review,  we  following  the  whole  Corps. 
The  passing  in  review  was  well  executed,  not  a  single  halt 
being  made.  This  through  with,  we  all  went  home  as  fast 
as  we  could,  cold  and  hungry,  to  pitch  into  a  late  dinner. 

So  ended  my  first  public  appearance  as  'Chief  of  Artil 
lery.'  .  .  . 

As  far  as  practical  efficiency  in  action  is  concerned  the 
5th  Battery  is  equal  to  any  in  the  Division,  and  my  men  will 
stand  to  their  work  in  as  hot  a  fire  as  anybody.  There  are 
some  indications  of  an  advance  before  long.  The  sooner 
we  move  the  better. 

Jan'y  nth.  I  don't  want  you  to  think  I  did  anything 
remarkable  at  Fredericksburg.  I  put  my  guns  just  where 


528  HISTORY    OF    THE 

I  was  ordered  to  put  them,  and  kept  them  there  till  I  was 
ordered  to  leave,  blazing  away  at  the  enemy  meanwhile,  and 
I  suppose  anybody  else  would  have  done  the  same  thing. 
Still  as  praise  of  me  benefits  the  Battery  I  am  willing  to  take 
it  all,  though  whatever  is  due,  is  due  to  the  men  of  the 
Battery.  I  will  not  deny  that  the  fire  was  rather  hot,  and 
that  we  replied  quite  energetically  and  accurately,  but  this 
was  owing  to  the  coolness  with  which  the  men  stood  to  the 
guns,  and  the  sergeants  aimed  the  pieces,  and  to  no  particu 
lar  merit  of  mine.  However,  as  everywhere  else,  the  men 
do  all  the  work,  the  commander  gets  all  the  praise. 

My  new  officer  Spear  is  quite  an  acquisition,  just  what 
I  expected  of  him,  well  fitted  for  the  post.  He  is  a  very 
smart  fellow,  and  has  a  wonderful  capacity  of  adapting  him 
self  to  his  position.  When  he  was  a  corporal  he  was  that 
and  no  more,  promoted  Orderly  Sergeant  he  became  at  once 
an  Orderly  all  over.  As  soon  as  he  received  his  commis 
sion  he  slid  at  once  out  of  the  enlisted  men,  and  became  an 
officer  as  gracefully  as  if  he  had  been  an  officer  all  his  life. 
.  .  .  Deaths  and  discharges  have  cleared  off  nearly  all  the 
old  non-commissioned  officers,  and  most  of  the  sergeants 
and  corporals  now  are  of  my  appointing  and  I  think  I  may 
say  are  good  ones.  After  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  I 
issued  a  new  batch  of  warrants  in  which  I  took  occasion  to 
reward  some  who  had  done  well  there." 

Non-commissioned  officers  are  sergeants,  of  various 
grades,  and  corporals.  They  are  appointed  by  authorities 
lower  than  the  President.  Commissions  are  issued  by  the 
President.  The  papers  issued  to  non-commissioned  officers 
are  called  warrants. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Jan'v  12,  1863.  Lieut.  Scott  left  camp 
for  home  on  furlough.  Jan'y  I3th.  Posted  the  guard  last 
night,  and  today — last  half, — Countersign  'Rhode  Island.'  ' 


FIFTH    MASS.    BATTERY.  529 

BATTERY  HEAD  QUARTERS. 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Jan'y  I4th,   1863. 

I  envy  Mr.  Bouncer  in  'Verdant  Green/  who,  in  his  regu 
lar  letters  to  'the  Mum/  used  to  insert  a  couple  of  pages 
from  the  Oxford  Guide  Book.  I  do  not  know  whether 
such  a  practice  would  be  universally  agreeable,  but  I  can,  if 
desired,  send  home  a  weekly  sheet  of  Artillery  Tactics. 

At  6  a.  m.  or  thereabouts, — Scott's  watch  and  mine  are 
the  only  ones  in  camp,  and  we  are  not  exact  in  our  calls, — 
reveille  sounds.  I  wake  up  and  find  the  air  chilly :  I  roll 
over.  In  a  few  minutes  enter  Henry  with  an  armful  of 
kindling  wood,  who  forthwith  proceeds  to  make  a  fire.  I 
watch  the  process  with  interest.  The  fire  started,  exit 
Henry  with  my  boots.  An  interval  of  time  elapses,  at  the 
end  of  which  Henry  again  makes  his  appearance  on  the 
scene  with  my  boots  all  blacked,  fills  up  my  washbowl,  puts 
more  wood  on  the  fire  and  disappears.  I  meditate,  I  look 
at  my  watch,  I  conclude  to  get  up.  Since  we  have  got 
civilized  habitations,  we  have  adopted  the  civilized  habit  of 
lying  abed,  and  we  breakfast  at  8. 

By  the  time  my  toilet  is  completed,  there  comes  a  knock 
at  the  door. — 

'Captain,  breakfast  ready.' 

'All  right/  I  reply,  and  grab  my  stool  and  travel  to  the 
next  tent,  where  I  find  the  table  set  with  all  the  luxuries  of 
the  season :  hot  bread,  cakes  or  toast,  cold  ham,  or  cold  roast 
beef,  apple  sauce,  and  coffee, — no  milk.  So,  we  sit  down 
and  'pitch  in'  which  expression  aptly  describes  the  process 
of  eating  in  camp.  After  breakfast,  I  return  home,  where  1 
find  my  bed  made  up,  floor  swept,  furniture  dusted  &c.  So 
I  take  my  seat  at  my  desk  and  prepare  for  business.  Some 
days  I  have  numerous  callers.  Serg't  Nye  with  some 


530  HISTORY    OF    THE 

requisitions  to  be  signed,  or  the  Orderly  to  ask  some  ques 
tions  about  the  morning  report  book  (see  p.  445)  whether 
this  order  is  to  be  read  at  roll  call,  or  only  copied  into  the 
order  book  &c.  Then  come  some  men  after  a  'pass'  to  see 
a  brother,  cousin  etc.  in  the  33d  Regiment.  All  these  ap 
plications  disposed  of  I  take  up  any  standing  business. 
Then  perhaps  I  write  a  letter,  stopping  every  few  minutes 
to  sign  a  requisition,  answer  a  question,  or  give  a  'pass.' 
Serg't.  Nye,  may  be,  comes  in  with  a  big  bundle  of  papers, 
and  wants  me  to  look  over  a  Quarterly  Return.  So  the 
forenoon  wears  on.  At  10  Drill  Call  sounds,  and  the  De 
tachments  fall  in  for  a  drill  on  the  piece,  and  for  half  an 
hour  the  park  resounds  with, — 'Detachments  Left/  'Detach 
ment  Posts,'  'Load  by  Detail — Two,'  &c.  'By  Hand  to  the 
Front/  'Prepare  to  Dismount  the  Piece/  'Change  Posts, 
'Fire/  'Load/  etc.  etc.  This  is  superintended  by  the  Chiefs 
of  Sections.  At  n  Hay  Call  sounds,  when  we  have  any 
hay.  At  12  Dinner  Call. 

We  dine  at  one,  at  which  time  John, — black  individual, — 
knocks  on  the  door  and  announces :  'Dinner  ready.'  For 
dinner  we  have  roast  beef,  potatoes,  onions,  apple  sauce  &c. 

At  2  o'clock  the  Buglers  sound  'Boots  and  Saddles/  and 
the  Battery  is  hitched  up  for  Battery  or  Section  Drill.  If 
the  former,  I  go  out  and  manoeuvre  round  a  couple  of  hours. 
At  4  we  return  just  in  time  for  'Water  Call/  At  4^/2  'Feed 
Call';  at  5  the  'Assembly'  for  'Roll  Call';  5%  Guard  Mount 
ing,  after  'Guard  Mounting/  supper;  after  supper,  the  Of 
ficer  of  the  Day  hands  in  his  report :  list  of  the  sick,  list  of 
delinquents  with  their  offenses,  and  a  statement  of  any  re 
markable  occurrences  during  the  day. 

I  return  home  and  send  for  the  Corporal  of  the  Guard. 
He  presents  himself. 

'Corporal,  arrest  these  men,  and  bring  them  up  here!' — 
giving  him  a  list  of  the  delinquents.  Then  I  put  on  my 
magisterial  frown  and  await  the  culprits. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  531 

'Smith  reported  absent  at  reveille;  any  excuse?' 

'No,  sir,  only  I  didn't  wake  up.' 

'That's  no  excuse;  Fatigue  duty  for  24  hours.' 

'Brown,  you  are  reported  for  running  your  horses  going 
to  water.'  No  excuse.  'Corporal,  put  him  on  a  caisson 
for  three  hours!' 

'Jones,  you  are  reported  for  disrespectful  behavior  t3 
your  Sergeant.'  Long,  and  not  very  logical  defence  by 
Jones,  who  is  adjudged  guilty.  'Corporal,  give  him  two 
hours  on  the  spare  wheel !' 

After  finishing  this  not  very  agreeable  business,  perhaps 
I  stroll  into  Blake's  tent  and  chat  awhile  or  play  a  game  of 
euchre. 

By  seven  o'clock  the  mail  arrives,  and  we  all  adjourn  tn 
read  our  letters  if  we  have  any;  9  o'clock  generally  sees  us 
in  bed. 

So  pass  the  days,  one  after  the  other.  A  good  supply 
of  books  would  render  it  a  not  very  disagreeable  kind  of 
life,  but  these  things  cannot  be.  We  could  not  carry  the 
books  if  we  had  them.  I  do  not  go  visiting  much  and  do 
not  have  a  great  many  friends  in  the  Division.  I  have  quite 
a  lot  of  speaking  acquaintances,  but  I  stay  at  home  mostly." 


Chase's  Diary:  "Jan'y  J5>  l&6$-  Ambulance  removing 
the  sick  today. 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Friday,  Jan'y  16,  1863.  Predictions  of 
leaving  here  soon.  Commenced  packing  up  p.  m.  All 
sorts  of  rumors  afloat." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Jan'y  16,  1863. 

'All  quiet  on  the  Rappahannock'  gives  place  to  'Advance 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.'  We  have  rec'd  orders  to  be 
ready  to  march  at  an  early  hour  tomorrow  morning.  The 


532  HISTORY    OF    THE 

order  to  march  has  not  come  yet  but  will  probably  be  along 
tonight.  ...  Of  course  I  am  sorry  to  leave  my  comfortable 
quarters,  in  fact  after  a  long  halt  it  is  always  unpleasant  to 
take  the  first  start,  but  24  hours  marching  cures  that.  As  a 
remarkable  fact,  too,  my  health  is  always  a  little  better,  if 
possible,  on  the  march.  I  doubt  very  much  whether  we  shall 
have  another  fight  at  Fredericksburg.  The  rebels  never 
wait  for  a  second  assault  on  an  'objective  point,'  but  always 
retire  to  a  second  line  of  defence,  and  the  energy  all  bottled 
up  for  a  fierce  attack  is  wasted  on  empty  fortifications. 
Well,  we  shall  see  what  we  shall  see." 

EXTRA    INDUCEMENTS    OF    THE    ARTILLERY 

SERVICE. 

January  I7th:  "I  dislike  the  habit  of  officers  running  to 
Washington,  and  do  not  want  to  get  into  it  myself.  Why 
is  it,  I  wonder,  that  so  few  men  of  wealth  and  education, 
when  going  to  war,  select  the  artillery  in  preference  to  other 
arms  of  the  service.  .  .  .  Out  of  my  class  only  one  besides 
myself  has  entered  this  arm — Lieut.  Hayden  in  the  2d  U.  S. 
Artillery.  An  artillery  commission  certainly  offers  higher 
inducements  than  an  infantry  one :  the  duties  are  pleasanter, 
the  pay  higher,  the  position  more  independent,  and  higher 
esteemed  in  the  Army.  Why,  I  am  as  independent  as  a 
Brigade  commander,  while  a  captain  of  infantry  has  no 
moment  he  can  call  his  own.  While  the  hours  for  infantry 
drill  are  established  by  orders  from  Division  Hd.  Qrs.,  ar 
tillery  drills  when  it  chooses.  I  govern  my  camp  as  I  please, 
and  am  supreme  in  my  authority  over  the  men. 

Artillery  is  superior  for  the  display  of  intellectual  abili 
ties,  though  a  military  life  kills  off  everything  of  the  sort. 
Artillery,  too,  gives  a  better  opportunity  for  distinguishing 
one's  self;  a  captain  of  a  battery  being  as  likely  to  be  men 
tioned  as  a  colonel  of  a  regiment.  Sections,  too,  are  often 
detached,  and,  when  joined  with  infantrv.  the  infantry  offi- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  533 

cer  in  command  of  the  whole  rarely  attempts  to  interfere 
-with  the  Lieut,  of  Artillery  in  the  management  of  his  arm. 
Then  as  far  as  material  comforts  are  concerned,  artillery 
officers  can  live  in  the  field  about  as  comfortably  as  gen 
erals.  A  late  order  establishing  the  field  allowance  of  tents, 
allowed  to  each  line  officer  of  infantry  one  shelter  tent,  to 
each  full  battery  of  artillery  three  wall  tents.  That  is  to 
say,  I  am  allowed  one  wall  tent,  which  is  all  that  is  allowed 
to  a  Brig.  Gen'l,  while  a  captain  of  infantry  has  to  content 
himself  with  a  shelter  tent,  ground  dimensions  6  ft.  by  3, 
height  3  ft.  At  this  very  time,  while  we  are  living  in  very 
good  style,  many  an  infantry  officer  has  to  content  himself 
with  his  salt  junk.  If  an  officers'  mess  in  an  infantry  com 
pany  manage  to  get  along  a  kettle,  a  coffee  pot,  a  frying  pan, 
and  a  few  cups  and  plates,  they  dr  well,  while  we  carry  all 
the  pots  and  kettles  we  choose.  And  vet,  with  all  these 
extra  inducements  the  commissions  in  artillery  are  not  so 
eagerly  sought  after  as  one  would  imagine."  The  same 
date :  "  'There's  many  a  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip.' 
Last  night  instead  of  an  order  to  march  at  5,  came  an  order 
to  be  ready  to  march  at  i  p.  m.  tomorrow." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Sunday,  Jan'y  18,  1863.  Drill  in  the 
morning  and  a  hitched  up  drill  p.  m.  Jan'y  19.  On  guard 
tonight." 

Phillips'  Letter  Jan'y  iSth:  "The  Army  seems  to  have 
some  difficulty  in  making  the  movement  now  contemplated, 
whatever  it  is.  We  were  to  be  ready  to  march  at  one  o'clock 
today,  but  at  midnight  last  night  came  an  order  suspending 
the  former  order  for  24  hours.  Congress  has  authorized 
100,000,000  legal  tender  notes  to  pay  off  the  Army,  and  I 
hope  to  see  the  Paymaster  round  here  soon.  There  has 
been,  undoubtedly,  a  great  deal  of  suffering  on  account  of 
the  long  delay.  In  military  affairs  there  is  the  same  neces 
sity  for  speedy  action.  I  am  sanguine,  if  our  generals  will 
work  together,  but  if  any  man  with  two  stars  on  his 


534  HISTORY    OF    THE 

shoulder  is  to  be  allowed  to  imperil  the  cause  of  the  country 
from  personal  feeling  and  jealousy,  then  we  might  as  well 
back  out." 

BURNSIDE'S    FLANKING    MOVEMENT    CALLED 
"BURNSIDE'S   MUD   MARCH." 

HIS  ADDRESS  TO  THE  ARMY. 

HEAD  QUARTERS, 
ARMY   OF   THE    POTOMAC, 
CAMP   NEAR   FALMOUTH.  VA. 

Jan'y  20,  1863. 
General  Orders 
No.  7. 

The  Commanding  General  announces  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
that  they  are  about  to  meet  the  enemy  once  more. 

The  late  brilliant  actions  in  North  Carolina,  Tennessee  and  Arkan 
sas  have  divided  and  weakened  the  enemy  on  the  Rappahannock,  and 
the  auspicious  moment  seems  to  have  arrived  to  strike  a  great  and 
mortal  blow  to  the  Rebellion,  and  to  gain  that  decisive  victory  which  is 
due  to  the  country. 

Let  the  gallant  soldiers  of  so  many  brilliant  battle  fields  accomplish 
this  achievement,  and  a  fame  the  most  glorious  awaits  them. 

The   Commanding  General  calls  for  the  firm  and  united  action  of 
officers  and  men,  and,  under  the  providence  of  God,  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  will  have  taken  the  great  step  towards  restoring  peace  to  the 
country  and  the  Government  to  its  rightful  authority. 
By  command  of 

Major  General  Burnside. 

LEWIS  RICHMOND 
Ass't.  Adj.  General. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Jan'y  2Oth,  1863.  Cloudy  morning  with 
a  cold  snowy  air.  The  agreeable  intelligence  announced  to 
us  in  line,  that  we  are  again  to  meet  the  enemy.  Packed  up. 
Struck  tents  and  hitched  up  about  n  a.  m.  and  left  our 
park  about  12  m.  Head  of  column  halted  about  150  yards 
from  camp  and  remained  until  about  3  p.  m.,  when  we 
marched  about  two  miles — towards  Fredericksburg — and 
went  into  park  for  the  night,  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  about 
4  p.  m.  Some  of  the  men  pitched  tents,  and  others  laid  on 
the  ground  under  the  tarpaulins.  Commenced  raining 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  535 

about  6  p.  m.  and  rained  all  night,  with  but  a  few  minutes 
cessation.  My  tent  blew  down  about  half  past  n  p.  m. 
Abandoned  the  ruins  of  my  tent  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  night  by  a  bivouac  fire.  A  long  night!  Thoroughly 
drenched  with  rain.  A  crowd  of  drowned  out,  forlorn,  cold 
and  shivering  unfortunates  hovered  around  the  fire  trying 
to  keep  alive  the  vital  spark  and  dispel  our  miseries  by 
cracking  jokes.  One  by  one  the  men  gathered  round  as  they 
were  drowned  out  by  the  'rising  waters/  No  water  call 
or  roll  call  tonight. 

Jan'y  2ist.  The  storm  unabated.  Reveille  and  roll  call 
as  usual.  'Boots  and  saddles'  sounded  immediately  after 
roll  call.  Packed  up  our  wet  tents  and  blankets  and  hitched 
up.  Doubled  up  the  teams,  and  with  the  help  of  the  infan 
try  succeeded  in  getting  the  pieces  and  caissons  into  the 
road.  The  ground  soft,  and  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
move  the  pieces,  caissons  &c.  Started  on  our  march  about 
8  a.  m.  and  marched  about  a  mile  and  halted  for  today  and 
night.  Left  one  horse,  and  two  others  dropped  dead  in  the 
harness.  A  very  soft  and  disagreeable  march.  Obliged  to 
double  up  the  teams  many  times  today.  Reached  our  camp 
ground  about  i  o'clock  p.  m.  Pitched  our  tents  in  a  piece 
of  woods.  Plenty  of  good  water  near  by.  Made  coffee, 
and  spread  our  wet  blankets  for  a  bed  on  the  water  soaked 
ground;  built  huge  fires  and  made  ourselves  comparatively 
comfortable.  Battery  wagon  drawn  into  park  by  eighteen 
horses.  The  wheels  sink  about  a  foot  in  the  mud,  and  men 
to  their  ankles.  Very  rainy  all  day.  Tattoo  and  roll  call 
about  half  past  4  p.  m.  Tan'y  22d.  Very  rainy  all  last 
night.  Morning  cloudy,  with  some  rain.  Tolerably  good 
night's  rest  last  night,  but  the  ground  felt  quite  cold  through 
five  blankets.  Slept  with  Daniel  Shackley.  Reveille  at  the 
usual  hour  this  morning.  Whiskey  issued  to  us  this  morn 
ing.  We  remained  in  camp  all  day.  Made  several  im 
provements  in  our  quarters  today  and  kept  quite  comforta- 


536  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ble  although  the  weather  continued  cloudy  with  considerable 
rain  all  day." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Jan'y  20,  1863.  .  .  .  My  tent  blew  down 
three  times  during  the  night.  Weather  very  cold.  Jan'y 
2 1  st.  .  .  .  Ground  soft  and  awful  wheeling  ...  sat  down 
to  a  scanty  supper  and  went  on  guard.  Rained  hard  all 
night.  Jan'y  22.  .  .  .  Whiskey  issued  out  this  morning. 
Large  ration.  Remained  here  all  day.  Whiskey  again  at 
night.  Rain  at  intervals  all  day.  Our  mail  and  one  day's 
rations  came  up  today." 

Notes  of  Corporal  Jonas  Shackley:  "Late  on  the  2oth 
January,  1863,  we  got  out  of  camp,  but  could  only  make 
about  two  miles,  and  turning  into  a  field  spread  our  tents 
and  tarpaulins  for  shelter.  Rain  soon  began  to  pour  and  in 
a  short  time  the  ground  was  flooded  and  our  blankets  be 
came  saturated.  We  rolled  our  blankets  and  used  them  for 
seats  and  waited  for  the  morning.  Morning  came,  and  the 
Battery  attempted  to  march,  but  the  roads  were  so  horrible 
that  after  struggling  all  day  we  had  made  only  about  two 
miles.  Went  into  camp  by  the  edge  of  a  forest,  and  having 
plenty  of  fuel  made  ourselves  quite  comfortable. 

Remaining  in  this  place  until  the  roads  had  been  repaired 
we  doubled  our  teams,  and  taking  half  our  carriages  at  each 
trip  returned  again  to  our  old  camp  at  Stoneman's  Switch, 
arriving  there  on  the  24th." 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

Written  in  the  camp  where  they  waited  for  the  roads  to 
be  repaired. 

"CAMP  IN  AN  OAK  WOOD, 

Thursday  Evening, 
Jan'y  22,   1863. 

On  Tuesday  we  marched,  i.  e.  at  i  p.  m.  we  started,  got  a 
couple  of  hundred  yards  and  halted  till  three.  Then  we 
slowly  proceeded,  and  just  before  dark  camped  in  a  field 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  537 

close  by  the  spot  where  we  were  reviewed  a  short  time  ago. 
Hazlett  and  Waterman  had  been  detached  to  join  with  the 
Reserve  Artillery  in  covering  the  crossing  of  the  troops  at 
Hooker's  Crossing.  Where  that  is  I  do  not  know.  During 
the  course  of  the  night  it  commenced  to  rain  and  blow.  .  .  . 

The  next  morning  we  started,  the  rain  still  continuing. 
Our  caissons  got  stuck  at  the  first  start  and  continued  to 
stick  very  frequently.  About  i  p.  m.  after  marching  perhaps 
3  miles,  we  went  into  camp,  i.  e.  the  head  of  the  column 
did,  the  rear  being  still  behind.  I  sent  back  horses  and  the 
missing  carriages  commenced  to  appear:  some  with  10, 
some  with  12,  and  some  with  18  horses  on.  Finally,  they 
all  got  in,  and  we  made  ourselves  comfortable.  The  mud 
is  about  the  same  quality  as  we  used  to  have  on  the  Penin 
sula,  but  I  found  my  horses  not  so  good.  Four  gave  out  on 
the  road,  and  were  abandoned  dead  and  dying.  .  .  .  Friday 
morning,  no  move  yet." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Thursday,  Jan'y  22d,  1863.  ...  The 
Army  evidently  in  statu  quo,  in  the  mud.  23d.  .  .  .  The 
Army  has  commenced  to  move  back  to  camp  corduroying 
as  it  goes." 

From  another  letter  of  Captain  Phillips,  written  where 
they  camped  in  the  "piece  of  woods." 

"CAMP  IN  AN  OAK  WOOD, 
Thursday  Evening,  Jan'y  22,  1863. 

.  .  .  Our  camp  is  pitched  in  a  grove  of  oak  trees,  and  in 
pleasant  weather  might  be  quite  romantic,  but  the  rain 
which  has  continued  so  far  deprives  the  scenery  of  its  poet 
ical  aspect.  The  tents  of  the  men  of  all  shapes,  sizes  and 
colors,  are  scattered  through  the  woods,  each  one  with  a 
blazing  fire  in  front  of  it.  The  woods  are  already  cleared 
out  somewhat  and  it  is  lucky  for  us  that  firewood  is  so  near. 
A  spring  not  50  yards  off  furnishes  an  abundant  supply  of 
very  good — chocolate  colored — water.  Our  floor  is  rather 
muddy,  but  with  an  abundant  supply  of  blankets  we  sleep 


538  HISTORY    OF    THE 

very  comfortably.  I  am  afraid  that  this  unlucky  rain  storm 
will  endanger,  if  it  does  not  entirely  prevent,  this  move 
ment.  Only  5  or  6  miles  from  camp,  we  are  almost  entirely 
cut  off  from  our  supplies.  The  roads  are  impassable  for 
wagons,  and  as  my  rations  were  out  tonight,  I  had  some 
more  sent  up  on  horseback.  Our  wagons  have  not  started, 
but  the  Vandals  have  invaded  our  old  camping  ground. 
The  tents  of  the  men  are  inhabited  by  a  numerous  popula 
tion  of  sick,  stragglers,  etc.  The  new  tenants  of  my  old 
house  have  burnt  up  my  wainscoting  and  bedstead,  the  door 
and  floor  will  go  next. 

Our  present  locality  as  near  as  I  can  guess  is  a  short 
distance  above  Falmouth,  near  Richard's  Ford.  I  am  sit 
ting  on  the  ground  writing  this  by  the  light  of  a  candle 
elevated  on  a  tin  pail.  A  large  fire  blazes  in  front  of  our 
tent  which  makes  it  quite  comfortable.  The  men  are  sing 
ing  and  talking  and  enjoying  themselves." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Friday,  Jan'y  23d,  1863.  A  good  night's 
rest.  Morning  damp  and  cloudy.  Our  mail  came  today; 
also  rations: — beef,  pork,  potatoes,  onions,  bread,  coffee, 
whiskey  &c.  The  sun  came  out  about  1 1  a.  m.  P.  m.  very 
fine.  Artillery  and  teams  moving  back  to  their  old  camps. 
Sent  men  back  to  our  camp  to  rout  out  the  infantry  from 
our  quarters." 

Diary  of  Corporal  Chase:  "Jan'y  24tn>  l8^3.  Reveille 
at  half  past  3  this  morning.  Struck  our  tents  and  packed 
up  for  a  march  back  to  our  old  camp.  The  elements  have 
prevailed.  An  advance  is  impossible  and  retreat  nearly  so. 
Burnside  chooses  the  latter  and  the  troops  are  moving  back 
as  fast  as  possible.  Doubled  up  the  teams  and  started 
for  our  old  camp — with  the  caissons  only — at  daylight. 
Reached  our  old  camp  about  1 1  a.  m.  and  the  drivers  after 
feeding  their  horses  returned  for  the  guns  with  doubled 
teams.  Not  much  trouble  in  reaching  camp  although  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  539 

road  was  in  a  very  bad  state.  Guns  reached  camp  about 
half  past  3  p.  m. 

The  infantry  who  occupied  our  quarters  in  our  absence 
showed  their  evil  propensities  by  demolishing  chimneys  and 
burning  our  boards,  poles,  crutches,  and  other  valuable 
property.  My  tent  was  an  exception  to  the  fearful  destruc 
tion :  found  chimney  Viz'  15  inches.  It  now  'draws'  won 
derfully  !  Pitched  my  tent  in  the  old  stockade,  and  in  one 
hour  have  good  quarters.  Weather  fine." 

Dyer's  Notes,  Jan'y  24th,  have  the  remark  about  the 
camp  that  "although  very  wet  it  was  very  acceptable." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "Saturday,  Jan'y  24th.  Started  back  at 
daylight  with  the  caissons  and  forge,  10  horses  on  the 
former  and  12  on  the  latter.  Arrived  in  camp.  Sent  back 
for  the  pieces  and  Battery  wagon.  Found  my  house  in 
pretty  good  condition." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Sunday,  Jan'y  25th,  1863.  No  coffee  for 
breakfast.  A  trifling  mistake.  Nobody  to  blame.  'All  in 
the  three  years.'  Plenty  of  boiled  rice  and  molasses  for 
supper.  Weather  warm  and  pleasant." 

CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS  BACK  IN  HIS  LOG  HOUSE. 

MAKES    OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE    PAST 

WEEK'S    MANOEUVRES. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Jan'y  25,  1863. 

I  am  back  in  my  log  house  again,  after  four  days'  wan 
dering  in  the  mud.  This  rain  storm  has  been  very  unfor 
tunate,  and  has  completely  discomfited  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  On  Friday  as  soon  as  I  learnt  definitely  that  we 
should  return,  I  sent  back  a  sergeant  and  squad  of  men  to 
clear  out  the  stragglers  and  interlopers  with  whom  our  huts 
were  sure  to  be  filled,  and  to  clean  up  and  make  ready. 

When  I  arrived  I  found  things  in  pretty  good  order. 
The  inhabitants  of  my  house,  whoever  they  were,  had  burnt 


540  HISTORY    OF    THE 

up  all  my  furniture,  but  thanks  to  their  selfishness  and  re 
gard  to  their  own  comfort,  had  left  the  floor  and  door, 
which  was  all  I  cared  for.  The  bedstead  has  been  again 
erected,  and  the  other  furniture  will  soon  be  put  in,  with 
suitable  alterations  suggested  by  experience. 

MORE  ABOUT  THE  2oth.  CAMP  ON  THE  HILL. 

Hazlett  and  Waterman  left  camp  before  the  Division  and 
took  position  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  The  weather  was 
cold  and  lowering,  but  it  looked  more  like  snow  than  rain. 
We  pitched  our  tent  and  Blake,  with  commendable  fore 
thought  ditched  it  round  about.  Captain  Martin,  who  was 
by  our  fire,  laughed  at  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  thought 
it  was  going  to  rain.  Shortly  after  we  got  to  bed  it  com 
menced  to  rain  and  blow.  Fortunately  our  tent  was  tight 
and  our  pins  held,  so  we  slept  through  it  comfortably. 
Captain  Martin  and  his  officers  were  not  so  lucky.  Some 
time  in  the  night  the  wind  got  under  their  tent  and  over  it 
went  leaving  them  outdoors!  Immediately  arose  a  great 
outcry  for  the  Corporal  of  the  Guard,  and  the  tent  was 
finally  re-pitched,  not  without  the  wetting  of  sundry  blan 
kets  etc.  The  next  morning  we  started,  the  rain  still  falling. 
The  first  step  recalled  to  mind  the  old  marches  of  the  Penin 
sula  campaign  .  .  .  but  the  weather  was  colder.  We 
marched  all  that  forenoon  in  the  same  way  that  I  used  to 
write  about  last  spring.  About  noon  we  went  into  camp, 
having  marched  perhaps  two  miles.  I  selected  a  spot  right 
in  the  edgfe  of  some  oak  woods.  I  found  the  pround  where 
I  put  my  carriages  rather  soft,  and  Captain  Martin  sug 
gested  the  next  day  that  I  had  better  put  up  a  flag  to  show 
where  my  caissons  stood ! 

Otherwise,  it  was  an  excellent  camping  ground.  The 
tents  were  pitched  in  the  woods,  sheltered  from  the  wind. 
Plenty  of  firewood  was  growing  all  around  us,  and  the  fires 
were  soon  blazing  merrily." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  541 

In  addition  to  what  he  had  already  written  about  sending 
back  men  on  horseback  after  rations  and  forage,  he  says : — 
"By  this  means  I  not  only  supplied  myself,  but  was  able  on 
Friday  to  feed  Captain  Waterman's  horses,  he  being  short 
of  grain. 

We  remained  in  the  woods  Wednesday  afternoon,  Thurs 
day  and  Friday,  sleeping  and  eating  in  great  comfort.  The 
weather  was  lowering  all  the  time,  the  rain  drizzling  down 
at  intervals.  However,  we  kept  a  big  fire  going  all  the  time 
in  front  of  our  tent,  which  generally  smoked  us  out  of  it, 
and  got  along  first  rate. 

Thursday  appeared  to  be  spent  in  deliberation,  and  in 
bringing  up  supplies  on  horseback.  By  this  time,  of  course, 
the  rebels  were  aware  of  our  movements  and  success  was 
almost  impossible.  We  could  not  move  forward.  I  sup 
pose  it  was  as  muddy  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  as  on 
the  north,  and  the  enemy,  probably  inferring  the  reverse, 
hung  up  a  board  on  the  bank  opposite  the  intended  crossing, 
having  inscribed  thereon  'General  Burnside  Stuck  in  the 
Mud.'  At  least  so  goes  the  story.  On  Friday  the  retro 
grade  movement  commenced.  By  daybreak  the  road  was 
lined  with  infantry  corduroying  mud  holes,  and  soon  after 
the  artillery  began  to  file  by :  guns  and  caissons  with  any 
number  of  horses  and  without  much  regard  to  order.  At 
daylight  Saturday  morning,  Captain  Martin  and  I  started 
back." 

HE    REVIEWS    THE   FREDERICKSBURG   CAM 
PAIGN. 

"Second  repulse  from  Fredericksburg  by  the  mud.  We 
were  absent  from  camp  four  days.  Don't  blame  the  gen 
erals  for  the  rain  storm.  .  .  .  The  utmost  stretch  of  gener 
alship  is  to  place  a  regiment  behind  a  battery  from  a  tradi 
tional  idea  that  artillery  needs  an  infantry  support.  Just 


542  HISTORY    OF    THE 

look  at  Fredericksburg.  We  had  300  or  400  pieces  of  light 
artillery  at  our  disposal.  The  enemy  in  our  front  were 
strongly  intrenched.  The  natural  course  would  be  to  get 
up  artillery  and  knock  down  the  intrenchments  before  com 
mencing  the  assault. 

Instead  of  this,  the  infantry  were  set  full  tilt  .at  a  stone 
wall  and  did  not  get  over  it,  as  of  course  they  could  not. 
After  the  failure  of  the  attack  a  few  batteries  were  put  into 
position,  though  I  hardly  know  what  thev  were  to  do. 
Dickinson's  Battery  [L.  &  M.  3d  U.  S.]  opened  on  the 
rebels  and  the  principal  effect  was  to  draw  the  fire  from  20 
guns  on  the  hill  so  hot  as  to  drive  the  battery  off  the  field. 
Soon  after,  I  was  ordered  into  position  near  where  Dickin 
son  had  been.  I  was  not  put  there  to  silence  the  enemy's 
artillery  fire,  our  usual  occupation,  but  to  fire  at  the  infantry 
behind  the  stone  wall.  I  was  not  told  to  knock  down  the 
stone  wall,  but  to  fire  at  the  road.  So  I  blazed  away,  burst 
ing  shell  and  shrapnell  over  the  road.  Of  course  it  was 
a  good  pyrotechnical  display  and  may  have  frightened  a 
few  timid  rebels,  but  the  idea  of  its  having  done  them  any 
great  injury  is  absurd.  I  do  not  know  to  this  day  what  I 
was  supposed  to  be  accomplishing.  I  obeyed  orders  and 
did  not  ask  questions.  Our  infantry  stated  that  after  I 
opened  fire  the  rebels'  musketry  was  not  quite  so  hot,  and 
it  is  possible  that  some  rebel  may  have  been  deterred  from 
poking  his  head  over  the  wall  by  the  idea  that  a  shell  might 
be  coming  over  in  that  vicinity,  but  it  seems  to  me  an  inop 
portune  moment  for  such  a  display.  If  I  had  been  placed 
there  to  prepare  or  support  a  charge,  I  should  understand 
that  I  was  part  of  a  design,  but,  as  it  was,  I  do  not  see  that 
J  did  any  good,  and  I  do  not  imagine  I  injured  a  dozen 
rebels.  Meantime  I  was  the  recipient  of  very  flattering 
attentions  from  the  20  guns  on  the  hill,  though  owing  to 
my  being  in  a  sheltered  position  no  great  injury  was  done. 
Still  the  sensation  was  sufficiently  disagreeable  to  show 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  543 

what  would  have  been  the  result  had  we  had  a  dozen  bat 
teries  up  there. 

Contrast  all  this  with  the  Battle  of  Murfreesboro'  where 
Rosecrans  did  what  every  great  general  does;  he  massed 
his  artillery,  and  repulsed  the  rebels." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE  BATTLE   OF   CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
MAY  1-4,  1863. 

"But,  as  he  rode  along  the  ranks,  each  soldier's  head  was 

bare, — 

Our  hearts  were  far  too  full  for  cheers, — we  wel 
comed  him  with  prayer." 

JOHN  BOYLE  O'REILLY. — Uncle  Ned's  Tales. 

On  the  26th  of  January,  1863,  General  A.  E.  Burnside 
having  been  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  at  his  own  request,  Major  General  Joseph  Hooker 
was  placed  in  command.  Among  his  first  Orders  was  one 
discontinuing  the  Grand  Divisions  of  the  Army  instituted 
by  his  predecessor  and  returning  on  February  5th,  1863,  to 
the  organization  with  the  corps  as  a  unit.  The  Ninth  Corps 
vvas  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  Major  General  George  G. 
Meade  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and 
Brigadier  General  Charles  Griffin  still  held  the  command  of 
the  ist  Division,  attached  to  which  was  the  Artillery 
Brigade  commanded  by  Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin,  con 
sisting  of  the  3d  and  5th  Mass.  Batteries,  the  4th  R.  I.,  and 
the  5th  U.  S.  Battery  Lieut.  C.  E.  Hazlett. 

It  was  during  this  period  of  reorganization  that  General 
Butterfield  devised  the  system  of  corps  badges  to  be  fastened 
upon  the  centre  of  the  top  of  the  cap,  see  p.  20. 

On  the  nth  of  April,  1863,  General  Hooker  disclosed 
his  plan  of  turning  the  enemy's  left  flank  and  severing  his 
communication  with  Richmond  by  making  use  of  the  Cav 
alry  Corps,  the  organization  of  which  he  had  himself  orig 
inated.  He  designed  that  the  cavalry  should  establish 

544 


CHANCELLORSVILLE. 


/.  PJace  where    SyKes  &  Griffin   encountered   the  enemy  April  30r"- 

ftr  MQTJ  /^^   2,      !-~-i ~*+ c* +•    •»•».•-»  f> -/•^•••/^-^i     s\  £    /*s)iff*7-v»-rt    Qi   £-**+ 117 a -*+•»/    ^JtAtniT .^^^  .•?    P/"t c  V/T/^n 

o/  5^-  Afos.5. ! 

B.Jdguns  7. 

9.  Position 

7?aJted  2>v  mistake  during  t~he  retreat  of  May 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  545 

themselves  so  securely  that  they  would  be  able  to  check 
Lee's  retreat,  while  the  Army  fell  upon  his  rear,  or,  at  least 
compel  him  to  fall  back  by  way  of  Culpeper  and  Gordons- 
ville  with  his  supplies  cut  off.  But  the  cavalry,  under  Gen 
eral  George  Stoneman,  on  account  of  heavy  storms  and 
swollen  rivers,  were  kept  in  and  around  Warrenton  Junc 
tion  until  April  29th,  when  it  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at 
Kelly's  Ford,  about  20  miles  northwest  of  Fredericksburg, 
where  the  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  and  Fifth  Corps  had  rendez 
voused;  other  corps  crossing  at  Banks's  Ford  and  United 
States  Ford,  and  all  moving  down  the  river  towards  Fred 
ericksburg. 

The  Division  of  Griffin  and  Sykes  of  the  Fifth  Corps 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  1 1  a.  m.  of  the  29th  and  pre 
ceded  by  cavalry,  who  encountered  a  small  force  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  forded  the  Rapidan,  in  water  3  feet  deep 
and  a  swift  current,  at  Ely's  Ford.  After  passing  Hunting 
Run,  Griffin's  Division  was  halted  to  await  developments 
at  United  States  Ford,  where  it  was  erroneously  reported 
the  enemy  had  appeared  in  force  and  made  trouble  for  the 
cavalry.  It  having  developed  that  the  enemy  had  not  ob 
structed  the  passage  of  troops  at  United  States  Ford,  Grif 
fin's  Division  proceeded  to  Chancellorsville,  which  it  occu 
pied  at  ii  a.  m.  of  the  3Oth  of  April. 

The  post  town  of  Chancellorsville  76  miles  northwest  of 
Richmond  consisted  of  one  house,  the  Chancellor  House,  a 
public  house  built  of  brick  and  occupied  by  the  Chancellor 
family.  It  was  in  a  very  exposed  position.  It  was  at  one 
time  General  Hooker's  Head  Quarters  and  while  standing 
on  the  piazza  he  was  wounded. 

From  this  Hotel  one  road  led  to  Fredericksburg,  one  to 
Gordonsville,  one  to  Spottsylvania,  and  one  to  Ely's  Ford, 
About  3  p.  m.  of  the  3Oth,  Griffin  advanced  a  Brigade  to 
support  the  cavalry  at  Banks's  Ford,  taking  the  Old  Turn 
pike  in  that  direction  about  2  miles  from  Chancellorsville, 


546  HISTORY    OF    THE 

% 

where  they  found  the  enemy  posted  advantageously  on  a 
ridge  of  hills;  their  artillery  commanding  the  road. 

Both  Griffin  and  Sykes,  the  ist  and  2d  Divisions  of  the 
Fifth  Corps  were  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle,  the  right  rest 
ing  on  Chancellorsville,  and  the  left  extending  in  a  north 
east  direction  towards  the  river.  The  Eleventh  and  Twelfth 
Corps,  after  overcoming  comparatively  slight  opposition  at 
Ger  manna  Ford,  arrived  at  Chancellorsville,  10  miles  dis 
tant  from  Fredericksburg,  about  2  p.  m.  of  the  3Oth.  The 
Twelfth  occupied  a  line  nearly  parallel  to  the  Plank  Road 
in  the  woods,  its  left  resting  near  Chancellorsville,  and  the 
right  near  a  church  about  i^  miles  off.  The  Eleventh  was 
on  the  right  of  the  Twelfth,  its  right  resting  on  Hunting 
Run.  Where  the  Ely's  Ford  road  crosses  Hunting  Run 
there  was  a  force  of  cavalry  and  artillery. 

General  Hooker  arrived  at  Chancellorsville  from  Fal- 
mouth,  on  the  evening  of  the  3Oth.  At  II  a.  m.  May  ist  the 
Confederates  moved  forward  on  the  Plank  and  Old  Turn 
pike  roads,  the  advance  accompanied  by  artillery.  They 
struck  our  forces  under  Sykes,  who  was  ordered  to  with 
draw.  The  Union  line  was  well  protected  by  breastworks 
which  had  been  constructed  out  of  logs,  but  the  rebels'  artil 
lery  swept  the  roads  by  which  our  troops  were  to  advance. 

The  left  of  Hooker's  line  extended  from  Chancellorsville 
to  the  Rappahannock;  his  right  westward  two  miles,  cover 
ing  the  Germanna  Ford  road.  He  formed  line  of  battle  on 
the  night  of  May  ist  in  front  of  Chancellorsville  at  right 
angles  to  the  Plank  Road,  with  cavalry  on  his  left  flank. 

At  4  p.  m.  of  May  ist  the  Third  Corps  took  position 
parallel  to  the  Plank  Road. 

Near  sunset  of  May  2d,  the  rebel  general  Jackson  crossed 
the  Orange  Court  House  and  the  Culpeper  roads,  and  mov 
ing  down  the  Germanna  Ford  road,  made  an  assault  on  the 
Eleventh  Corps  and  overwhelmed  its  right  flank,  and  reach 
ing  a  gap  left  between  the  Third  and  Eleventh  Corps  com- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  547 

pelled  the  left  of  the  latter  to  fall  back,  but  were  met  as 
they  poured  through  the  gap  by  the  Twelfth  Corps  artillery, 
by  whom,  assisted  by  portions  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  infan 
try,  whose  absence  from  that  part  of  the  line  had  left  the 
gap,  recalled  from  the  support  of  the  Third  Corps  on  a 
reconnoissance,  the  enemy's  advance  was  checked,  and  the 
midnight  battle  of  the  Third  Corps,  which  Walter  F.  Lansil 
has  so  thrillingly  placed  upon  canvas,  resulted  in  the  restor 
ation  of  the  line  of  the  Plank  Road  and  the  original  breast 
works;  together  with  the  recapture  of  the  guns  and  caissons 
that  were  lost,  and  the  capture  of  two  of  the  enemy's  guns 
and  three  caissons. 

During  the  night  of  the  2d,  by  General  Hooker's  orders, 
the  Fifth  Corps  moved  out  and  occupied  the  road  from 
Chandler's  house  to  Ely's  Ford,  the  left  resting  at  Chand 
ler's,  the  right  connecting  with  the  First  Corps.  Griffin's 
Division  occupied  the  left  of  this  line. 

Sunday,  May  3d,  the  day  on  which  the  main  battle  was 
fought,  the  enemy  was  engaged  with  the  Third  Corps,  a 
portion  of  the  Second  Corps  and  part  of  Humphreys'  Divi 
sion  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  though  it  was  Hooker's  intention 
to  have  the  main  battle  fought  along  the  Ely's  Ford  and 
Mineral  Spring  roads.  These  supports  were  to  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  while  the  Third  and  Second  Corps  were 
moving  to  new  positions,  which  they  accomplished  with  a 
considerable  loss. 

By  General  Hooker's  order  the  whole  line  withdrew  to  a 
new  position  north  of  the  Chancellor  House,  covering  the 
Ely's  and  United  States  Fords,  the  right  of  which  was  oc 
cupied  by  the  First  and  Fifth  Corps,  and  at  the  junction 
of  the  Ely's  Ford  and  Mineral  Spring  roads  Captain 
6.ephen  H.  Weed  placed  56  guns :  28  on  the  right,  24  on 
the  left  and  4  at  the  junction. 

The  Chancellor  House  about  2  o'clock,  soon  after  it  was 
abandoned  as  Army  Head  Quarters,  took  fire  from  the 


548  HISTORY    OF    THE 

bursting  of  shells,  and  was  destroyed.  The  woods  also 
took  fire,  and  there  was  a  forced  suspension  of  hostilities, 
but  suffering  indescribable  of  the  wounded  and  dying  left  to 
the  mercy  of  the  flames.  In  the  mean  time  General  Sedg- 
\vick  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  occupied  Freder- 
icksburg.  He  too  was  defeated  and  compelled  to  retire  to 
the  northern  bank  of  the  river. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  4th  General  Griffin  with  the  ist 
Division  made  a  reconnoissance  in  the  direction  from  which 
the  attack  had  come  the  day  before,  ending  with  a  sharp 
fight. 

In  the  midst  of  a  terrific  storm,  on  the  night  of  the  5th, 
Hooker  commenced  the  withdrawal  of  his  troops  across  the 
river  by  way  of  the  United  States  Ford,  the  Fifth  Corps 
forming  the  rear  guard.  By  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  6th  the  last  of  the  Army  had  crossed,  and  by  4  p.  m.  all 
the  bridges  were  safely  withdrawn  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and 
the  Army  returned  to  the  old  camping  ground  across  the 
river  from  Fredericksburg. 

THE    MEMBERS'    STORY. 

LETTER    OF    CAPTAIN    PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Jan'y  27,    1863. 

I  heard  yesterday  that  Burnside,  Sumner,  and  Franklin 
had  been  relieved,  and  Hooker  appointed  to  command  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  This  has  been  so  often  foretold,  that 
it  will  surprise  nobody.  We  want  a  general  who  can  devel 
op  the  qualities  of  his  subordinates,  not  one  who  crushes 
every  display  of  energy.  Napoleon's  secret  of  success  was 
his  marvellous  power  of  making  others  work." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Jan'y  28,  1863.  A  snow  storm  com 
menced  last  night.  At  dark  tonight  still  snowing.  Have 
got  a  good  fire  so  I  am  all  right." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY  549 

Chase's  Diary :  "28th  :  Very  stormy  in  the  evening — rain 
and  snow — and  'a  crowded  house.'  29th.  .  .  .  Roll  call 
emitted  this  morning.  .  .  .  The  weather  grew  very  warm 
and  pleasant  as  the  sun  rose,  and  the  snow  is  fast  melting 
away.  The  ground  very  muddy.  Plastering  tent  tonight 
as  usual." 

LETTER  OF  SERG'T.   W.   H.   PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Tan'y  28,   1863. 

.  .  .  Not  a  man  in  the  Co.  had  on  a  dry  thread.  All 
soaked  through  with  rain,  and  we  all  suffered  much  from 
the  cold  and  exposure.  To  make  my  situation  more  un 
comfortable  my  horse  fell  with  me  in  about  two  feet  of  mud, 
covering  me  from  head  to  foot.  Finally  every  Gun,  caisson, 
and  other  carriage,  settled  in  the  mud  up  to  the  hubs,  and 
there  we  left  them  and  took  to  the  woods  upon  a  side  hill, 
where  we  remained  two  days,  when  we  made  an  attempt 
to  get  back  to  camp.  After  fifteen  hours  hard  work,  with 
the  assistance  of  fifty  mules  and  all  our  horses,  we  suc 
ceeded  in  reaching  our  old  quarters.  We  are  very  short 
of  money  in  the  Battery,  not  having  been  paid  by  the  Gov't 
for  nearly  eight  months." 


LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Jan'y  29,  1863. 

It  looks  less  like  moving  than  ever.  This  morning  the 
snow  is  4  to  6  inches  deep,  and  things  look  very  winterish. 
Rather  more  cheerful  than  the  snow  storm  was  the  arrival 
of  the  Paymaster  with  a  trunk  full  of  greenbacks  and  post 
age  currency.  We  received  our  pay  for  four  months  from 
July  ist  to  Oct.  3ist  inclusive,  and  consequently  feel  quite 
rich.  You  have  no  idea  how  pleasant  the  inside  of  a  pay 
master's  trunk  looks,  all  pigeonholed  and  stuffed  with 


550  HISTORY    OF    THE 

greenbacks.  I  remember  the  time  when  paymasters  carried 
round  canvas  bags  full  of  gold  and  silver,  but  these  have 
disappeared  and  the  specie  currency  is  represented  by  $5 
worth  of  nickels.  I  received  three  of  these,  and  intend  to 
keep  them  as  curiosities,  it  is  so  long  since  I  have  seen  any 
thing  but  paper.  For  convenience  I  took  $10  in  postage 
currency,  and  I  find  it  looks  very  pleasant,  being  new  arid 
clean;  its  appearance  changes  for  the  worse  after  6  mos. 
use." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Jan'y  3°>  J863.  Pieces  and  caissons 
painted  today.  Mud  ankle  deep." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Jan'y  3Ist>  1863.  Posted  the  guard  last 
night  and  today  first  half.  Lieut.  Scott  returned  from  fur 
lough." 

Scott's  Notes:  "Jan'v  31,  1863.  Snow  here  in  drifts  some 
2  ft.  deep  on  a  level.  Eve  pleasant.  Commenced  duties  as 
Officer  of  the  Day.  The  horses  of  the  Battery  were  infected 
with  glanders,  and  18  were  condemned  to  be  shot." 

February  2d  Lieut.  Scott  rode  through  some  of  the 
camps  towards  Fredericksburg.  He  notes  in  his  Diary  of 
the  3d  that  Lieut.  Dunn  of  Martin's  Battery  had  resigned 
and  gone  home. 

February  2d  Corporal  Chase  cut  his  left  foot  instead  of  a 
stick  of  wood.  Wound  carefully  dressed  by  Mr.  Gale. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Feb.  3d,  1863.  My  foot  very  painful  all 
night  and  today.  The  men  very  busy  building  new  houses 
and  remodelling  old  ones.  Cellars  and  basements  strictly 
prohibited  by  the  Doctors.  Order  to  that  effect  read  in 
line  Feb.  2d.  Feb.  5th.  My  foot  convalescent.  Helped  to 
fell  trees  and  draw  up  logs  for  fuel,  and  other  light  work 
p.  m.  Lieut.  Blake  left  camp  on  furlough." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  551 

LETTER  OF   CAPTAIN   PHILLIPS. 

CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Feb.  5,  1863. 

I  have  painted  all  my  carriages,  but  one,  the  paint  having 
given  out,  and  they  now  look  quite  fresh  and  clean.  I  have 
also  floored  the  stables  to  keep  the  horses  out  of  the  mud, 
and  am  now  keeping  the  men  busy  on  their  huts,  having 
issued  an  order  that  all  subterranean  residences  must  be 
forthwith  abolished.  It  is  very  desirable  I  find,  to  keep  the 
men  at  work.  General  Hooker's  General  Order  No.  3 
orders  that  not  more  than  2  men  in  a  hundred  shall  have 
furloughs  at  the  same  time.  Of  course  this  is  as  much  as 
saying  that  2  can  go,  and  the  effect  has  been  to  set  every 
man  to  applying  for  a  furlough  though  he  never  thought  of 
it  before.  I  do  not  blame  the  men  for  wanting  to  go  home, 
but  I  do  not  think  the  system  adapted  to  strengthen  the 
army." 

Scott's  Notes:  "Feb.  5th.  Order  for  two  days'  rations 
to  be  ready  to  support.  Snow  going  fast." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Feb.  6,  1863.  Orders  received  at  Head 
Quarters  to  be  ready  to  move  at  an  hour's  notice.  A  loaf 
of  bread  served  out  to  each  man  at  supper  time.  Announce 
ment  read  in  line  that  General  Burnside  was  relieved  from 
command  at  his  own  request,  General  Hooker  to  be  his 
successor." 

Chase's  Diary :  "Feb.  6.  ...  Trains  running  all  last 
night.  Commissary  stores  going  down  the  next  day." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "Feb.  7.  Warm  and  pleasant  .  .  .  the 
9th  Corps  is  going  off  with  Burnside.  Dr.  Schell  called 
to  bid  good  bye  having  been  ordered  to  Washington." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Saturday,  /th  Feb.  1863.  Benj.  F.  Story 
left  camp  to  go  home  on  a  furlough,  today,  of  ten  days,  to 
visit  his  family  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  the  first  furlough  for 
an  able  bodied  private  since  we  left  the  state,  13  months 


552  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  13  days.  Troops  are  being  transported  down  the  rail 
road  towards  Acquia  Creek.  On  guard  tonight." 

Scott's  Notes:  "Feb.  7,  1863.  Had  18  horses  condemned 
by  Lieut.  Carroll  of  the  5th  Regt." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Sunday,  Feb.  8,  1863.  Battery  and 
Quarters  inspected  by  our  officers  this  a.  m." 

Scott's  Notes :  "Feb.  8th.  .  .  .  Balloon  up  on  a  recon- 
noissance.  General  Hooker  to  reorganize  the  Army.  .  .  . 
Reconnoissance  returns  from  Rappahannock.  They  de 
stroy  a  bridge.  I  suppose  R.  R.  bridge  at  Rappahannock 
Station.  Feb.  Qth.  Troops  still  passing  down  to  the 
Creek." 


FROM  CAPT.  PHILLIPS'  LETTER  FEB.  8TH. 

"I  think  General  Hooker  is  going  to  work  very  well,  he  is 
getting  a  very  good  staff.  General  Butterfield  has  great 
administrative  abilities,  and  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  tactics  and  details  of  the  service.  General  Warren,  Chief 
of  Engineers,  is  considered  a  very  fine  Topog.  General  S. 
Williams,  McClellan's  old  A.  A.  G.,  is  back,  and  has  always 
been  considered  a  very  fine  staff  officer.  The  corps  is  an 
nounced  as  the  unit  for  Artillery,  so  that  the  post  of  Divi 
sion  Chief  of  Art'y  will  lose  its  importance.  .  .  ." 

Chase's  Diary :  "Feb.  9,  1863.  Spent  the  whole  after 
noon  in  getting  half  a  load  of  w7ood  to  camp.  Team  got 
mired  in  the  woods,  and  we  were  obliged  to  throw  half 
of  our  cargo  overboard.  An  order  read  in  line  at  the  after 
noon  Roll  Call  to  'respect  and  obey'  in  future  Serg't  O.  B. 
Smith  as  Orderly  Serg't.,  John  W.  Morrison  as  Serg't.  and 
Wm.  B.  Pattison  as  Sergeant. 

Feb.  loth.  Inspection  of  the  Battery, — and  4th  Rhode 
Island  Battery, — by  Captain  Weed,  5th  Regulars,  at  12  m. 
today,  after  which  our  roll  was  called  in  his  presence. 
Went  with  the  Battery  today,  although  my  foot  is  still 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  553 

quite  sore.  Lieut.  Blake  returned  from  furlough  and  Sergt. 
Page  left  camp  for  furlough.  Wm.  Barry  returned  from 
convalescent  camp  at  Alexandria." 

Scott's  Notes:  "Feb.  loth.  .  .  .  Battery  inspected  by 
Captains  Weed,  Martin  and  Waterman." 

From  Captain  Phillips'  Letter  of  the  nth: — "Yesterday 
in  pursuance  of  the  plan  ordered  from  Hd.  Qrs.  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  Captain  Weed  inspected  the  batteries  of  this 
Division,  the  inspection  occupying  most  of  the  forenoon. 
I  was  able  to  make  a  very  respectable  appearance;  my  car 
riages,  having  been  painted,  looked  quite  neat.  Captain 
Weed  made  no  remarks,  so  that  I  cannot  say  how  well  he 
was  pleased.  Captain  Martin  has  sent  in  his  resignation 
twice,  and  both  times  he  has  been  refused.  General  Hooker 
has  just  issued  an  order  that  resignations  may  be  accepted 
when  accompanied  by  a  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability, 
or  when  it  is  evident  that  the  officer  can  be  replaced  by  a 
better  man.  Captain  Martin  says  he  thinks  that  he  shall 
call  for  a  Board  of  Examiners,  and  if  they  do  not  conclude 
that  he  is  entirely  unfit  and  ignorant,  it  will  not  be  his  fault. 
.  .  .  Last  night,  soon  after  dark,  a  belated  traveller  called 
on  me  for  hospitality.  It  turned  out  to  be  a  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  'Times'  named  Judd,  a  graduate  of 
Williams  College  of  the  class  of  '60.  Of  course  I  was  glad 
to  furnish  him  with  food  and  shelter.  .  .  ." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Tuesday,  Feb.  10,  1863.  Blake  got 
back  from  Washington.  He  brought  .  .  .  Casey's  Tac 
tics,  Anderson's  Evolutions  of  Field  Artillery,  cards, 
paper,  etc.  ...  A  party  of  recruits  left  Massachusetts  to 
day.  Wednesday,  nth.  .  .  .  Spent  the  day  in  camp  read 
ing  tactics  etc." 

Scott's  Notes:  "Feb.  12,  1863.  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S. 
Artillery  entered  in  hurdle  race,  best  jumper  to  have  15 
days  furlough." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Feb.   13,   1863.     Camp  policed  today  in 


554  HISTORY    OF    THE 

good  shape.  Sounds  of  revelry  heard  tonight  at  Head 
Quarters." 

From  Letter  of  Captain  Phillips:  "Feb.  14,  1863.  Yes 
terday  forenoon,  tempted  by  the  bright  sun  and  the  dry 
ground,  I  started  out  for  a  ride.  After  calling  on  Lieut. 
Col.  Sherwin  (Thomas  Sherwin  Jr.)  of  the  22d,  Scott  and 
I  started  off  on  a  round-a-bout  trip.  Striking  the  main 
road  we  crossed  Potomac  Creek  about  a  mile  below  the 
bridge,  and  then  followed  up  the  stream  and  recrossed  the 
creek  just  above  the  bridge.  All  expectation  of  an  early 
movement  vanished  as  soon  as  we  struck  the  main  road. 
The  mud  was  intolerable,  and  the  deep  ruts  brought  back 
the  Peninsula  campaign  to  our  minds.  Assuredly  no  move 
yet.  So  great  is  the  confidence  felt  in  the  immobility  of 
the  Army,  that  Captain  Martin  and  Lieut.  Walcott  have 
sent  on  for  their  wives  to  come  out.  The  introduction  of 
ladies  into  our  society  will  create  quite  an  excitement,  and 
I  shall  impress  upon  Henry  the  importance  of  keeping  my 
boots  well  blacked. 

Log  houses  are  almost  universal  out  here,  and  we  have 
just  laid  the  foundation  of  one  calculated  to  surpass  any 
thing  now  in  existence.  Its  dimensions  are  9  by  18,  and  it 
is  to  be  divided  into  two  rooms,  one  for  a  bedroom  and  the 
other  for  a  dining  room.  When  this  is  finished  we  con 
template  another  of  the  same  size  as  mine,  and  then  we  are 
going  to  cut  doors  and  build  entries,  so  as  to  connect  them 
into  one  house,  the  dining  and  sitting  room  in  the  centre 
and  the  bedrooms  opening  into  it.  Whether  we  shall  re 
main  long  enough  to  finish  our  grand  architectural  design 
is  more  than  I  can  say." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "i4th.  Lieut.  Spear  left  on  a  ten  days' 
leave.  Scott  commenced  a  new  house  9x18,  close  to  mine." 

Scott's  Notes:  "i5th.  Many  ladies  are  visiting  their 
friends  in  camp." 

Corporal   Chase's  Diary:   "Feb.    i6th,    1863.     Company 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  555 

drilled  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  a.  m.,  and  a  Battery  drill 
at  2  o'clock  p.  m.  Acted  as  sergeant  vice  Peacock  at 
Acquia  Creek." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Feb.  16.  A  large  force  of  men  were 
busy  today  throwing  up  earthworks  on  the  hills  this  side  of 
Potomac  Creek.  (In  a  letter  Captain  Phillips  calls  their 
number  2000  or  3000. )  It  is  rumored  that  our  Corps  is  to 
be  left  here  to  hold  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  rest  of  the 
Army  to  go  somewhere  else.  Nous  verrons." 

The  1 7th  it  snowed  all  day,  and  on  the  iSth  it  changed 
to  rain  and  was  the  severest  storm  of  the  season.  B.  F. 
Story  returned  to  camp  from  furlough  on  the  i8th.  Cor 
poral  Chase  posted  the  guard  and  the  countersign  was 
"Chicago." 

Scott's  Notes:  "iQth.  Brigade  at  work  on  fortifications 
part  of  the  day.  Lieut.  Lull  returned  from  a  furlough  of 
eighty-six  days.  Two  recruits  came  on  that  day,  George 
Macomber  and  O'Hara." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Friday  Feb.  20.  Delightful  day.  A 
moderate  wind  that  has  dried  up  all  the  mud,  and  we  have 
a  dry,  hard  park  again." 

Serg't.  Page  returned  on  this  day.  On  the  2ist  Lieut. 
Scott  finished  up  his  house  and  occupied  it  with  Lieut.  Lull. 
Edward  E.  Rice  returned  from  the  hospital  at  Alexandria, 
and  2  new  recruits  Purbeck  and  Trumbull  arrived. 

LETTER  OF  CAPT.  PHILLIPS. 

U€AMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Feb.  22,  1863. 

...  I  enlisted  a  man  the  other  day,  and  a  recruit  turned 
up  day  before  yesterday,  having  spent  two  or  three  months 
in  travelling  from  Massachusetts  to  this  place,  in  charge  of 
different  Provost  Marshals  as  a  deserter.  So,  on  the  whole, 
we  are  gaining  a  little.  My  men  are  in  excellent  health 
and  spirits,  and  I  consider  the  Battery  now  quite  efficient. 


556  HISTORY    OF    THE 

.  .  .  When  I  awoke  this  morning  a  snow  drift  lay  in  the 
middle  of  the  room,  extending  from  the  bottom  of  the  door, 
and  sundry  leaks  at  the  eaves  had  allowed  a  feathery  spray 
to  cover  my  coats,  pants,  &c.  Outside  everything  reminded 
me  of  New  England;  the  air  was  filled  with  driving  snow 
flakes,  and  the  drifted  snow  lay  a  foot  or  two  deep.  Blake 
was  even  worse  off  than  I,  for,  inside  of  his  tent  the  snow 
lay,  as.he  said,  about  7  inches  on  a  level.  Scott  and  Lull 
in  their  new  palace  got  along  quite  comfortably.  This  won 
derful  mansion,  of  which  I  wrote  in  my  last,  was  finished 
yesterday,  and  is  now  the  wonder  of  the  place.  The  dimen 
sions  are  9x18,  the  door  is  in  one  end.  The  rear  serves  as  u 
sleeping  apartment,  and  is  ornamented  by  crossed  sabres  and 
other  warlike  instruments.  Drapery  curtains,  looped  up  at 
pleasure,  separate  this  from  the  front  room,  which  serves 
as  a  sitting  and  dining  room.  A  Sibley  stove  keeps  up  a 
summer  temperature,  and  elegant  paper  hangings  of  grain 
bags  create  a  comfortable  appearance  and  look  quite  neat 
and  gorgeous.  Our  dining  table  stands  in  the  centre,  with 
a  rubber  table  cloth, — we  have  ordered  damask, — and  we 
cluster  around  the  stove  to  cogitate,  converse,  &c.  &c.  At 
present  (Sunday  forenoon)  we  are  disposed  as  follows: — 
Scott  is  sitting  on  his  bed  reckoning  up  accounts,  today 
having  been  a  settling  day.  Lull  is  lying  on  his  bed  read 
ing.  Blake  is  sitting  by  the  door  reading  'Yankee  No 
tions,'  and  I  am  sitting  at  the  table  writing." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "Feb.  22.  A  heavy  snow  storm  all  last 
night  and  today,  drifting  all  around.  A  parade  was  or 
dered  at  12  m.,  weather  permitting,  to  listen  to  Washing 
ton's  Farewell  Address,  but  did  not  come  off.  Salutes  were 
fired  in  the  different  corps." 

Scott's  Notes :  "Feb.  22.  .  .  .  No  movement  outside  for 
two  days.  .  .  .  Snow  nearly  12  inches  deep." 

Guard  mounting  was  omitted  in  the  morning.  The 
weather  was  too  stormy  for  the  cooks  to  make  coffee  in  the 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY,  557 

morning.  Feb.  23d  was  clear  and  cold.  Lieut.  Spear  re 
turned  from  leave. 

Dyer's  Notes:  24th.  Drill  this  forenoon  as  usual  on 
manual  of  the  piece." 

On  the  24th  men  were  observed  at  work  where  a  new 
bridge  is  to  be  built  across  Potomac  Creek. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Feb.  25th.  Usual  drill  a.  m.  Weather 
pleasant  and  a  lazy  day.  Nothing  to  do  but  chop  double- 
ancl-twisted  logs  for  exercise." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Feb.  25th.  The  rebels  drove  in  our 
pickets  at  Hartwood  Church,  capturing  some  of  our  cav 
alry.  Rec'd  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's 
notice  but  not  to  start." 

Scott's  Notes :  "25th.  Took  a  ride  among  the  camps. 
Found  the  going  very  bad.  Snow  melting  fast.  Troops 
at  work  on  the  work  at  the  creek  today.  .  .  .  300  of  our 
cavalry  captured.  (At  Hartwood  Church.)  Feb.  27th. 
Cavalry  return  from  the  front.  Rebs  retire  across  the 
river,  taking  some  prisoners  and  horses.  Balloon  up  on  a 
long  reconnoissance.  The  Rebs  intended  to  destroy  Poto 
mac  Creek  bridge.  28th.  .  .  .  Afternoon  took  a  ride  to 
the  Lacey  house  opposite  Fredericksburg,  with  Lieuts.  Lull 
and  Spear.  Saw  the  Rebels  at  work  on  rifle  pits :  also  their 
cavalry  pickets.  Found  going  very  bad." 

Dyer's  Notes :  "Feb.  26th.     Another  recruit  today." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Feb.  27th,  1863.  .  .  .  Applied  for  10 
days'  leave." 

Chase's  Diary:  "Feb.  28th.  Company  drilled  on  the 
piece  a.  m.  Went  to  provost  marshal's  to  see  about  the 
boxes,  instead  of  drilling.  My  weight  today  is  168  Ibs. ; 
eighteen  Ibs.  'premium.'  March  ist.  Inspected  the  bridge 
over  Potomac  Creek,  and  the  fortifications  to  defend  the 
same,  this  p.  m.  with  Serg't. 'Page." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "March  2d.   .  .  .  Capt.  Martin  went  to 


558  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Washington  to  meet  Mrs.  Martin.  Rode  down  towards 
the  Phillips  house  to  get  ambrotypes  taken." 

Scott's  Notes :  "March  2d.  Drill  on  pieces.  Other  bat 
teries  of  Division  out  on  drill.  Mud  drying  up.  Com 
menced  to  build  another  house,  for  Spear." 

Dyer's  Notes :  "March  3d.  Another  recruit  came  today. 
22  new  horses." 


BREVET  RANK. 

An  Act  to  Authorize  the  brevetting  of  Volunteer  and  other  officers 
in  the  United  States  service. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  President 
of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  authorized  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  confer  brevet  rank  upon  such  com 
missioned  officers  of  the  Volunteer  and  other  forces  in  the  United 
States  service,  as  have  been,  or  may  hereafter  be,  distinguished  by  gal 
lant  actions  or  meritorious  conduct :  which  rank  shall  not  entitle  them 
to  any  increase  of  pay  or  emolument. 

Approved  March  3,  1863. 


Phillips'  Diary:  "March  4,  1863.  Cold  and  blustering. 
.  .  .  Captain  Martin  returned  from  Washington  with  Mrs. 
Martin  and  Mrs.  Walcott." 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  5th,  1863.  .  .  .  Balloon  up  on  a 
reconnoissance." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "March  7th.  Started  from  camp  at  7 
a.  m.  on  10  days'  leave.  Reached  Acquia  Creek  at  9,  started 
from  there  at  2,  in  the  'John  Brooks/  got  aground  and  re 
mained  so  till  4.  Reached  Washington  too  late  for  the 
train;  put  up  at  the  Metropolitan.  .  .  ." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Friday,  6th  March,  1863.  No  drill,  but 
field  movements  displayed  this  afternoon  out  on  the  drill 
ground.  7th.  Lieut.  T.  W.  Terry  of  the  I3th  Mass. 
Battery  arrived  here  today  on  a  visit  to  the  officers." 

Timothy  W.  Terry  had  been  Q.  M.  Sergeant  of  the  Fifth 
Mass.  Battery. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  559 

Dyer's  Notes:  "March  8th.  Sunday.  Cooking  range 
which  the  company  paid  for  by  subscription  came  today. 
Cost,  $50.00. 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  8th.  Lieut.  Terry  leaves  for 
Washington  to  join  his  battery  at  Fort  Monroe.  Attended 
divine  service  at  Captain  Martin's  Head  Quarters,  con 
ducted  by  Elias  Nason.  9th.  Lieut.  Spear  Officer  of  the 
Day.  Drill  on  pieces;  Scott.  .  .  .  Officers  of  the  5th  in 
vited  over  to  Captain  Martin's  Hd.  Qrs.  Band  in  attend 
ance." 

On  this  day  a  band  of  rebel  cavalry  passed  through  the 
Union  lines,  entered  Fairfax,  Va.  and  captured  a  general 
and  a  few  privates;  also  all  the  government  horses  in  the 
place,  and  made  their  escape. 

Chase's  Diary:  "March  Qth,  1863.  ...  A  'council  of 
war'  was  held  by  the  men,  and  they  voted  to  reform  the 
cook-house  discipline  and  to  relieve  Waddington  and  Burt 
from  the  cooking  department.  W.  &  B.  were  superseded 
by  Townsend  and  Trumbull,  who  entered  upon  their  duties 
with  the  new  machine  today.  A  new  cook-house  built  and 
several  improvements  made." 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  nth,  1863.  2  p.  m.  hitched  up 
for  drill  by  sections :  Lull,  Blake,  Spear.  3  p.  m.  guns  or 
dered  in  position  to  command  Potomac  Bridge,  fear  of  a 
raid  by  the  Rebs.  Ordered  to  report  on  some  bread. 
Waterman  in  position  near  our  left.  Eve,  sharp  lookout 
kept." 

Dyer:  "nth.  .  .  We  expect  a  raid  from  Stuart's  cav 
alry.  On  guard." 

Chase:  "nth.  .  .  .  A  fatigue  party  detailed  to  clear  up 
the  ground  round  the  guns,  and  three  extra  posts  for  guard 
added.  With  Whitcher  all  the  forenoon  cutting  and  draw 
ing  wood  to  camp  'for  family  use.'  A  picked  up  dinner, 
but  hot  supper  of  beef  steak  and  soft  bread.  A  game  of 
base  ball  started  after  roll  call  this  p.  m.  Company  ordered 


560  HISTORY    OF    THE 

at  the  evening  roll  call  to  be  ready  to  turn  out  at  a  moment's 
notice,  and  not  take  off  our  clothing.  I2th.  Everything 
quiet  as  usual  last  night." 

The  same  order  for  sleeping  was  given  for  the  night  of 
the  I 2th. 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  i2th.  Guns  still  in  position. 
New  recruit  came  in  today.  Brought  in  also  a  deserter. 
Men  employed  fitting  up  camp.  .  .  .  Received  notice  of 
discharge, — disability, — of  Geo.  F.  Manchester.  Signal 
lights  thrown  up  from  Hd.  Qrs." 

Dyer:  I2th.  Thursday:  "I  was  called  up  this  morning 
at  3  o'clock  to  go  on  guard.  Eighteen  men  are  detached 
on  the  guard  list." 

LETTER    OF    SERG'T.    W.    H.    PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Mar.  13,  1863. 

We  are  hourly  expecting  an  attack  from  the  rebels,  who 
are  coming  to  try  and  destroy  a  high  bridge  of  the  Acquia 
Creek  R.  R.  about  three  hundred  yards  from  our  camp.  Our 
Battery  is  in  position  on  a  hill;  also  the  Fourth  R.  L,  and 
several  others.  Our  pickets  are  drawn  in  to  lead  them  on. 
The  guns  are  all  run  back  some  from  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
to  be  out  of  sight,  and  we  will  let  them  get  to  the  bridge 
before  we  commence  firing.  Such  are  the  orders,  when,  if 
they  come,  a  force  will  cut  them  out  in  rear.  For  two  days 
and  nights  no  man  was  allowed  to  go  out  of  camp  or  un 
dress  at  night;  not  even  to  take  off  his  boots.  We  think 
Gen'l  Hooker  is  bound  to  trap  them.  I  am  anxious  for  the 
fun  to  begin,  and  think  they  will  be  surprised  when  we  open 
up  30  guns  on  them,  but  the  suspense  is  great." 

Captain  Phillips  was  in  Boston. 

Phillips'  Diary:  "March  13,  1863.  Dined  at  Young's 
with  Captain  Allen." 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  I3th.     Ice  makes  at  noon.     Guns 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY 


561 


still  in  position.  Visited  by  Captain  Martin  and  ladies. 
Sunday,  I5th.  Hitched  up  Battery.  Inspected  by  ist 
Lieut.  Scott.  Pieces  still  in  position.  Martin's  and  Haz- 
lett's  batteries  out  on  Inspection.  Eve,  snow  and  hail, 
thunder  and  lightning." 

Serg't.  Pattison  left  camp  on  furlough.  Captain  Phillips 
in  New  York  on  the  I5th.  Visited  the  iron  plated  ram 
"Dunderberg"  building  at  Webb's  ship  yard. 

Chase's  Diary :  ".  .  .  Ground  covered  with  hail  and  sleet 
this  morning.  March  I7th.  'St.  Patrick's  Day  in  the 
morning.'  Grand  gala  day  with  the  Irish  Brigade.  Bat 
tery  drill  about  an  hour,  and  at  4  o'clock.  Acted  as  gunner 
for  the  3d  Detachment." 

Captain  Phillips  March  I7th  was  in  Washington  on  the 
way  to  camp.  Met  Major  Rice  of  the  iQth,  (Mass.  Inf.) 
Captain  Barnard  (George  M.  Barnard  Jr.)  of  the  i8th,  and 
Adjt.  Patten  of  the  2Oth. 

RECRUITS. 

HEAD   QUARTERS 

IST  Div.  STH   CORPS, 

March  17,  1863. 
Special  Orders 
No.  21. 

The  following  named  enlisted  men,  having  expressed  a  desire  to 
serve  with  the  Artillery,  are  temporarily  attached  to  the  Batteries  in 
this  command,  with  the  consent  of  immediate  commanders: — 


Private  Nelson  Thrasher 
"       Thomas  Scott 
"       Samuel  F.  Brazee        "       "       "       " 

John  Lahee  "       "       "       '• 

Samuel  A.  Gorton        "       "       "       " 

\\  illiam  Martis  Co.  G.  32d.  Mass.  Vols. 

Michael  Graham  Co.  C.  1st  Michigan  Vols. 

Albert  Lindsley  Co.  C.  1st  Michigan  Vols. 

Richard  Hornby  Co.  G.  " 

Randall  Fox        Co.  G.  " 

Frank  Shepard    Co.  I.    " 

Walter  Northrop  Co.  I.  " 

J.  Van  Iderstine  Co.  I.  " 

William  Bugbee  Co.  K.        22d.  Mass.  Vols. 

Adolphus  S.  Crawford,  Co  F.  2d.  Maine  Vols. 


Co.   B.    14th  N.  Y.  Vols.       to  Battery  E.  Mass.  Arty. 


562 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Private  William  H.  Foss 
"       Charles  Keene 

William  H.  Me  Henry 
"       William  H.  Jones  Co.  C. 

Alfred  Fork 

"       Charles  E.  Foster     " 
"       John  Murray  Co.  I. 
"       F.  C.  Williams  Co.  K. 
"       Eobert  Joyner  Co.  F.      18th  Mass.  Vols. 

Ernest  Hein    Co.H.          "         "        " 

Richard  Downey  Co.  — .  25th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Fred  Bugler  Co.  F.  13th  N.  V.  Vols. 


Co.  F.  2d    Maine     Vols.    to  Battery  E.  Mass.  Arty 


By  command  of  Brig.  Gen'l  Griffin. 


HEAD  QRS.  Div.  ART'Y 

ist  Div.  5th  Corps,  March  ipth,  1863. 
Official : 


(Sd.)     C.  B.  MERVINE, 
A.   A.   G. 


A.  P.   MARTIN, 

Cabt.   Com'd'g.   Div.  Art'y. 


Colonel  Clement  A.  Lounsberry,  who  entered  the  ser 
vice  of  the  United  States  in  the  ist  Michigan  Reg't.  Infan 
try,  and  went  home  at  the  close  of  the  war  colonel  of  the 
20th  Michigan,  wrote  in  a  letter  dated  Fargo,  N.  D.  Aug. 
17,  1899:- 

"It  is  unfortunate  that  the  part  taken  by  the  ist  Michigan  in  this 
campaign  is  lost  to  history.  They,  however,  lost  35  killed  and  died  of 
wounds,  and  97  missing,  from  March  ist  to  June  3pth,  1863.  The  win 
ter  previous  they  had  been  guarding  the  Washington  and  Baltimore 
R.  R.,  and  came  to  the  Potomac  early  in  March.  They  were  at  this 
time  brigaded  with  the  i8th  Mass,  and  I3th  New  York.  At  Second 
Bull  Run  they  were  with  the  i8th  Mass,  in  their  assault  upon  the  Con 
federate  batteries,  advancing  under  a  terrific  fire,  in  which  they  lost  in 
a  few  minutes  eight  officers,  and  nearly  50  per  cent,  of  the  men  were 
either  killed  or  wounded.  They  went  into  action  with  20  officers  and 
227  men,  and  but  4  officers  were  in  camp  unhurt,  and  less  than  150  men, 
when  the  battle  was  over. 

The  regiment  had  seen  service  at  First  Bull  Run  and  was  then  re 
organized  'for  the  War.'  It  was  originally  made  up  of  militia  com 
panies,  and  was  the  first  western  regiment  to  reach  Washington,  in 
'Sixty-One.  It  was  from  the  cream  of  that  regiment  that  the  recruits 
mentioned  came." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  563 

Corporal  Shackley's  Notes:  "March  18,  1863,  a  number 
of  men  from  the  I4th  N.  Y.,  ist  Mich.,  320!  Mass,  and 
22d  Mass.  Infantry  Regiments  transferred  to  the  Battery." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "March  i8th.  Started  at  8  a.  m.  in  the 
'Zephyr'  for  Acquia  Creek.  Arrived  at  12.  Missed  the 
train,  took  the  next  one  at  3  p.  m.,  and  arrived  at  camp 
at  4." 

Chase's  Diary:  "March  i8th.  No  drill  today.  Captain 
Phillips  returned.  The  advance  troops  had  a  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  yesterday,  and  the  booming  of  artillery  was  heard 
today.  A  squad  of  recruits  came  today.  .  .  .  Gorton  and 
Leahy  came  to  board  with  us.  .  .  ." 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  I9th.  Battery  shooting  at  target 
near  us.  Our  pieces  in  position.  Cavalry  drive  the  Rebs 
at  Kelly's  Ford.  2Oth.  One  man  detailed  to  Battery  from 
22d  Mass.  Order  for  Review  of  Division  on  the  25th." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "March  2Oth.  The  ist  Brigade  went  on 
picket  this  morning." 

March  2 ist,  1863,  Jonas  Shackley  was  appointed  Cor 
poral  to  the  ist  Detachment.  Patrick  Welch  was  appointed 
Corporal  to  the  6th  Detachment. 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  2 ist  Rebs  undertake  to  cross 
the  Rappahannock  and  are  repulsed." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "March  22d.  .  .  .  Lieut.  Blake  started 
on  a  ten  days'  leave.  Fernald  of  my  class  called  round  in 
the  afternoon." 

Scott's  Notes :  "23d.  2  men  from  the  22d  Regt.  Bal 
loons  up  on  a  reconnoissance.  24th.  Review  for  the  25th 
postponed  (to  the  26th).  Rebs  seen  in  force  by  our  pick 
ets.  An  attack  expected." 

Chase's  Diary :  "March  24th.  .  .  .  Cutting  and  drawing 
up  wood  for  family  use,  with  Gorton  and  Leahy  part  of 
a.  m.  .  .  .  Sergt.  Pattison  returned." 

From  a  Letter  of  Capt.  Phillips,  March  24,  1863.  "While 
I  was  off  we  had  a  hedge  put  up  around  our  tents,  and  a 


564  HISTORY    OF    THE 

little  more  clone  in  the  way  of  fixing  up.  Our  quarters  are 
now  a  little  village  by  themselves.  25th.  About  midnight 
rec'd  orders  to  be  on  the  alert  as  the  enemy  was  expected  to 
make  a  dash/ 

Scott :  "25th.  Troops  turned  out  4  a.  m.  False  alarm. 
26th.  Division  reviewed  by  General  Meade.  Battery  in 
line." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "26th.  Squally  in  the  forenoon.  .  .  . 
Division  reviewed  in  the  afternoon.  .  .  .  The  artillery 
crammed  up  in  a  heap  in  the  worst  part  of  the  field." 

Chase:  "26th.  Went  with  the  Battery  to  the  Review. 
.  .  .  Reviewed  by  Generals  Hooker,  Meade,  and  Griffin. 
The  Division  made  a  fine  appearance,  and  was  witnessed  by 
quite  a  number  of  'the  gentler  sex,'  including  Mrs.  General 
Griffin's  sisters.  Weather  fine  most  of  the  day,  but  a  slight 
snow  squall  about  5  p.  m.  27th.  On  fatigue  today  .  .  . 
the  only  fatigue  duty  I've  done  since  last  November." 

Scott's  Notes:  "March  27th.  Sergt.  Morrison  goes 
home  on  recruiting  service  with  Lieut.  (Thomas  M.) 
Cargill  of  the  3d  Mass.  Battery.  Drill  by  Capt.  Phillips." 

Dyer's  Notes.  "29th.  We  have  had  quite  a  spirited 
game  of  base  ball  today." 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  CAPT.  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

March  29,  1863. 

It  is  the  day  after  a  battle  that  decides  the  result,  and 
many  a  defeat  in  the  hands  of  an  able  general  is  of  more 
advantage  than  a  barren  victory.  ...  In  my  opinion  if  this 
Army  is  to  make  the  main  attack  on  Richmond  from  the 
North,  it  should  be  aided  by  another  force  operating  from 
Suffolk  against  Petersburg  and  the  enemy's  communications 
with  the  South.  There  must  be  50,000  or  60,000  men 
around  Fort  Monroe,  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  and  20,000 
could  hold  these  points,  leaving  40,000  free  to  operate 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  565 

against  Petersburg.  A  vigorous  movement  upon  this  place 
would  oblige  the  enemy  to  abandon  Richmond,  or  to  weaken 
its  defences  so  much  that  General  Hooker  would  find  it  an 
easy  capture.  It  is  not  impossible  that  the  main  attack 
may  be  made  on  the  south  side  of  the  James  River." 

Chase's  Diary:  "March  315:,  1863.  .  .  .  About  3  inches 
of  snow  on  the  ground  and  rain  one  minute  and  snow  the 
next.  .  .  .  Cleared  up  fine  p.  m.  the  snow  nearly  all  melted. 
Spent  the  day  in  the  tent  playing  cards  and  dominoes.  No 
roll  call  this  morning.  Eighteen  months  in  service.  .  .  . 
Gained  'the  hilltop  of  our  service'  today.  Will  the  descent 
be  as  easy  as  the  ascent?  3  spare  wheels  taken  away  to 
day." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "3ist.  .  .  .  About  midnight  received 
orders  to  be  in  readiness  as  the  rebels  were  at  Hartwood 
Church." 

Scott:  "3 1 st.  .  .  .  Roads  very  bad  and  creeks  rising. 
.  .  .  Our  pieces  still  in  position." 


FROM  LETTERS  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

April  ist,  1863.  Camp  near  Potomac  Creek:  "Day  be 
fore  yesterday  I  rode  down  to  the  Lacey  house,  and  took  a 
look  at  Fredericksburg.  The  inhabitants  appeared  to  have 
moved  back  somewhat,  and  a  few  ladies  were  promenading 
the  streets,  dressed  as  stylishly,  for  aught  I  could  see,  as 
our  Northern  belles. 

April  5th.  Last  Wednesday,  Scott  and  I  rode  down  to 
the  town  of  Falmouth  where  the  2Oth  Regiment  is  en 
camped.  I  have  several  acquaintances  in  this  regiment; 
among  them  Adjutant  Patten  of  the  class  of  '58  and  Cap 
tain  Henry  L.  Abbott  of  my  class. 

A  part  of  the  way  we  went  on  the  same  road- on  which 
we  marched  last  summer  on  our  way  to  join  General  Pope, 
and  it  is  astonishing  what  changes  have  taken  place  since 


566  HISTORY    OF    THE 

that  time.  Then  we  marched  along  a  narrow  country  road 
through  a  thick  forest.  Now  nothing  is  left  of  the  forest. 
The  country  presents  nothing  but  a  wide  expanse  of  naked, 
barren  hills.  Fences  have  disappeared,  and  the  old  road 
can  hardly  be  traced  amid  the  labyrinth  of  wagon  tracks. 

The  troops  have  gradually  moved  back  from  the  river, 
and  there  are  now  hardly  any  camps  within  two  or  three 
miles  of  Fredericksburg.  This  movement  has  been  more  a 
matter  of  necessity  than  of  choice,  as  troops  must  camp 
near  firewood  in  winter  time. 

The  town  of  Falmouth  offers  nothing  remarkable.  It 
consists  of  300  or  400  houses,  situated  in  a  bowl  shaped  val 
ley  on  the  edge  of  the  river.  Sentinels  of  the  Provost 
Guard  are  posted  in  the  streets,  and  the  principal  houses 
are  occupied  as  brigade  and  regimental  headquarters.  The 
population,  exclusive  of  the  2Oth  Reg't.  consists  principally 
of  tow-headed  children  and  a  few  clay-faced  women.  Be 
tween  the  town  and  the  river  a  line  of  sentinels  are  pacing 
back  and  forth  just  as  they  do  round  camp  at  home.  This 
is  the  outer  picket  line  stationed  on  a  narrow  strip  of 
meadow,  which  runs  along  the  shore.  On  the  other  shore 
is  a  corresponding  line  of  rebel  pickets,  posted  at  rather 
longer  intervals  than  ours,  and  more  inclined  to  stand  still 
and  sit  down.  A  mill  just  opposite  the  town  appeared  to  be 
a  kind  of  headquarters,  as  there  were  half  a  dozen  greybacks 
lounging  round.  The  2Oth  had  their  dress  parade  while  we 
were  there,  in  one  of  the  streets,  perhaps  500  yards  from  the 
rebel  pickets,  who  have  the  privilege  of  witnessing  the  show 
for  nothing.  An  order  has  just  been  issued  establishing 
distinctive  badges  (see  p.  20)  for  the  different  divisions  of 
the  Army.  All  the  members  of  our  Division,  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  are  to  wear  a  red  Maltese  cross  in  the  centre 
of  the  top  of  the  cap.  I  rather  like  the  idea.  The  object 
is  to  prevent  straggling,  as  every  man  will  be  compelled  to 
wear  a  badge  and  thus  proclaim  where  he  belongs." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  567 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  2,  1863.  .  .  .  Lieut.  Blake  re 
turned  and  Corporal  Gibbs  left  on  furlough." 

Scott :  "April  2d.  .  .  .  3d  Army  Corps  said  to  be  mov 
ing  to  Acquia  Creek  to  embark.  Roads  drying  up  fast." 

Chase :  "3d.  .  .  .  Spent  the  evening  playing  euchre  with 
Gorton  vs.  Leahy  and  B.  Graham.  4th.  .  .  .  Commenced 
snowing  about  7  p.  m.  5th.  Sunday.  All  last  night 
snowing,  with  a  high  wind.  About  five  inches  of  snow  on 
the  ground  this  morning.  No  roll  call  last  night  or  this 
morning,  on  account  of  the  stormy  weather. 

Battery  arrived  in  front  of  Yorktown,  Va,  one  year  ago 
today,  when  we  first  heard  the  guns  of  the  enemy.  Lieut. 
Lull  left  camp  for  home." 

IN    THE    MASS.    LEGISLATURE. 

RESOLVES    CONCERNING    MASSACHUSETTS     REGIMENTS 
IN    THE    FEDERAL    ARMY. 

Resolved,  That  Massachusetts  bears  in  her  heart  those  of  her  loyal 
citizens  who  have  gone  forth  to  defend  the  constitution  and  the  laws, 
and  to  establish  the  integrity  of  our  national  government: 

That  she  views  with  satisfaction  and  pride  their  steadfast  loyalty, 
and  their  gallant  achievements : 

That  she  will  continue  to  encourage  and  sustain  them  to  the  full 
extent  of  her  power,  and  will  send  such  reinforcements  to  their  aid  as 
the  national  authorities  shall,  from  time  to  time,  demand : 

That  never  has  her  determination  to  support  the  government,  or  her 
assurance  of  final  success,  been  stronger  than  today: 

That,  as  she  was  the  first  to  enter,  so  will  she  be  the  last  to  leave 
the  field,  until  every  armed  traitor  has  disappeared  from  the  land. 

Resolved,  That  his  Excellency  the  Governor  be  requested  to  for 
ward  copies  of  these  Resolves  to  the  commanders  of  Massachusetts 
regiments  in  the  field,  with  the  request  that  they  be  communicated  to 
their  respective  commands. 

Approved  April  6,  1863. 


Chase's  Diary:  "April  6,  1863.  Drill  on  pieces,  which 
are  still  in  position;  12  m.  Grand  Review  of  Cavalry  by 
Abraham  Lincoln  our  President, — God  bless  him." 


568  HISTORY    OF    THE 

A  CAVALRY  REVIEW. 
LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 
"Ho.  ORS.  BATTERY  E.  MASS.  ART'Y. 
CAMP  NEAR  POTOMAC  CREEK,  VA. 

April  7,  1863. 

President  Lincoln  is  on  here  just  now  and  will,  I  suppose, 
review  the  whole  army  before  leaving.  Yesterday  he  re 
viewed  the  Cavalry  under  Major  Gen.  Stoneman,  about 
13,000  in  number.  The  review  was  announced  at  12  o'clock 
and  I  concluded  to  go.  So  Scott,  Blake,  and  I  mounted  and 
set  off.  The  roads  were  a  little  muddy,  but  not  very  bad. 
The  Cavalry  were  drawn  up  in  a  hollow  square  covering 
considerable  ground,  in  fact,  there  was  no  one  spot  from 
which  you  could  see  them  all. 

An  American  flag  in  the  centre  of  the  square  marked  the 
position  of  the  reviewing  officer,  and  thither  we  rode  and 
soon  found  ourselves  in  a  crowd  of  mounted  officers  of  all 
grades,  from  generals  to  lieutenants;  major-generals  were 
quite  plenty,  in  fact,  I  do  not  think  I  ever  saw  so  many 
before,  and  there  were  brigadiers  without  number. 

A  guard  was  placed  to  keep  a  place  clear  for  the  review 
ing  officer,  and  they  paid  no  regard  to  brigadiers,  keeping 
them  back  with  the  rest. 

General  Stoneman  was  quite  conspicuous,  wearing  his 
sash  across  the  shoulder  'Officer  of  the  Day'  style. 

A  little  after  twelve  the  President  arrived,  announced  by 
a  salute  of  21  guns,  fired  in  poor  style  by  a  horse  battery. 
General  Hooker  rode  alongside  of  him,  General  Butterfield 
just  behind,  and  then  a  numerous,  nameless  staff,  and  an 
escort  of  Rush's  Lancers. 

Mrs.  Lincoln  drove  up  in  a  carriage  and  took  a  stand  in 
front  of  the  crowd,  in  which  were  half  a  dozen  ladies  on 
horseback.  Then  the  President,  accompanied  by  Hooker 
and  Stoneman,  started  off  to  review,  and  an  immense  caval- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  569 

cade  clattered  after  them.  Although  they  rode  along  the 
lines  at  a  slow  gallop,  the  process  occupied  an  hour  or  two. 
.  .  .  General  Hooker  is  the  finest  looking  general  in  the 
army:  tall  and  straight,  with  light  hair  and  florid  com 
plexion.  General  Stoneman  is  a  fine  looking  man :  tall,  and 
with  a  long  beard.  He  is  a  very  good  cavalry  officer. 
While  the  cavalcade  was  riding  down  the  lines,  I  took  the 
occasion  to  look  round  the  crowd. 

There  were  lots  of  major  generals  that  I  never  saw  be 
fore.  There  was  Carl  Schurz  looking  very  savage,  Maj. 
General  Howard  with  one  arm,  and  Major  General  Meade. 
I  also  met  Scott  of  my  class  now  General  Gordon's  assistant 
adjutant  general,  and  S.  M.  Weld  on  Benham's  staff.  By 
and  by  the  President  returned  to  his  station,  and  the  troops 
commenced  to  pass  in  review.  This  was  rather  a  tedious 
process,  but  we  sat  it  through.  The  ist  Mass,  looked  very 
well.  After  the  Cavalry  came  the  batteries  of  Horse  Artil 
lery  attached  to  Stoneman' s  command,  and  they  passed  a 
second  time  at  a  trot.  And  then  the  escort  of  Lanciers 
came  up,  wheeled  into  line  at  a  trot  in  front  of  the  Presi 
dent  in  splendid  style,  and  then  we  went  home  to  dinner. 
Last  night  I  received  an  order  that  the  5th  Corps  would  be 
reviewed  today,  but  it  was  countermanded  this  morning." 

SOME  RECRUITS  GO  BACK. 

By  Special  Order  No.  29,  Head  Quarters  ist  Division 
5th  Corps,  April  7,  1863,  the  following  named  enlisted  men, 
temporarily  attached  to  the  Batteries  of  the  Division,  were 
relieved  and  ordered  to  report  without  delay  to  their  regi 
ment,  the  ist  Michigan: — Privates  Lindsley,  Hornby,  Fox, 
Shepard,  Northrop,  and  Van  Iderstine. 

GRAND  REVIEW  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

From  Captain  Phillips'  Letter  of  April  Qth : — "President 
Lincoln  rode  round  through  the  camp,  the  troops  being 


570  HISTORY    OF    THE 

drawn  up  in  line  on  the  regimental  parades.  He  rode  by 
our  camp  about  half  past  one:  we  presented  sabres,  he 
doffed  his  hat,  and  the  ceremony  was  over.  Yesterday  the 
grand  review  of  the  season  came  off.  The  2d,  3d,  5th  and 
one  other  corps  turned  out  on  a  large  plain  near  the  Phillips 
house,  and  in  full  view  of  the  Rebels.  The  last  corps  men 
tioned  being  some  distance  off,  I  did  not  learn  what  it  was, 
I  think  it  must  have  been  the  6th.  [In  his  Diary  he  says 
"6th."]  .  .  .  The  troops  were  drawn  up  ...  each  corps 
in  three  lines  of  a  division  each,  each  division  of  three  bri 
gades  in  line  of  battalions  and  each  battalion  in  column 
closed  en  masse. 

The  Artillery  did  not  turn  out. 

There  must  have  been  in  the  neighborhood  of  80,000  or 
90,000  men. 

About  ii  o'clock  the  President  and  General  Hooker  rode 
up  with  the  usual  cavalcade  behind,  and  Scott,  Spear,  and 
I  fell  in  with  the  staff,  having  made  up  our  minds  that  this 
was  the  only  way  to  see  the  review.  The  President  rode  a 
dark  bay  horse,  which  he  has  ridden  all  the  time.  General 
Hooker  on  his  usual,  tall,  white  horse.  Two  little  boys 
about  8  and  12,  I  suppose  junior  Lincolns,  followed  the 
President. 

The  2d  Corps  was  the  first  reviewed,  and  the  President 
rode  down  in  front  of  the  ist  Division,  and  we  pelted  after 
him.  As  we  rode  along,  I  began  to  have  some  idea  of  the 
pleasure  of  riding  in  a  cavalry  charge.  Half  way  down  the 
line  we  came  to  a  ditch  and  mud  hole,  and  I  expected  to  see 
somebody  stuck,  but  the  cavalcade  all  got  through  somehow, 
and  away  we  went  down  the  line,  round  the  flank,  and  up 
the  second  line.  More  ditches  and  mud,  but  we  pelt  along 
up  this  line,  down  the  third  and  round  in  rear,  and  the 
Corps  is  reviewed.  Then  we  travel  through  the  5th  Corps 
in  the  same  way;  the  cavalcade  diminishing  in  numbers  all 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  571 

the  time;  then  the  30!  Corps  was  finished  up  in  the  same 
way. 

Then  the  President  and  General  Hooker  took  position  by 
the  colors,  and  we,  the  staff,  formed  behind  them,  packed 
like  dried  herrings.  It  is  very  pleasant  being  in  a  mounted 
crowd,  particularly  if  the  horses  round  you  are  of  a  kicking 
kind.  However,  no  accident  occurred,  and  we  sat  patiently 
for  two  hours,  while  three  corps  passed  in  review.  There 
was  the  usual  variety  of  officers  and  men,  but  a  description 
would  be  uninteresting  unless  from  a  better  pen  than  mine. 

By  the  time  it  was  all  over  our  appetites  were  pretty 
hearty,  and  we  raced  home  to  dinner.  We  had  rather  a 
funny  time  going  and  coming.  Spear  has  a  great  tall 
horse,  that  has  no  idea  of  stopping  after  he  gets  started, 
and  Scott's  horse  is  a  little  worse,  and  never  stops  till  you 
run  him  into  a  stone  wall  or  a  house.  As  we  were  going  to 
the  review  we  started  off  at  a  slow  trot,  but  as  each  horse 
has  a  great  fancy  for  being  ahead,  our  trot  soon  changed 
into  a  run,  and  away  we  went.  After  running  about  half 
a  mile,  I  reined  up,,  but  the  others  kept  on.  Spear  succeeded 
in  stopping  soon  after,  but  Scott  kept  on  till  we  began  to 
think  he  was  going  to  Acquia  Creek.  Finally  he  got  his 
horse  off  the  road,  and  ran  him  into  a  dense  thicket  of  grape 
vines  which  stopped  his  career.  Unless  he  had  done  this  it 
is  doubtful  whether  he  would  have  stopped  at  all,  as  his  curb 
chain  had  broken,  and  the  horse  had  it  all  his  own  way.  On 
our  return  we  fell  in  with  Lieuts.  (W.  H.)  Follett  and 
(Lewis  V.)  Osgood  of  Martin's  Battery,  the  latter  having 
a  horse  very  much  like  Scott's.  They  got  run  away  with 
twice;  the  first  time  the  horses  were  stopped  by  running  into 
a  fence  round  General  Whipple's  Hd.  Qrs.,  the  second  time 
they  rushed  through  Major  General  Slocum's  staff,  over 
half  a  dozen  ditches,  and  finally  brought  up  among  the  tents 
round  General  Griffin's  Quarters." 


572  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Scott's  Notes:  "April  9,  1863.  Ice  made.  Drill  on 
pieces.  Waterman  taken  his  pieces  from  picket.  The 
President  reviews  troops  on  the  Potomac:  Belle  Plains, 
loth.  Drill  on  pieces.  Company  mustered  for  strength. 
President  reviews  troops  at  Stafford  Court  House." 

Chase:  "April  loth.  .  .  .  Music  at  General  Griffin's 
Head  Quarters  last  night  by  the  band  of  the  33d  Mass. 
Regiment." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "April  nth,  1863.  Saturday.  Base  ball 
this  afternoon." 

From  Letter  of  Captain  Phillips,  April  I2th: — "The  past 
week  has  been  noted  for  reviews.  On  Thursday,  hearing 
that  the  President  would  review  the  ist  Corps,  I  started  off 
with  Lieuts.  Follett  and  Osgood  of  Martin's  Battery,  to  see 
it.  Our  jaunt  proved  a  long  one,  and  the  review  seemed 
ever  receding,  but  after  travelling  10  or  12  miles,  we 
found  the  Corps  drawn  up  on  a  level  plain  on  the  shore  of 
the  Potomac  River.  They  had  just  begun  to  pass  in  review 
when  we  arrived  so  that  we  saw  the  principal  part  of  the 
show.  The  review,  on  the  whole,  was  quite  successful;  the 
field  was  very  smooth  and  level,  the  day  was  beautiful,  and 
the  troops  marched  well.  We  arrived  at  home  about  sup 
per  time,  tired  and  hungry. 

Friday  was  very  warm  and  pleasant,  and  the  President 
reviewed  the  nth  and  I2th  Corps.  I  concluded,  however, 
that  I  had  had  enough  of  reviews  and  stayed  at  home. 

In  obedience  to  orders  I  mustered  the  Battery  and  for 
warded  the  rolls  to  the  Adjutant  General's,  for  the  use  of 
the  Provost  Marshal  General  in  enforcing  the  draft.  I 
hope  they  will  fill  up  the  old  regiments  and  batteries  at 
once.  I  find  I  have  117  enlisted  men  on  the  roll,  needing 
34  recruits. 

This  forenoon  was  warm  and  a  little  muggy,  and  we  had 
the  novelty  of  being  reviewed  by  a  foreign  officer :  Major 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  573 

General  Fogliardi  of  the  Swiss  army.  I  received  the  infor 
mation  just  as  I  was  hitching  up  for  my  usual  inspection. 
The  batteries  were  drawn  up  in  a  hollow  square  for  review, 
and  the  General  rode  round  the  square.  He  did  not  seem 
inclined  to  spend  much  time  in  looking  round,  but  rode 
round  as  if  he  was  used  to  reviews.  ...  I  have  read  Gen 
eral  Butler's  speech,  and  consider  it  the  finest  oration  deliv 
ered  for  a  long  time." 

General  Fogliardi  had  been  chief  of  staff  of  Emperor 
Napoleon  III.  At  this  review  he  wore  a  cocked  hat  adorned 
with  cock's  feathers.  He  appeared  to  be  about  30  years  of 
age,  and  wore  glasses.  He  was  accompanied  by  Colonel 
Repetti  and  Lieut.  Lubin,  the  latter  acting  as  interpreter. 

Chase's  Diary:  "Sunday,  April  12,  1863.  Corporal  Gibbs 
returned  from  his  furlough.  .  .  .  April  I3th.  On  guard. 
Countersign  'Brighton.'  .  .  .  Unpacked  all  the  ammunition 
in  the  caissons." 

Scott's  Notes:  "April  i3th.  ...  A  general  movement  of 
cavalry.  Heard  of  Lieut.  Lull's  receiving  a  commission  in 
the  1 4th  Battery." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "Monday,  April  I3th.  .  .  .  Lieut.  Spear 
and  I  took  a  ride  down  to  the  Lacey  house.  .  .  .  About  10 
p.  m.  received  orders  to  have  5  days'  hard  bread  packed  in 
knapsacks  and  3  days'  ready  to  issue." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "April  I4th.  This  morning  we  had  or 
ders  to  prepare  for  a  march.  Grain  bags  were  made  &c. 
.  .  .  Went  to  Falmouth  and  changed  ammunition." 

Scott:  "April  I4th.  .  .  .  2d  and  3d  Army  Corps  send 
sick  to  the  rear.  Balloons  up  reconnoitering."  (At  Fal 
mouth.) 

Chase:  "April  I4th.  Usual  drill  a.  m.  Went  with  part 
of  the  company  to  Falmouth  Station  p.  m.  to  change  a  part 
of  the  ammunition.  Took  all  the  caissons  and  limbers  and 
exchanged  the  shrapnell  for  new  ammunition  of  the  same 
pattern.  Had  another  view  of  the  battle  ground  at  Fred- 


574  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ericksburg;  drank  from  Washington's  favorite  spring,  and 
the  afternoon  passed  away  very  pleasantly.  Weather  fine. 
Indications  of  a  movement  of  the  Army." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "i4th.  Changed  Schenkle  shrapnell  for 
a  newer  pattern  without  the  metallic  covering.  Lieut.  Col. 
Webb' inspected  horses." 

GENERAL  MEADE  IN  COMMAND. 

April  1 5th,  1863,  Major  General  G.  G.  Meade  was  as 
signed  to  the  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps. 

Scott's  Notes:  "April  I5th.  Turned  in  at  station  4 
horses.  Rainy.  Country  flooded.  Movement  of  cavalry 
stopped  by  Reb.  cavalry;  found  enemy  at  the  Ford.  Some 
firing.  Lieut.  Lull  returns  from  Mass.  Went  to  Falmouth 
to  purchase  a  horse.  None  there." 

Dyer's  Notes:  .  .  .  "Troops  moved  to  the  front  in  the 
hardest  of  the  rain,  but  had  to  return,  as  the  roads  were  too 
bad  to  advance." 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  I5th.  .  .  .  The  tent  flooded  with 
water.  No  roll  call  this  morning.  .  .  .  Orderly  Serg't. 
Smith  left  camp  on  furlough." 

Scott's  Notes:  "April  i6th,  1863.  .  .  .  Went  to  the  Sta 
tion.  Drew  for  the  Battery  9  horses.  Got  an  order  from 
Chief  Q.  M.  to  purchase  horse  of  Gov. :  while  at  Falmouth 
saw  the  rebel  camp  and  guns." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  i6th.  .  .  .  Went  to  see  Weston, 
who  has  just  joined  the  i8th  Regiment  with  a  2d  Lieut.'s 
commission.  April  i8th  I  paid  $120  to  Capt.  Pierce  for 
my  horse." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Sunday,  April  19,  1863.  Carloads  of 
sick  soldiers  passed  here  going  towards  Acquia  Creek  to 
day." 

Chase:  "April  I9th.  .  .  .  Trains  of  cars  very  busy  to 
day,  some  run  with  great  speed  and  others,  up  trains,  are 
heavily  loaded." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY,  575 

Phillips'  Diary:  "igth.  Inspection  at  i  p.  m.;  then  rode 
down  to  the  Phillips  house  with  Spear  and  took  a  look 
through  the  telescope  at  the  Signal  Station." 

Scott's  Notes:  "April  2Oth.  The  President  with  Secre 
tary  Stanton  visits  the  Army  again." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "226..  Received  orders  to  be  in  readi 
ness  to  move.  At  10  p.  m.  began  to  rain." 

From  Phillips'  Letter  of  the  23d: — "There  are  several 
regiments  in  our  Division  of  two  years'  troops  whose  time 
of  service  is  almost  up,  and  who  are  making  arrangements 
for  going  home.  I  do  not  imagine  any  of  the  men  will  re- 
enlist  until  they  have  been  at  home  twro  or  three  weeks,  and 
spent  all  their  money.  However  much  a  soldier  may  rail  at 
the  discomforts  of  his  life,  he  is  as  certain  to  return  to  it  as 
a  sailor  is  to  go  to  sea  again." 

Dyer's  Notes :  "April  23d.  .  .  .  Post  rations  again  or 
dered  for  the  Battery." 

Scott's  Notes :  "April  24th.  .  .  .  Our  pieces  still  in  posi 
tion.  One  piece  of  artillery  put  in  fortifications  at  the 
Creek  bridge.  Communication  open  to  Rappahannock  Sta 
tion  from  Alexandria  by  R.  R." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  26th.  .  .  .  Scott  and  I  took  a 
ride  round  by  Falmouth  &c." 

Scott :  "26th.  Saw  the  Rebels  on  picket :  their  horses  can 
be  seen  feeding. 

Chase's  Diary:  "April  25th.  Serg't.  Smith  and  Gard 
ner  Groves  returned  to  camp." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  27.  Pleasant.  The  Fifth  Corps 
marched  this  forenoon.  Sykes's  Division  at  10,  Griffin's  at 
n,  Humphreys'  at  12.  One  battery  with  each  Division. 
Waterman's  accompanying  our  Division." 

Scott's  Notes:  "April  27th.  One  regiment,  I3th  New 
York,  refuse  to  march,  their  time  being  up.  They  remain 
in  camp.  Seward  (W.  H.  Seward  Secretary  of  State)  re- 


576  HISTORY    OF    THE 

views  one  of  the  Corps.  Salute  fired.  Troops  moving  up 
the  river.  One  Brooklyn  regiment  leaves  for  home." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "April  27th.  .  .  .  The  5th  Regulars 
(Art'y)  did  not  go." 

Chase's  Diary:  "27th.  The  loth  New  York  Reg't.  of 
Infantry — Zouaves — passed  our  camp  this  a.  m.  on  their 
way  home,  free  from  service.  .  .  .  Warm  bread  for  supper 
per  Gov't.  Bakers;  selling  out  cheap  as  the  troops  are  mov 
ing.  Weather  delightful." 

AN    INVALID    CORPS. 

On  the  28th  of  April  the  campaign  opened,  and  an  Invalid 
Corps  was  authorized. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  April  28,  1863. 
General  Orders 

No.  105 

The  organization  of  an  Invalid  Corps  is  hereby  authorized. 

The  Corps  shall  consist  of  Companies,  and  if  it  shall  hereafter  be 
thought  best,  of  Battalions. 

The  Companies  shall  be  made  up  from  the  following  sources,  viz. : 

First,  By  taking  those  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  commands  now 
in  the  field, — whether  actually  present,  or  temporarily  absent, — who, 
from  wounds  received  in  action  or  disease  contracted  in  the  line  of 
duty,  are  unfit  for  field  service,  but  are  still  capable  of  effective  gar 
rison  duty,  or  such  other  light  duty  as  may  be  required  of  an  Invalid 
Corps. 

Regimental  Commanders  shall  at  once  make  out,  from  information 
received  from  their  medical  and  company  officers,  and  from  their  own 
knowledge,  rolls, — according  to  the  Form  furnished, — of  the  names  of 
all  the  officers  and  enlisted  men,  under  their  commands,  who  fulfill  the 
following  conditions,  viz. : 

1,  That  they  are  unfit  for  active  field  service  on  account  of  wounds 
or  disease  contracted  in  the  line  of  duty,  this  fact  being  certified  by  a 
fied  by  the  medical  officer,  as  above,  after  personal  examination. 

2,  That  they  are  fit  for  garrison  duty :  this  fact  being  likewise  certi- 
medical  officer  in  the  service,  after  personal  examination. 

3,  That  they  are,  in  the  opinion  of  their  commanding  officers,  meri 
torious  and  deserving. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.    D.    TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY,  577 

Phillips'  Diary :  "April  28.  The  Corps  has  marched  sev 
eral  miles  beyond  Hartwood  Church.  The  5th  and  nth 
Corps  are  the  only  ones  that  have  marched."  Hartwood 
Church  was  a  few  miles  north  of  Falmouth. 

Scott's  Notes :  "April  28th.  Pieces  in  position.  Drill  on 
pieces.  i3th  N.  Y.  Regiment  leaves  for  home.  29th.  Our 
forces  begin  to  cross  the  river  above  and  below." 

Scott's  Notes :  "April  3Oth.  Battery  ordered  to  report  at 
United  States  Ford  to  cross  the  (Rappahannock)  river. 
Hitched  up,  broke  camp  and  marched  at  i  p.  m.  At  7  p.  m. 
camped  for  the  night  at  Hartwood  Church  (8  miles)  near 
the  Chancellor  House.  Eve,  in  camp.  Travelling  today 
bad.  Forge  not  in  camp." 

Chase's  Diary :  "April  3Oth.  Quite  rainy.  Drivers  or 
dered  to  fill  bags  with  grain.  .  .  .  An  order  read  to  us  this 
morning  that  the  recent  movements  of  the  Army  have  been 
successful  &c.  .  .  .  Rather  hard  marching.  The  trail  of 
the  forge  was  broken,  and  men  were  at  work  all  night  re 
pairing  it.  Some  of  the  caissons  had  much  difficulty  in 
marching,  and  were  delayed  on  the  road  an  hour  or  more. 
Teams  were  sent  back  to  help  pull  up  the  delinquents.  Na 
tional  Fast  by  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  3Oth.  .  .  .  The  5th,  nth  and 
1 2th  Corps  are  across  the  river.  Camped  at  dark  at  Hart- 
wood  Church,  within  100  yards  of  our  camping  ground  last 
November.  .  .  .  Broke  Forge  stock." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "May  i,  1863.  Reveille  at  3  o'clock  this 
morning.  Boots  and  saddles  about  5.  Hitched  up  and  left 
camp.  We  crossed  U.  S.  Ford  at  1 1  a.  m.  Heard  firing 
ahead  all  day.  Wheeling  very  bad.  Reached  the  scene  of 
action  about  5  p.  m.,  and  drove  into  line  at  10  yds.  intervals. 
Fed  horses,  made  and  drank  coffee,  then  turned  in.  Firing 
ceased  about  6  o'clock.  On  guard." 

Chase's  Account:  "May  ist  .  .  .  A  fine  May  morning. 
.  .  .  Passed  through  the  village  of  Eagle  Gold  Mine,  and 


578  HISTORY    OF    THE 

halted  about  f  of  an  hour,  halted  again  for  about  an  hour, 
and  then  resumed  our  march  and  crossed  a  pontoon  bridge 
over  the  Rappahannock,  near  United  States  Ford,  about 
\  past  one  p.  m.  A  heavy  firing  of  both  artillery  and  mus 
ketry  commenced  in  front  about  3  p.  m.  and  lasted  until 
night.  A  very  heavy  cannonading  commenced  about  sunset. 
A  hard  march  today,  roads  very  rough  and  muddy.  Troops 
in  large  bodies  moving  to  the  front  all  day.  Weather  fine, 
but  rather  warm  marching." 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  ist.  .  .  .  Pressed  on  to  join  Divi 
sion.  Went  into  park  at  6  p.  m.  near  the  Chancellor  House. 
Skirmishing  going  on  with  enemy.  Horses  stood  in  har 
ness  all  night.  Division  tried  to  obtain  Banks' s  Ford,  but 
were  not  successful.  .  .  .  Waterman's  Battery  in  position 
last  night.  At  dark  quite  a  heavy  skirmish." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "May  ist.  .  .  .  The  .^d  Corps  passed  us, 
leaving  their  knapsacks  in  the  woods. 

May  2,  1863,  formed  line  of  battle,  our  left  resting  on 
the  river.  Barnes's  Battery  on  our  right  (ist  N.  Y. 
Light  Battery  C,  Capt.  Almont  Barnes),  Randol  (ist  U.  S. 
Batteries  E  and  G,  Captain  A.  M.  Randol),  Hazlett,  and 
Martin  on  our  left,  Humphreys'  Division  supporting  us. 
Heavy  firing  on  our  right  and  centre.  All  quiet  in  our 
front.  The  ist  Corps  came  over  today.  Our  position  in  d 
beautiful  oak  grove,  strengthened  by  a  hedge  abattis, 
(Felled  trees,  with  their  sharp  branches  placed  outward,  an<l 
so  interlaced  as  to  present  an  irregular  and  thick  row  oi 
pointed  stakes  towards  the  enemy.)  rifle  pits,  &c." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Saturday,  May  2,  1863.  Our  Battery 
with  Martin's  and  the  5th  Regulars  still  in  park.  Been 
hitched  up  all  night.  The  4th  R.  I.  Battery  came  into  park 
in  our  rear  about  5.  ...  We  left  here  about  8  and  went 
into  position  on  the  left  in  a  wood  on  a  high  hill,  command 
ing  a  front  of  600  acres.  Quiet  in  our  post  all  day.  About 
5  p.  m.  heavy  firing  commenced  on  our  right,  and  was  kept 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  579 

up  at  intervals  until  midnight.    A  picket  by  discharging  his 
musket  created  quite  a  stir-about  on  the  line  about  10." 

Chase's  Account:  "May  2d.  Teams  remained  hitched 
up  all  night  last  night.  Removed  nothing  from  the  pieces 
or  caissons  but  our  blankets.  Cannonading  last  night  kept 
up  until  about  8  p.  m.  Rested  very  well  last  night.  Battery 
left  the  ground  occupied  last  night  at  7.30,  and  marched 
about  £  a  mile  easterly,  and  placed  the  guns  'in  Battery'  in 
a  piece  of  woods  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  where  they  command 
a  good  sweep  in  front.  The  infantry  are  engaged  in  cutting 
down  the  trees  and  piling  up  wooden  defenses.  The  posi 
tion  is  a  good  one,  well  elevated,  and  the  ground  hard  and 
dry.  Weather  delightful.  The  4th  Rhode  Island  Battery 
joined  us  this  morning,  having1  been  engaged  in  a  slight 
engagement  last  evening.  But  little  fighting  up  to  about  £ 
of  5  p.  m.,  when  it  commenced  in  earnest  on  the  Right,  a 
sharp  firing  of  musketry  and  some  artillery.  The  impending 
storm  has  probably  gathered  all  its  fury  and  is  ready  to 
burst  upon  us.  Everything  is  all  ready  for  the  enemy's 
reception,  and  the  men  are  in  good  spirits.  Weather  warm. 
The  firing  slackened  somewhat,  but  opened  more  furiously 
about  £  past  6  p.  m.  apparently  on  the  extreme  right,  and 
gradually  approached  our  front.  Shovels  and  picks  sent  for, 
probably  to  throw  up  earthworks.  The  teams  have  re 
mained  hitched  up  all  day,  but  were  ordered  to  unharness 
about  i  past  7  p.  m.  The  firine  approaches  nearer  and 
nearer  the  front.  Steady  fighting  until  about  8  p.  m.  Furi 
ous  fight  commenced  again  about  £  past  1 1  p.  m.  and  lasted 
about  half  an  hour;  night  mild  and  very  pleasant.  .  .  ." 

SEDGWICK  AT   FREDERICKSBURG. 

Notes  of  Lieut.  Scott:  "May  3,  1863.  Fighting  com 
menced  on  our  right  at  sunrise.  Heavy  and  one  continued 
crash.  Still  in  line  of  battle.  Hard  fighting  till  1 1  a.  m. 


580  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Our  troops  hold  their  own.  Lost  one  piece  of  artillery  on 
the  Right  where  the  fight  was.  12  and  2  p.  m.  cannonad 
ing  heard  at  Fredericksburg.  All  quiet  here.  Very  warm. 
Expect  an  attack  on  our  front.  Pickets  driven  in.  .  .  ." 

Dyer's  Notes :  ".  .  .  3  stands  of  colors  passed  here  that 
were  captured.  The  enemy  came  in  on  our  front :  a  very 
few  shots  were  exchanged  by  infantry.  .  .  ." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "May  3d.  ...  The  5th  Corps  went  to 
the  right  and  the  nth  Corps  took  their  places.  A  house 
standing  within  musket  range  of  Lient.  Lull's  section  was 
burnt  down  to  prevent  sheltering  rebel  skirmishers,  A  barn 
followed  suit  early  in  the  morning." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  3,  1863.  Sunday.  The  sun  rose 
red  and  clear.  Not  a  cloud  to  be  seen.  Hard  fighting  com 
menced  again  this  morning  about  half-past  five.  A  good 
night's  rest  last  night.  Routed  out  at  3  a.  m.  Watered  the 
horses  and  hitched  up.  .  .  .  Half  past  6  a.  m.  An  incessant 
roar  of  artillery  and  musketry  since  the  battle  commenced. 
About  a  dozen  prisoners  of  the  33d  North  Carolina  regi 
ment  passed  by  us  to  the  rear.  A  few  wounded  men  are 
being  brought  to  the  rear.  All  quiet  on  the  Left.  A  small 
squad,  probably  a  General  and  staff,  went  out  on  the  road 
on  our  left  front  at  20  minutes  past  10  a.  m.,  when  picket 
firing  commenced.  Men  were  ordered  to  posts,  but  the 
reconnoitring  force  came  back  immediately  and  the  firing 
ceased.  .  .  .  Troops  who  have  been  engaged  and  relieved 
are  coming  to  the  rear  with  their  wounded,  in  perfect  order. 
Not  a  minute's  cessation  of  firing  since  the  battle  com 
menced,  at  half  past  five  this  morning,  up  to  half  past  ten 
a.  m.,  and  the  firing  continues.  .  .  .  The  firing  began  to 
slacken  a  few  minutes  after  half  past  ten  a.  m.,  and  gradu 
ally  ceased.  Had  the  luxury  of  a  bath  in  a  clear  running 
brook  this  morning. 

Ordered  to  go  back  to  the  caisson  and  remain  there  p.  m. 
Another  luxury,  p.  m.,  a  change  of  clean  clothing.     Skir- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  581 

mishers  went  out  on  our  left  front  at  a  quarter  to  4  p.  m. 
Weather  warm  but  a  good  breeze  p.  m.  Some  skirmishing 
towards  night.  .  .  . 

May  4,  1863.  On  guard  last  night,  last  half,  with  Cor 
poral  Proctor  at  the  caissons.  Very  mild  and  pleasant. 
Picket  firing  commenced  at  4  o'clock  this  morning.  Morn 
ing  very  foggy.  Major  -  -  of  the  6oth  N.  Y.  regiment 
accepted  our  hospitalities  of  hard  bread  and  meat,  this 
morning.  His  regiment  was  badly  cut  up  in  yesterday's 
fight  and  himself  wounded  in  the  left  hand. 

A  little  rain  fell  in  the  morning,  very  warm  p.  m.  All 
very  quiet  a.  m.  Ordered  to  unhitch  and  unharness  a.  m. 
Ordered  to  pack  up  and  hitch  up  about  i  p.  m.  Drew  the 
caissons  in  line,  and  unhitched  and  unharnessed  again.  All 
very  quiet  along  the  line  today  up  to  5  p.  m.  when  a  sharp 
engagement  commenced  in  the  centre,  which  lasted  about  * 
quarter  of  an  hour.  Weather  warm.  Troops  commenced 
on  a  new  line  of  intrenchments  this  evening:." 

Dyer's  Notes :  "Monday,  May  4th.  The  morning  opened 
foggy  but  the  sun  cleared  it  off  as  it  rose.  The  I2th  Army 
Corps  came  in  our  front  as  our  support  in  case  of  action. 
All  quiet  along  the  lines  at  12  m.  Sharp  firing  at  5  p.  m. 
occurred  on  the  right,  lasting  about  15  minutes.  Wrote  a 
letter  home  from  the  Field.  On  guard." 

Scott's  Notes :  "May  4th.  Enemy  open  at  daylight  on  the 
river  at  our  baggage  train  across  the  river.  The  battery 
is  taken  with  an  Alabama  regiment :  so  report.  Enemy  keep 
quiet  today.  Afternoon  a  reconnoissance  is  made  on  our 
rieht.  The  enemy  found  in  force.  Some  cannonading  on 
the  right.  Our  Battery  still  in  line.  Our  rifle  pits  extend 
the  whole  length  of  the  line.  Heavy  cannonading  heard  at 
Fredericksburg,  which  is  kept  up  late  at  night.  An  attack 
expected." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "May  4th.  .  .  .  Kane's  Brigade,  Geary's 
Div.  supporting  us.  General  Kane  in  a  state  of  perpetual 


582  HISTORY    OF    THE 

excitement.     Major   (Charles  R.)   Mudgfe  and  Lieut.  Fox 
of  the  2d  (Mass.  Infantry)  came  round." 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"May  5,  1863,  8  a.  m. 

We  have  been  in  our  present  position  since  Saturday 
morning  in  line  of  battle,  but  the  Rebels  have  not  con 
descended  to  attack  at  this  point.  We  were  supported  by 
the  5th  Corps  when  we  first  came  in  here,  but  on  Sunday 
morning  they  marched  off  to  the  right,  and  the  nth  Corps 
took  their  place.  The  fighting  on  Saturday  and  Sunday 
was  quite  heavy.  We  could  hear  the  fighting,  but  of  course 
knew  nothing  definite.  Sunday  forenoon  was  very  noisy. 
In  the  afternoon  we  sent  out  a  few  skirmishers  in  our  front. 
Heavy  firing  is  going  on  occasionally  in  the  direction  of 
Fredericksburg  where  Sedgwick  has  crossed.  During  Sun 
day  night  the  nth  Corps  marched  out  and  the  I2th  Corps 
marched  in.  ...  The  2d  Mass,  is  half  a  mile  to  our  left 
supporting  Martin.  .  .  .  Captain  Scott  and  Lieut.  Perkins 
of  my  class  are  wounded.  The  2d  Mass,  has  lost  120  men. 
One  regiment  near  us  have  the  colors  of  the  4th  Alabama, 
one  of  the  regiments  which  took  our  guns  at  Gaines  Mills. 
The  /th  New  Jersey  took  500  prisoners  and  3  colors  belong 
ing  to  the  2d  North  Carolina.  I  saw  the  flags  as  they  went 
by  here :  2  battle  flags  and  one  Confederate  flag.  Our  artil  - 
lery  cut  the  Rebels  up  awfully.  Captain  Weed  has  got  80 
guns  in  position  at  Chancellorsville,  and  we  have  five  bat 
teries  right  along  here.  Our  position  is  very  strong.  The 
line  of  battle  extends  along  the  crest  of  a  hill  strengthened 
by  a  rifle  pit.  In  front  is  a  road  and  a  ravine,  and  beyond 
this  an  open  field,  the  Rebel  pickets  being  in  the  edge  of 
the  wood  beyond,  about  800  yards  distant.  .  .  .  Cannonad 
ing  has  just  commenced  on  the  right. 

Only  a  few  rounds  fired. 

All  still  again." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  583 

Phillips'  Diary :  "May  5th.     Nothing  new  in  our  front 
In  the  evening  marched  to  U.  S.  Ford,  and  crossed  about 
3  in  the  morning.     The  infantry  crossed  soon  after  day 
break  and  thus  ended  Hooker's  attempt  to  cross  the  Rappa- 
hannock." 


Chase's  Diary:  "May  5th,  1863.  A  good  night's  rest  last 
night.  Troops  at  work  all  last  night  putting  up  defenses 
near  us.  Some  fighting  last  night.  Went  across  the  river 
with  Serg't.  Smith  twice  for  grain  this  morning.  Troops 
cutting  down  the  woods  for  defenses  a.  m.  .  .  .  Ordered  to 
take  3  caissons  and  the  Battery  wagon  to  the  rear  about 
3  p.  m.  Took  the  caissons  of  the  ist,  2d  and  5th  Detach 
ments  to  the  rear,  and  parked  them  near  the  river  on  the 
south  side.  A  thunder  shower  came  up  about  4  p.  m.,  the 
rain  fell  in  torrents  for  about  an  hour,  but  rained  some  all 
night.  Serg't.  Smith  came  to  us  about  10  p.  m.  with  orders 
for  us  to  hitch  up." 

Dyer's  Notes :  ".  .  .  Marched  all  night  and  recrossed  the 
ford  and  camped  about  a  mile  beyond,  raining  all  the  time.'' 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  5th.  .  .  .  Very  dark.  Arrived  at 
the  Ford  and  stayed  all  night.  All  the  artillery  crossing. 
Infantry  and  cavalry  this  side  of  the  River.  Very  wet  and 
cold.  May  6th.  4  a.  m.  crossed  the  Ford  and  on  the  north 
heights  parked  the  Battery  and  fed;  the  enemy  following 
up  the  retreat  to  the  River.  The  whole  Army  moving  back. 
At  2  p.  m.  arrived  at  old  camp  completely  used  up.  Battery 
all  back  in  good  condition.  No  loss." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  6,  1863.  .  .  .  Marched  all  the  way 
but  did  not  keep  up  with  the  Battery.  Reached  camp  about 
J  past  4  p.  m.,  about  an  hour  after  the  Battery  came  in.  A 
long,  tiresome  march.  Never  so  much  fatigued  before. 
Troops  came  back  today,  regardless  of  order  as  soon  as  they 
recrossed  the  river.  Some  cannonading  heard  in  our  rear 
this  morning.  Found  our  houses  nearly  all  as  we  left  them 
on  the  30th  ult." 


584  HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  a  letter  of  August  6,  1899,  Mr-  Chase  speaking  of  the 
material  furnished  for  the  History  of  the  Battery,  makes 
the  following  allusion  to  this  march: — 

"I  suppose  others,  like  mine,  were  written  under  all  the 
various  vicissitudes  of  a  soldier's  life  in  camp  and  in  battle, 
so  that  allowance  must  be  made  for  imperfections.  Some 
of  mine  was  written  while  the  enemy's  bullets  were  whis 
tling  over  us  in  line  of  battle — June  27,  1862 — and  the  one 
written  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  was  wet  through  by 
a  blinding  rainstorm.  The  horse  I  was  riding  missed  the 
trail  and  I  came  near  being  mired  in  a  soldier's  grave." 


LETTER    OF    SERG'T.    W.    H.    PEACOCK. 
"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

May  6,   1863. 

We  arrived  here  from  the  Battle  yesterday  afternoon,  all 
safe  but  awfully  muddy  and  tired.  Some  men  had  been  all 
under  in  mud.  We  had  only  a  few  hours'  sleep  in  five  days, 
and  when  we  arrived  here  we  were  so  much  exhausted  that 
some  had  not  strength  to  unharness  their  horses.  Every 
man  dropped  where  they  were  halted,  and  fell  asleqx  Our 
Battery  was  stationed  on  the  Left,  but  it  was  a  strong  posi 
tion,  and  we  could  not  coax  the  Rebels  to  attack  us.  We 
did  no  firing.  No  papers  are  allowed  here  yet.  I  should 
like  to  see  one,  to  hear  if  the  battle  was  a  victory  or  a  de 
feat.  I  think  we  killed  the  most  men,  yet  our  loss  was  very 
heavy.  They  took  our  line  of  rifle  pits  on  the  Right,  and  it 
cost  us  some  8000  men  to  retake  them.  Each  of  our  guns 
was  behind  a  breastwork,  and  they  were  built  in  all  forms. 
I  engineered  our  Section.  We  first  cut  down  large  trees, 
two  feet  through,  leaving  four  feet  of  the  butts  above 
ground,  then  we  cut  up  the  trees  in  lengths  of  some  18  feet, 
piling  them  up  in  front  of  the  stumps  four  foot  high,  the 
flank  ends  were  put  on  of  the  same  heighth  and  eight  feet 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  585 

long.  In  front  of  all  this  lumber  was  thrown  solid  red  clay, 
eight  foot  thick,  and  the  height  of  the  logs.  It  was  a 
strong  work,  and  I  was  disappointed  in  not  having  a  chance 
to  use  it.  The  Rebels  fought  very  desperately,  and  charged 
our  artillery  to  the  muzzle  of  the  Guns.  Our  loss  of  artil 
lery  men  was  very  heavy.  If  I  had  time  I  could  write  you 
incidents  enough  of  the  Battle  to  fill  a  book.  A  Rebel  cap 
tain,  hearing  heavy  firing  on  the  right, — he  was  a  prisoner, 
— said,  'I  would  give  my  right  arm  to  be  with  my  company 
in  that  fight.' 

It  is  reported  here  that  our  loss  was  20,000,  and  the 
Rebels'  30,000.  The  firing  on  Sunday  was  the  most  terrific 
I  ever  heard.  On  both  sides  probably  150,000  men,  and 
250  pieces  of  artillery  were  banging  at  one  time. 

When  you  answer  this  please  send  me  $10,  I  am  all  out 
of  money.  Write  soon.  My  love  to  all  the  folks.  If  I  get 
killed  use  my  money  as  you  think  best  for  my  little  sisters." 


CONGRATULATIONS   FROivI   HEADQUARTERS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
CAMP   NEAR   FALMOUTH,   VA. 

May  6,  1863. 
General   Orders 
1NO.  49 

The  Major  General  commanding  tenders  to  this  Army  his  congratu 
lations  on  its  achievements  of  the  last  seven  days.  If  it  has  not 
accomplished  all  that  was  expected,  the  reasons  are  well  known  to  the 
Army.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  they  were  of  a  character  not  to  be 
foreseen  or  prevented  by  human  sagacity  or  resource.  In  withdrawing 
from  the  south  bank  of  the  Rappahannock  before  delivering  a  general 
battle  to  our  adversaries,  the  Army  has  given  renewed  evidence  of  its 
confidence  in  itself  and  its  fidelity  to  the  principles  it  represents.  In 
fighting  at  a  disadvantage,  we  would  have  been  recreant  to  our  trust,  to 
ourselves,  our  cause,  and  our  country. 

Profoundly  loyal,  and  conscious  of  its  strength,  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  will  give  or  decline  battle,  whenever  its  interest  or  honor  may 
demand.  It  will  also  be  the  guardian  of  its  own  history  and  its  own 
fame.  By  our  celerity  and  secrecy  of  movement  our  advance  and  pas 
sage  of  the  rivers  were  undisputed,  and  on  our  withdrawal  not  a  rebel 


586  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ventured  to  follow.  The  events  of  the  last  week  may  swell  with  pride 
the  heart  of  every  officer  and  sold'ier  of  this  Army.  We  have  added  new 
lustre  to  its  former  renown.  We  have  made  long  marches,  crossed 
rivers,  surprised  the  enemy  in  his  entrenchments,  and  whenever  we 
have  fought,  have  inflicted  heavier  blows  than  we  have  received. 

We  have  taken  from  the  enemy  five  thousand  prisoners,  captured 
and  brought  off  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  fifteen  colors,  placed  "hors-de- 
combat"  eighteen  thousand  of  his  chosen  troops,  destroyed  his  depots 
filled  with  vast  amounts  of  stores,  deranged  his  communications,  cap 
tured  prisoners  within  the  fortifications  of  his  capital,  and  filled  his 
country  with  fear  and  consternation. 

We  have  no  other  regret  than  that  caused  by  the  loss  of  our  brave 
companions,  and  in  this  'we  are  consoled  by  the  conviction  that  they 
have  fallen  in  the  holiest  cause  ever  submitted  to  the  arbitrament  of 
battle. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Hooker. 

S.  WILLIAMS, 
Ass't.  Adj.  General. 


CAPT.    PHILLIPS'    REPORT    TO    CAPTAIN    MARTIN. 

DUPLICATE  SENT  TO  CAPTAIN  WEED. 

HD.  QRS.  BATTERY  E,  MASS.  ART'Y. 
CAMP  NEAR  POTOMAC  CREEK,  VA. 

May  ;th,  1863. 
CAPT.  WEED,  Chief  of  Corps, 

Artillery. 
Captain: 

The  Battery  under  my  command  left  Camp  at  Potomac  Creek  on  the 
3Oth  of  April,  in  obedience  to  orders  from  Captain  Martin,  and  marched 
to  Hartwood  Church. 

On  the  ist  we  marched  to  near  Chancellorsville,  and  remained  in 
park  all  night. 

The  next  day  I  marched  about  two  miles  to  our  left,  and  placed  the 
Battery  in  position,  supported  by   Humphreys'   Division.     I   remained 
there  till  the  evening  of  the  5th,  when  by  order  of  Capt.  Randol   I 
marched  to  United  States  Ford,  crossed,  and  returned  to  our  old  camp. 
I  have  not  been  in  action,  have  lost  no  men  or  horses,  and  the  few 
implements  I  have  lost  can  be  easily  replaced. 
Your  Ob't  Serv't, 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS,  Capt. 
Battery   E,    Mass.    Art'y. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  587 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  7,  1863.  .  .  .  The  guards  are  like 
dead  men  when  once  asleep.  Almost  impossible  to  rouse 
them.  Troops  straggling  back  to  camp  all  day.  At  work 
all  day  repairing  and  cleansing  our  caissons." 

Dyer's  Notes :  "May  7th.  .  .  .  Orders  came  in  the  after 
noon  to  cook  up  three  days'  rations,  and  hold  ourselves  in 
readiness." 

Scott's  Notes :  "May  7th.  The  Rebs  in  full  force  at  Fred- 
ericksburg." 

In  a  letter  dated  May  7th  Captain  Phillips  says  of  the 
march  back,  that  "it  was  the  muddiest,  dirtiest  time"  he  ever 
had.  The  door,  and  all  the  furniture  of  his  house,  gone, 
desk  and  washstand,  but  the  floor  was  left. 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  8th.  .  .  .  The  ist  Brigade  of  the 
ist  Division,  5th  Corps,  started  out  again  this  morning  to 
help  get  up  the  pontoon  trains." 

In  camp  near  Potomac  Creek,  May  Qth,  Captain  Phillips 
wrote  the  following  review  of  the  recent  movement,  begin 
ning  with  the  formation  of  the  column : — 

"The  column  consisted  of  the  batteries  of  the  5th  Corps 
which  had  remained  behind,  and  marched  in  the  following 
order: — Hazlett,  Martin,  Phillips,  Barnes,  Gibbs.  (ist  Ohio 
Light  Battery  L,  Captain  Frank  C.  Gibbs. )  The  roads  were 
not  very  bad  but  our  horses  were  unused  to  pulling,  and  the 
column  lengthened  out  very  fast.  However,  before  dark 
we  reached  Hartwood  Church  and  went  into  camp,  Captain 
Martin  occupying  our  old  camp,  and  we  occupying  his  old 
camp  of  last  November.  The  next  morning-  we  took  the 
road  toward  the  river  and  after  the  usual  amount  of  stop 
pages  crossed  on  the  pontoon  bridge  and  pushed  on.  The 
road  was  quite  bad,  and  we  made  slow  progress.  When  we 
got  over  the  river  we  could  distinguish  firing  ahead,  though 
not  very  loud.  During  the  afternoon  we  passed  the  3d 
Army  Corps  which  had  crossed  just  ahead  of  us.  They 
were  just  unslinging  knapsacks,  and  getting  ready  for  ac- 


588  HISTORY    OF    THE 

tion.  I  saw  General  Whipple  here  for  the  last  time,  as  he 
was  riding  along  his  Division.  (Major  General  Amiel  W. 
Whipple  died  May  7,  1863,  °f  wounds  received  at  Chan- 
cellorsville.)  About  dark,  just  after  passing  a  rifle  pit 
which  the  Rebels  had  thrown  up  the  day  before  and  had 
been  driven  out  of  that  morning,  we  came  to  a  large  open 
field,  full  of  batteries.  On  our  right  was  a  large  brick  house, 
'Chancellorsville/  and  this  field  was  where  the  fighting  took 
place.  The  firing  ahead  was  kept  up  till  about  9  o'clock. 
We  remained  hitched  up  all  night,  and  the  next  morning 
preparations  were  made  for  action.  The  5th  Corps  came  in 
from  the  front  and  formed  line  of  battle  behind  us,  extend 
ing  to  the  left.  About  six  o'clock  we  started  down  a  road 
which  cut  at  right  angles  the  one  we  had  come  up  on,  pass 
ing  along  the  front  of  our  Division.  After  marching  about 
two  miles  Captain  Martin  directed  me  to  place  the  Battery 
in  position  on  a  hill  running  towards  the  river,  with  Hum 
phreys'  Division  supporting.  The  5th  Corps  formed  the 
left  wing  of  the  line  extending  to  the  river.  The  artillery 
of  this  wing  was  arranged  as  follows,  counting  from  the 
left: — Randol  4,  12  pdrs.,  Martin  6,  12  pdrs.,  Hazlett  6,  10 
pdr.  Parrotts,  Phillips  6,  3  in.,  Barnes  4,  3  inch,  com 
manded  by  Captain  Randol.  Captain  Weed  commanded  the 
Art'y  of  the  Centre,  consisting  of  80  pieces.  Waterman 
was  between  the  Left  and  Centre.  Randol,  Martin  and 
Hazlett  were  on  a  high  hjll,  and  their  right  was  separated 
from  my  left  by  a  deep  ravine  on  which  the  line  of  battle 
formed  a  deep  re-entering  angle.  Along  our  front  extended 
rifle  pits,  at  first  mere  brush  fences,  but  growing  all  the 
time  until  they  became  quite  respectable  entrenchments. 
Our  position  was  quite  strong,  as  our  artillery  had  a  clear 
range  of  the  country  for  a  thousand  yards  in  front.  In  the 
afternoon  the  attack  commenced  on  our  right.  We  could 
hear  heavy  volleys  of  musketry  and  artillery,  but  of  course 
had  no  idea  what  was  the  result.  All  was  quiet  in  front  of 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  589 

us,  and  a  reconnoitering  party  sent  out  through  the  woods 
did  not  find  any  force  of  the  enemy.  So  the  day  wore  on 
and  we  quietly  went  to  sleep.  The  next  morning  stragglers 
began  to  come  along,  most  of  them  wearing  the  crescent — 
nth  Corps — on  their  caps,  and  all  these  reported  the  rebels 
victorious,  while  all  the  wounded  men  said  we  were  beating 
them. 

On  Sunday  the  firing  commenced  at  daylight,  and  con 
tinued  till  afternoon  very  heavy.  About  midnight  I  was 
awakened  by  a  trampling  round  me,  and  found  regiments 
marching  all  around  me.  It  was  the  I2th  Corps  relieving 
the  nth.  One  colonel  jumped  his  horse  over  the  log  by 
which  I  was  sleeping,  and  marched  his  regiment  over,  and 
before  I  got  up  in  the  morning,  the  pioneers  had  carried  the 
log  off  to  the  entrenchments.  Monday  was  perfectly  quiet 
all  along  our  lines.  About  5  p.  m.  a  thunder  storm  came 
on.  The  weather  had  been  pleasant  up  to  this  time.  About 
9  we  were  ordered  to  march  to  U.  S.  Ford.  It  was  pitch 
dark  and  raining  as  we  started  out,  but  we  managed  to  get 
along  without  serious  trouble,  except  that  one  caisson  got 
stuck  in  the  mud  and  we  had  to  unharness  the  horses  and 
work  an  hour  getting  it  out.  We  got  to  the  hill  near  the 
Ford  about  midnight,  and  found  a  crowd  of  batteries  wait 
ing  to  go  over.  So  we  waited  while  the  rain  poured  down 
on  our  backs  and  got  over  about  daylight.  As  soon  as  we 
were  across  we  pushed  for  our  old  camp,  and  arrived  at 
home  about  noon,  cold,  tired,  hungry,  and  disgusted.  I 
have  not  found  any  one  who  knows  why  we  recrossed.  The 
Rebels  certainly  had  not  licked  us,  and  our  men  were  in 
tip  top  condition.  ...  No  newsboys  have  been  allowed  up 
here  since  we  came  back." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "May  8th.  The  general  conclusion  seems 
to  be  that  the  rebels  ran  away  from  us  a  few  hours  before 
we  ran  away  from  them." 


590  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Scott's  Diary:  "May  Qth,  1863.  Went  clown  to  Freder- 
icksburg.  Rebels  plainly  to  be  seen  at  work  repairing 
breastworks.  Our  forces  returned  to  old  camps.  Rebel 
loss  stated  at  18,000  last  fight.  Stoneman  went  within  two 
miles  of  Richmond  (see  Hooker,  p.  586)  doing  them  a  great 
deal  of  damage.  Balloon  up  on  reconnoissance.  May  loth. 
All  quiet  on  the  Rappahannock.  .  .  .  Rebs  occupy  Freder- 
icksburg." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  loth.     Sunday.     A  day's  rest." 

Scott:  "May  nth.  .  .  .  Stoneman' s  cavalry  returned. 
Found  the  people  in  Rebeldom  not  in  a  state  of  starvation. 
Brought  off  many  horses.  Went  to  Falmouth.  Some  'of 
our  prisoners,  wounded,  being  brought  across  the  River. 
25th  New  York  Reg't.  refuse  duty,  their  time  being  out, 
and  are  kept  under  guard  all  night." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "nth.  Osborne  of  our  class,  ass't  sur 
geon  of  the  ist  Mass.  Cavalry,  came  round." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  I2th.  ...  The  I4th  N.  Y.  Regt. 
passed  our  camp  on  their  way  home  this  a.  m." 

Scott:  "May  I2th.  Ambulance  train  gone  across  the 
River  for  our  wounded  at  request  of  the  Rebs.  Several 
regiments  gone  home  today.  Drill  on  pieces.  May  I3th. 
Official  notice  of  General  'Stonewall'  Jackson's  death,  Rebel 
Army.  Order  to  this  Battery  to  report  to  General  (Robert 
O.)  Tyler,  Artillery  Reserve." 

Captain  Phillips  resumes  his  comments  on  the  recent  bat 
tle  in  a  letter  dated  May  I3th,  1863:— 

"We  crossed  the  river  in  good  style,  obtained  a  good 
position :  the  performance  of  the  cavalry  was  splendid,  and 
must  have  alarmed  the  enemy.  But  again  we  fell  into  the 
usual  blunder  of  allowing  the  Rebels  to  attack  us  in  detail. 
Even  then,  when  their  whole  force  was  concentrated  in  an 
attack  on  our  right  wing,  we  kept  them  back.  Only  a  por 
tion  of  our  Army  was  engaged.  Of  their  three  Corps  com 
manders  Jackson,  Longstreet  and  A.  P.  Hill;  Jackson  was 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  591 

killed,  and  Hill  wounded,  and  it  is  known  that  all  the  avail 
able  forces  of  Longstreet's  Corps  were  engaged.  Well, 
after  we  had  driven  them  back,  cut  their  lines  of  communi 
cation  and  captured  their  trains,  and  two  days  had  passed, 
during  which  they  did  not  venture  to  attack  us,  why  then, 
we  retreated  across  the  Rappahannock  and  reoccupied  our 
old  camps! 

Our  Corps  is  being  reduced  very  much  by  the  expiration 
of  the  term  of  service  of  the  9  mos.  and  2  years  men.  Hum 
phreys'  Division  of  9  mos.  Pennsylvania  Regts.  will  have 
but  two  regiments  at  the  end  of  this  week.  The  I2th,  I3th 
and  i/j-th  N.  Y.,  2  years  men  have  left  our  Division  and 
there  are  several  more  to  go.  .  .  . 

Things  look  so  much  like  a  permanent  occupation  of  the 
camp,  that  I  am  almost  inclined  to  plant  vines  and  flowers 
round  my  door.  At  any  rate,  it  will  do  no  harm  if  we  move  : 
morning  glories,  sweet  pease  &c.  It  will  give  me  an  oppor 
tunity  to  resume  my  botanical  studies." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Thursday,  May  I4th.  Orders  came  for 
all  the  infantry  men  in  our  Battery  to  report  to  the  5th  U. 
S.  Battery.  They  left  about  8  o'clock." 

Scott's  Notes:  ''May  I4th.  Large  guns,  100  pounders, 
being  taken  up  to  Falmouth.  The  R.  I.  Battery  ordered  to 
report  to  Artillery  Reserve  instead  of  5th  Regulars." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  I5th.  Broke  camp  about  8  o'clock 
this  morning  and  marched  about  i^  miles  towards  Fal 
mouth  Station.  Remained  hitched  up  until  about  two  p.  m., 
when  we  unhitched  and  laid  out  a  camp." 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  I5th.  Broke  camp  and  moved  to 
within  a  mile  of  Fredericksburg,  in  sight  of  the  enemy's 
lines,  and  camped  with  the  Volunteer  Reserve  Artillery,  14 
batteries,  all  under  the  command  of  General  Tyler.  Camped 
under  the  direction  of  Major  (John  A.)  Tompkins  of 
Rhode  Island.  Assigned  to  ist  Brigade,  Major  Freeman 
McGilvery,  7  batteries." 


592  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"This  move  was  a  hard  one  for  the  5th  Battery/'  was  a 
later  comment  of  Lieut.  Scott,  "but  it  proved  to  be  only 
temporary,  for  the  interest  of  the  movement  then  on  foot." 

The  Battery  was  inspected  by  Captain  George  W.  Adams, 
Battery  G,  ist  R.  I.  Acting  Assistant  Inspector  of  Division. 

Dyer's  Notes:  "May  I5th.  Started  in  the  direction  of 
Hooker's  Head  Quarters.  After  marching  half  an  hour  we 
drew  up  into  line  about  half  a  mile  from  his  Head  Quarters 
where  we  were  inspected:  then  unhitched  and  pitched  our 
tents.  Encamped  in  a  large  field." 

May  1 6th  was  passed  in  preparing  camp  accommodations 
half  a  mile  from  General  Hooker's  Head  Quarters. 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  i6th.  .  .  .  Went  down  to  the  river 
in  front  of  Falmouth.  Rebs  at  work  on  their  works,  Gen 
eral  Barksdale  in  command." 

LETTER    OF    CAPTAIN    PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA. 

Sunday,  May  17,  1863. 

We  have  ceased  to  belong  to  the  5th  Army  Corps.  An 
order  was  published  last  Wednesday,  stating  that  the  artil 
lery  in  the  different  corps  would  be  reduced,  and  certain 
batteries  in  each  corps  were  ordered  to  report  to  Brig.  Gen'l 
Tyler  commanding  Artillery  Reserve.  The  batteries  in  our 
corps  were  Randol's  (E  &  G)  ist  U.  S.  Artillery,  Hazlett's 
D,  5th  U.  S.  Artillery,  and  mine.  Waterman's  was  subse 
quently  sent  in  place  of  Hazlett's.  In  accordance  with  this 
order,  I  reported  to  General  Tyler,  and  on  Friday  marched 
from  our  old  camp,  and  camped  near  a  house  formerly  Gen. 
(D.  B.)  Birney's  headquarters,  and  not  a  great  ways  from 
the  Phillips  house.  .  .  .  We  are  camped  on  a  dry,  barren 
plain,  without  a  tree  in  sight,  and  yesterday  we  found  it  very 
dusty.  We  have  our  tents  pitched  so  that  their  fronts  form 
three  sides  of  a  square,  with  a  fly,  covering  the  centre,  form- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  593 

ing  a  cool  and  shady  porch,  in  which  I  am  now  writing. 
Our  camp  is  roomy,  clean,  and  rather  pleasant  than  other 
wise.  We  have  a  good  view  from  it  of  the  hills  back  of 
Fredericksburg,  rebel  camp,  etc.  There  are  13  other  bat 
teries  encamped  round  us.  ...  We  are  partially  brigaded 
in  brigades  of  four  batteries.  The  weather  is  now  quite 
warm  and  tents  are  very  comfortable.  W7e  brought  our 
floors  along  with  us,  and  have  found  very  good  sutlers 
round  here.  This  forenoon  I  had  my  usual  inspection.  .  .  ." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "May  i8th.  .  .  .  Lieut.  Scott  thrown  off 
his  horse." 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  i8th.  Battery  to  be  inspected  by 
Captain  Adams.  .  .  .  n  a.  m.  inspection.  Started  with 
Captain  Phillips  on  horseback,  to  go  to  Captain  Martin's. 
Horse  ran  with  me,  and  threw  me  against  a  tree,  but  did 
not  hurt  me  beyond  a  few  bruises." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  i8th.  On  guard  today  at  Head 
Quarters  of  Major  Tompkins  .  .  .  with  W.  H.  H.  Lap- 
ham,  M.  Coleman,  and  B.  Doherty.  Head  Quarters  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Thrashley.  igth.  Relieved  from  guard 
this  morning  about  8  o'clock."  -«;  \ 

Dyer's  Notes:  "May  I9th.  .  .  .  This  evening  the  string 
band  across  the  road  gave  us  a  moonlight  serenade.  On 
guard." 

Scott's  Notes:  "...  Mr.  Gale  of  this  Battery  detailed 
as  hospital  steward  Div." 

Dyer's  Notes :  "May  2Oth.  .  .  .  Today  the  Battery  drew 
rations  from  the  Commission,  such  as  vinegar,  hard  tack, 
and  beans.  Vinegar  dealt  out  at  night." 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  21,  1863.  Usual  drill  a.  m.  Went 
to  see  the  Rebels  go  through  their  brigade  drill,  at  'Water 
Call'  p.  m.  Witnessed  the  above  performance  just  across 
the  river  near  Fredericksburg.  Weather  very  warm.  Rode 
Serg't.  Peacock's  celebrated  war-steed  'Gabriel'  to  see  the 
drill  p.  m." 


594  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Corporal  Chase  says  of  this  horse  in  a  note  dated  January 
20,  1901 : — ''Alexander's  'Bucephalus'  was  no  account  com 
pared  with  'Gabriel' ;  when  he  was  fattest  his  ribs  stood  out 
in  high  relief  like  the  ridges  of  a  washboard,  and  when  he 
was  lean,  it  was  no  worse.  He  would  eat  anything  and 
everything,  man  included." 

THE  HORSE  GABRIEL. 
NOTES  OF  SERGT.  PEACOCK,  JAN'Y  26,  1901. 
"About  my  old  horse  'Gabriel,' — he  certainly  was  a  won 
derful  horse,  and  had  a  great  affection  for  the  Battery. 
On  a  march,  or  in  a  battle,  I  never  hitched  him.  He  would 
remain  right  with  the  Detachment  horses  until  I  wanted 
him,  but  gave  me  great  trouble  to  drive  away  from  the 
Battery,  especially  when  on  the  move.  Sometimes  a  car 
riage  would  break  down,  and  I  would  be  ordered  to  the  rear 
to  attend  to  it.  I  would  turn  Gabriel  away  from  the  Bat 
tery,  but  he  would  not  .budge.  Often  I  was  compelled  to 
dismount  and  tie  him  to  anything  I  could  find,  and  wait 
until  the  Battery  was  out  of  sight,  then  I  could  manage  him. 
He  also  was  a  great  jumper,  and  would  leap  a  wall  or  stream 
of  water  as  easily  as  a  rabbit.  Sometimes  he  would  take  a 
notion  to  run  away  with  me.  After  he  had  done  this  several 
times,  our  Blacksmith,  Mike  Hewitt,  made  me  a  long- 
mouth  bit,  that  reached  well  up  into  his  mouth.  To  over 
come  this,  Gabriel  would  bend  his  long  arched  neck,  and 
get  his  chin  on  his  chest.  This  checked  the  power  of  the  bit, 
and  he  would  run  when  he  felt  like  it. 

In  leading  the  horses  to  water,  when  near  it,  he  usually 
made  a  dash  for  it,  going  in  almost  up  to  his  ears  and  giving 
me  a  good  wetting. 

Aside  from  these  failings,  he  was  a  good  horse,  and  we 
were  much  attached  to  one  another. 

Serg't.  Stiles  told  me  when  I  saw  him  last,  that  after 
Gabriel  was  condemned  and  turned  into  the  Corral,  he  felt 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY. 


595 


so  bad  about  it  he  got  an  order  and  went  there  and  brought 
him  back  to  the  Battery,  cared  for  him,  and  put  him  in 
shape  so  he  rode  him  for  some  time. 

While  the  Battery  had  so  many  horses  killed  and 
wounded  Gabriel  was  never  hit.  My  recollection  is  that 
Lieut.  Scott  rode  him  off  the  field  at  Gettysburg  when  he 
was  wounded." 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  22,  1863.  .  .  .  Order  came  for  a 
commissioned  officer  to  accompany  the  horses  at  all  Water 
Calls  to  and  from  water.  Usually  done  by  a  sergeant. 

LEFT   SECTION   TURNED   IN. 

May  23d.  Orders  came  to  consolidate  the  Battery,  turn 
ing  in  2  guns,  thus  making  us  a  4  gun  battery.  Complement 
of  men,  present  and  absent,  118  men,  5  officers.  This  news 
was  not  well  received  by  the  company,  but  we  were  supposed 
to  submit.  Turned  in  Left  section  complete,  to  Major 
McGilvery  at  Acquia  Creek." 

Chase's  Diary :  "May  23d.  Usual  drill  a.  m.  Ordered  to 
make  the  equipments  of  the  Right  and  Centre  sections  good 
from  the  Left  section  p.  m.,  as  two  guns  are  to  be  turned 
in." 

From  Captain  Phillips'  Letters  Sunday,  May  24,  1863 : — 
"The  batteries  in  this  Division  have  been  reduced  to  four 
guns,  on  account  of  the  small  number  of  the  men,  and  I 
think  it  will  add  to  their  efficiency.  I  have  not  men  enough 
to  man  six  guns,  and  can  manage  a  great  deal  better  with 
four.  Major  Tompkins  informs  me  that  the  arrangement  is 
merely  temporary — until  the  batteries  can  be  filled  by  the 
draft,  and  no  officers  will  be  mustered  out. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  everybody  is  moving  to  new  and 
pleasanter  camps.  Hooker  moved  a  day  or  two  ago,  and  we 
shall  move  this  week.  My  sorrow  does  not  arise  from  any 
love  for  our  present  camp,  but  from  the  fact  that  these 


596  HISTORY    OF    THE 

movements  do  not  look  like  an  early  advance.  The  roads 
are  in  splendid  condition.  We  have  not  had  a  drop  of  rain 
for  a  fortnight,  and  the  whole  country  is  parched  and  baked 
hard.  I  don't  understand  why  we  don't  go  ahead." 

Diary:  "24th:  Rode  over  to  the  iQth  Regt." 

Chase's  Diary :  "May  25th.  Lieut.  Spear  and  J.  Winters 
left  camp  on  furlough  today.  .  .  ." 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  26th.  Lieut.  Lull  goes  to  Acquia 
Creek  to  turn  in  the  Left  section." 

Phillips'  Diary:  "May  27,  1863.  Moved  camp  at  8  a.  m. 
to  near  White  Oak  Church.  Camped  in  the  edge  of  the 
woods." 

Chase:  "27th.  Marched  about  2  miles  easterly.  .  .  . 
Reached  camp  about  12  m." 

This  was  in  the  direction  of  Belle  Plains. 

Scott :  "May  27th.  .  .  .  Camp  at  White  Oak  Church.  A 
good  situation  in  woods  on  a  hill,  quite  a  relief  from  the 
sandy  plain  we  have  just  left.  .  .  .  Horses  well-sheltered  in 
a  grove." 

Chase :  "28th.     Quarters  being  built  with  much  care." 

Dyer :  "28th.  All  hands  busy  fixing  up  around  their 
quarters,  cutting  stumps,  sweeping  &c." 

Scott's  Notes :  "May  29th.  At  9  a.  m.  attended  meeting 
of  members  to  form  a  court  martial  at  Major  Tompkins' 
Hd.  Qrs.  Present  Major  Osborne  Pres't.  Captains  Hunt- 
ington  and  Douglass.  Adjourned  till  Monday,  same  place. 
5th  Corps  and  other  troops  moving  up  River.  Enemy  quite 
active  and  said  to  have  crossed  the  River.  Turned  in  26 
horses.  4th  Detach,  equalized." 

Chase's  Diary :  "May  29th.  Lieut.  Spear  returned.  An 
order  read  in  line  assigning  Sergt.  Pattison  to  the  ist  De 
tachment  and  Sergt.  Simonds  to  the  3d.  Sergts.  Peacock 
and  Page  still  retain  the  same  positions  as  formerly.  Plenty 
of  whiskey,  ale,  and  gin  for  the  men  in  camp,  for  sale  and 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  597 

gratis  this  p.  m.     The  men  of  the  Left  section  assigned  to 
the  Right  and  Centre  sections  today." 

Scott's  Notes:  "May  3Oth.  Rode  over  to  Falmouth. 
Road  very  dry  and  dusty.  Fifth  Corps  said  to  be  at  Kelly's 
Ford." 

May  3  ist  Lieut.  Scott  was  appointed  Judge  Advocate. 
The  court  met  and  adjourned  from  day  to  day. 

Chase's  Diary:  "May  3ist,  1863.  Sunday.  The  Battery 
with  the  ist  Ohio,  Battery  H,  (Captain  James  F.  Hunting- 
ton)  was  inspected  by  Major  McGilvery  of  the  Volunteer 
Reserve  Artillery  and  the  officers  of  the  two  batteries. 
Weather  very  warm  a.  m.  but  a  good  breeze  p.  m.  A  fire 
was  started  in  the  woods  in  the  rear  of  our  camp,  and  the 
'Assembly'  was  blown,  and  all  hands  sent  to  check  the  fire, 
which  we  succeeded  in  doing  after  some  hot  work.  On 
guard  yesterday  and  last  night,  first  half.  Battery  H 
(Ohio)  and  E  (Mass.)  got  mixed  up  some  last  night  about 
10  p.  m.  and  Lieuts.  Lull  and  Spear  had  to  advance,  and 
succeeded  in  scattering  the  guerillas.  Some  whiskey  afloat 
and  several  knockdowns. 

'All  quiet  along  the  lines'  at  u  p.  m." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Sunday.  May  3 ist.  A  number  of  the 
boys  are  on  mounted  passes.  June  ist.  Today  about  20 
extra  men  were  put  on  fatigue  for  a  week." 

THE  IOTH  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  BATTERY. 

Phillips'  Diary:  "June  ist.  Captain  Huntington  marched 
about  noon  to  Banks's  Ford.  Received  19  men  from  the 
loth  N.  Y.  Battery." 

Scott:  "June  ist.  .  .  .  Battery  drill  by  Captain  Phillips 
— the  dust  blowing  in  clouds." 

Chase :  "June  ist.  A  lively  drill  about  9  a.  m.  in  presence 
of  Major  McGilvery:  changed  the  wheels,  dismounted  the 
pieces,  etc.  Weather  very  warm. 

June  3d.  Battery  hitched  up  at  8  a.  m.  and  drilled  about 
an  hour  and  a  half  under  command  of  Captain  Phillips,  and 


598  HISTORY    OF    THE 

afterwards  drilled  about  an  hour  with  the  loth  N.  Y.  Bat 
tery  under  command,  both  batteries,  of  Major  McGilvery. 
.  .  .  Drilled  on  the  manual  half  an  hour  p.  m." 

Captain  Phillips  rode  over  to  Falmouth  and  visited  Col. 
Devereaux  of  the  ipth  Mass.  Infantry. 

Dyer :  "June  4th.  Orders  came  early  this  morning  to 
prepare  to  move.  Everything  got  in  readiness  at  5  a.  m. 
About  7  o'clock  orders  came  to  unhitch,  unharness,  and 
pitch  our  tents.  ...  19  men  .  .  .  came  over  tonight." 

Chase's  Diary :  "June  4th.  .  .  .  The  ist  Ohio,  Battery  H, 
hitched  up  the  second  time,  and  left  the  camp.  Edward  E. 
Rice  left  camp  to  accept  a  commission  this  a.  m. 

Some  of  the  batteries  have  left  their  camps,  and  others 
still  remain." 

Scott :  "June  4.  ...  Only  2  batteries  moved  up  to  the 
Ford.  All  troops  under  arms.  Alarm  false." 

Captain  Phillips'  Letter :  "June  4th.  A  little  brook  runs 
along  our  front,  where  we  water,  and  there  is  a  wood  in  rear 
of  our  park  in  which  our  tents  and  horses  are  placed.  .  .  . 
Our  own  tents  are  in  among  the  trees,  and  we  have  built  a 
green  arbor  where  we  swing  a  hammock  and  enjoy  our 
selves." 

Scott :  "June  5th.  .  .  .  Went  to  ride  towards  Belle  Plain 
and  Potomac  Creek.  Went  outside  Picket  line.  Received 
orders  to  draw  another  section,  making  us  a  six  gun  battery 
again:  33  horses  from  the  loth  New  York,  and  19  men. 
Five  p.  m.  firing  on  the  Rappahannock  below  the  city. 
Sixth  Corps  after  shelling  the  rebels  out,  crossed  the  River. 
Went  down  to  the  River.  Saw  some  skirmishing.  The 
5th  Battery  was  inspected  by  Major  McGilvery.  The  men 
were  encouraged,  and  the  Battery  stood  well  in  drill  and 
inspection." 

Dyer :  "June  5th.  Heavy  firing  heard  in  the  direction  of 
Fredericksburg-  at  6  o'clock  p.  m." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 

Chase:  "Bugler  Winters  returned  from  furlough." 
Captain   Phillips'  Letter:   "June  5th  8  p.  m.     The  6th 

Corps  crossed  at  Franklin's  crossing  of  last  December,  about 

sunset.     No  serious  resistance.  ...  All  furloughs  stopped. 

Saturday  forenoon  :  I  have  just  got  my  two  guns  and  horses. 

No  movement  yet.     All  quiet  on  the  river." 

THE  GUNS  COME  BACK  FROM  THE  FOURTH 
RHODE  ISLAND. 

Notes  of  Private  John  E.  Dyer :  "Saturday  June  6,  1863  : 
At  reveille  we  were  notified  we  were  to  have  two  more 
guns  again,  and  the  men's  names  were  read  who  were 
assigned  to  these  Detachments,  I  being  assigned  to  the 
5th  Detachment,  Sergt.  Morgridge. 

Two  guns  came  to  us  from  the  R.  I.  Battery,  our  old 
Peninsula  pieces." 

Scott's  Notes:  "June  6th.  Harris's  Light  Cavalry 
camped  near  us  during  the  night,  from  Yorktown.  .  .  . 
Some  skirmishing  on  the  river.  Our  troops  in  position. 
Rebs.  obstinate." 

Phillips'  Diary :  "June  6th.  .  .  .  Obtained  two  guns  and 
caissons  from  Captain  Waterman,  and  32  horses  and  one 
section  of  harness  from  Lieut.  C.  T.  Bruen,  loth  N.  Y. 
Battery." 

June  6th  a  sergeant  of  the  loth  N.  Y.  was  assigned  as 
sergeant  of  the  6th  Detachment  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery, 
vice  Simonds  in  charge  of  the  3d. 

Dyer's  Notes:  "June  7th.  Brigade  inspection.  .  .  . 
Regulations  read  in  line  at  'Retreat.'  On  guard." 

Scott:  "June  7th.  Am  Officer  of  the  Day.  .  .  .  Our 
troops  still  across  the  river.  Some  cannonading  this  after 
noon.  Harris's  Light  Cavalry  gone  to  Wrarrenton. 

June  8th.  .  .  .  Went  to  the  River.  Our  forces  still  across, 
having  thrown  up  rifle  pits." 


600  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Captain  Phillips'  Letter:  "June  8th,  1863.  Yesterday 
being  very  pleasant,  after  a  brigade  inspection  I  rode  down 
to  the  river  to  take  a  look  at  our  troops  on  the  other  side. 
The  bridges  are  laid  at  'Franklin's  Crossing.'  At  this  point 
the  hills  on  the  other  side  are  nearly  two  miles  back  from 
the  river,  and  the  plain  between  the  hills  and  the  river  is 
occupied  by  our  troops.  Our  pickets  are  within  pistol  shot 
of  the  woods  which  cover  the  hills,  while  our  main  body  lies 
just  over  the  river.  Part  of  the  Corps  is  over,  and  the  rest 
is  on  the  flat  on  this  side  ready  to  cross.  Everything 
seemed  very  quiet.  A  few  rebels  in  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
but  no  other  demonstration. 

The  5th  Corps  is  stretched  along  the  river  from  Banks's 
Ford  to  Bealton  :  Huntington's  Batterv  is  at  Banks's  Ford : 
Ames  of  our  Brigade  at  United  States,  (Capt.  Nelson  Ames 
Battery  G,  ist  N.  Y.  Light.)  Martin  at  Kelly's.  Captain 
Huntington  was  in  here  at  noon,  and  reports  all  quiet  where 
he  is.  The  river  is  very  low.  A  slight  thunder  shower 
Saturday  night,  is  all  the  rain  we  have  had  since  the  storm 
when  we  recrossed  the  river  from  Chancellorsville,  and  the 
country  is  very  dry.  ...  I  have  the  finest  set  of  horses  I 
ever  had  or  saw.  When  I  was  reduced  to  a  four  gun  battery 
I  of  course  turned  in  the  meanest  ones  I  had,  and  last  week 
when  I  received  two  more  guns  I  went  over  to  the  loth 
N.  Y.  Battery  and  picked  out  the  best  horses  they  had.  So 
I  have  a  lot  now  that  will  not  stick  at  anything." 

Scott's  Notes:  "June  10,  1863.  Battery  drill  by  Captain 
Phillips.  Some  firing  up  River  said  to  be  a  cavalry  fight 
at  Culpeper.  Detailed  on  Court  Martial.  June  nth.  .  .  . 
Am  off  duty  to-day  attending  Court  Martial  at  Major 
McGilvery's.  .  .  All  quiet  on  the  river  here. 

Fight  at  Ellis  Ford  with  Stuart's  cavalry." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Thursday  June  nth.  An  inspection  of 
knapsacks  this  afternoon." 

Scott's  Notes:   "June   I2th,    1863.  .  .  .  Went  down  to 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  601 

the  river.  Our  troops  still  across.  Our  forces  mounting 
six  100  pdr.  Parrotts." 

Letter  of  Captain  Phillips:  "June  12.  Some  movement 
is  going  on  here.  We  have  received  orders  to  reduce  bag 
gage,  and  this  morning  I  sent  off  knapsacks  &c.,  allowing 
the  men  to  retain  merely  a  blanket  and  change  of  under 
clothes.  The  3d  Corps  marched  last  night,  and  the 
ist  Corps  this  morning-  up  river.  The  Battery  is  in  tip  top 
shape." 

Chase's  Diary:  "June  I3th,  1863.  Marching  orders 
p.  m.  Orders  to  destroy  all  our  surplus  camp  equipage 
before  leaving." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 
THE   BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG. 

July  1-3,  1863. 

GENERAL  MOVEMENTS 

"But  yester-eve,   so  motionless*  around, 
So  mute  was  this  wide  plain,  that  not  a  sound 
But  the  far  torrent,  or  the  locust  bird 
Hunting  among  the  thickets,  could  be  heard;— 
Yet  hark!  what  discords  now,  of  every  kind! 
Shouts,  laughs,  and  screams,  are  revelling  in  the 

wind ; 

The   neigh   of  cavalry;         .... 
Ringing  of  arms,  and  flapping  in  the  breeze 
Of  streamers  from  ten  thousand  canopies;   .   .  ." 

—THOMAS  MOORE. 

The  display  of  audacity  of  the  southern  confederates, 
which  during  the  Maryland  raid  of  September,  1862,  they 
were  well  aware  had  stimulated  confidence  in  their  cause 
abroad,  was  repeated  in  June,  1863,  with  the  hope  of  hasten 
ing-  intervention  in  their  behalf  by  foreign  powers,  and  was 
carried  into  Pennsylvania  so  far  north  of  the  dividing  line 
between  that  state  and  Maryland,  as  to  give  them,  if  un 
molested,  a  fair  chance  of  turning  the  tables  on  the  national 
army,  and  of  compelling  from  the  national  government  the 
credit  for  intrepidity  ever  yielded  to  the  ensnarer  by  the 
ensnared. 

But  the  account  for  this  bold  cavalry  dash  was  to  be 
settled  in  plain  view,  for  all  the  world  to  see  and  pass  judg 
ment  upon  for  all  time,  in  a  clear  field,  divested  of  all 
complicating  circumstances  which  could  render  it  unintelli 
gible;  on  free  Pennsylvania  soil,  and  north  of  the  not  too 

602 


GETTYSBURG. 

The  Fi'ahrof  July 


G>.7~ho7npson's.  7.  Peac^  O-rcTjctraTS.  7rost7e?s    Tjovse..  9.  <$&co-ncl  Position 
of  fhe.5f7>H^ss.    JO.  Lost  Part  of  5ft,,  Mass.   ll.MeadesHe.qalQuQri-e.-rs. 


(trie.$,  /7.    te.-move.e.c.e.  ly      orj.  co.rom    Q-ne-yowr) 

Emrm'tf-s'burg  TRoctd.  13.  Parfo/s'*  Corps.  20.  Houseond  JBarn. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  603 

loyal  city  of  Baltimore,  leaving  the  sacred  cordon  of  defence 
around  Washington  not  only  inviolable  but  actually 
unassailed. 

All  the  important  bridges  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
railroad  from  Martinsburg  to  Cumberland,  Md.  had  been 
destroyed.  Creeping  up  through  the  mountains  the  rebel 
cavalry,  preceding  a  Division  of  infantry,  encountering 
our  forces  in  a  series  of  skirmishes,  reached  the  town  of 
Carlisle,  Penn.  in  the  centre  of  the  Cumberland  Valley, 
1 8  miles  from  Harrisburg  the  capital  of  the  state,  on  the 
27th  of  June. 

Another  Division  of  infantry,  moving  up  by  other  roads, 
encamped  near  Chambersburg,  Penn.;  another  marched  to 
the  north  east  of  Gettysburg  occupying  the  town  of  York, 
breaking  railroad  communication  between  Baltimore  and 
Harrisburg;  also,  to  facilitate  their  movements  the  Chesa 
peake  and  Ohio  canal  had  been  considerably  damaged. 

Orders  were  issued  to  move  north  to  Harrisburg,  but 
crossing  the  Susquehanna  River  at  Wrightsville,  they  en 
countered  our  forces  at  the  bridge,  and  soon  becoming 
aware  that  their  progress  north  was  not  to  be  unaccom 
panied,  on  the  28th  of  June,  the  day  Meade  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  vice  Hooker  resigned, 
they  called  together  their  divergent  columns,  and  leaving 
a  Division  at  Chambersburg  to  guard  their  rear,  after 
attempting  to  obtain  supplies  at  Gettysburg,  and  there  on 
the  3Oth  being  repulsed  by  our  cavalry  under  General  John 
Buford,  who*  had  come  up  from  Fairfield  through  Emmitts- 
burg;  failing,  also,  to  obtain  supplies  through  the  mountain 
passes  in  the  presence  of  our  troops  who  were  being  rapidly 
reinforced,  they  determined  to  make  an  attack  upon  Gettys 
burg,  there  establishing  their  lines  in  positions  favorable 
for  artillery  on  Seminary  Ridge,  all  ready  for  immediate 
action  in  the  great  battle  of  Wednesday,  July  i,  1863. 

The  Union  General  John  F.  Reynolds  had  moved  up  his 


604  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Corps,  taking  up  a  defensive  position.  He  commanded  the 
Right  wing,  consisting  of  the  First,  Third  and  Eleventh 
Corps. 

The  recoil  of  the  rebel  advance  had  placed  the  enemy 
in  the  vicinity  of  Gettysburg,  a  village  originally  laid  out 
by  James  Gettys  in  1780,  situated  seven  miles  from  the 
southern  border  of  Pennsylvania,  which  separates  it  from 
Maryland,  and  136  miles  by  rail  from  Philadelphia.  At 
the  time  of  which  we  write,  it  had  become  a  town  of  about 
3000  inhabitants,  and  was  the  seat  of  Pennsylvania  College, 
founded  in  1832.  In  the  near  neighborhood  are  the  Gettys 
burg  medicinal  springs,  and  one  mile  from  the  centre  of 
the  village  there  rises  from  the  valley  Seminary  Ridge  on 
which  stands  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary,  founded 
in  1825. 

Gettysburg  lies  between  two  parallel  streams,  Willoughby 
Run  and  Rock  Creek,,  which  here  run  nearly  south,  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  apart.  Between  these  two  streams 
run  three  parallel  mountain  ridges.  Rock  Creek  flows  along 
the  foot  of  Gulp's  Hill  on  the  east,  and  finally  passes  be 
tween  it  and  another  rocky,  wooded  eminence  known  as 
Wolf's  Hill.  Gulp's  Hill  commands  Cemetery  Ridge  and 
Spangler's  Hill,  another  rocky  elevation  covered  with 
woods,  and  its  intrenchments  protected  our  communications 
with  Baltimore. 

West  of  the  town  about  a  half-mile,  is  Cemetery  Hill 
where  Evergreen  Cemetery  is  located.  Cemetery  Ridge  and 
Seminary  Ridge  run  on  nearly  parallel  lines,  north  and 
south.  Directly  opposite  Seminary  Ridge  about  three  miles 
south  of  Gettysburg  are  two  wooded  hills,  spurs  of 
Cemetery  Ridge,  called  Great  Round  Top  and  Little  Round 
Top. 

Both  hills  were  steep  and  covered  with  large  rocks.  Big 
Round  Top  has  an  elevation  of  300  feet  above  the  valley. 
Little  Round  Top  is  not  so  high  by  113  feet. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  605 

Little  Round  Top  is  also  called  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain 
and  Granite  Spur.  It  is  near  a  cross  road,  about  a  mile 
and  a  quarter  long,  between  the  Baltimore  turnpike  and 
the  Emmittsburg  road.  Great  Round  Top  lies  southwest 
of  Little  Round  Top.  The  road  which  led  to  Emmittsburg, 
a  small  town  50  miles  w.  n.  w.  of  Baltimore  and  10  miles 
s.  s.  w.  of  Gettysburg,  left  the  Union  Centre  at  the  foot 
of  Cemetery  Hill,  and  diverged  rapidly,  crossing  the  field 
between  the  two  armies,  and  entered  into  the  Confederate 
line  opposite  the  Union  Left.  This  road  was  on  rising 
ground,  traversing  obliquely  the  space  between  the  main 
ridges.  Far  in  the  distance  to  the  southwest  is  South 
Mountain  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  the  state  of  Maryland, 
west  of  which  the  battle  was  fought  September  14,  1862. 

Ten  roads  from  surrounding  towns  focus  at  Gettysburg 
viz.,  Hagarstown,  Chambersburg,  Harrisburg,  York,  Car 
lisle,  Mummasbur.e,  Hanover,  Baltimore,  Taneytown  and 
Emmittsburg. 

THE  DISPOSITION  OF  THE  FORCES. 

The  territory  embracing  all  the  movements  of  the  three 
days'  fighting,  is  five  and  a  half  miles  long  by  four  and  a 
half  broad,  covering  twenty-five  square  miles.  On  Semin 
ary  Ridge,  about  a  half-mile  beyond  the  town,  which  they 
held,  were  formed  the  enemy's  lines.  The  Right  of  the 
Union  forces  turned,  at  the  junction  of  the  Emmittsburg 
road  with  the  Baltimore  turnpike,  to  the  east  and  south, 
with  the  rebels  between  the  extreme  right  and  Rock  Creek. 
The  battle  lasted  for  three  days,  commencing  on  Wednes 
day  July  i,  1863.  The  engagement  of  July  ist  was  west 
and  south  of  the  town,  our  Left  resting  on  the  Millerstown 
road;  the  Right  being  prolonged  to  Rock  Creek  on  the 
Harrisburg  road. 

The  First  and  Eleventh  Corps  on  July  ist  had  been  over 
borne  by  superior  numbers,  and  forced  back  through  Gettys- 


606  HISTORY    OF    THE 

burg,  with  great  slaughter,  but  held  the  field  until  the 
remainder  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  came  up.  General 
Hooker  in  command  of  the  Army  broke  camp  at  Fredericks- 
burg  June  15,  1863,  and  was  moving  northward  from  the 
Rappahannock. 

On  July  2d  and  3d  the  fighting  was  on  the  south  and  east, 
the  Union  forces  occupying  a  position  south  of  the  rebel 
army.  The  troops  engaged  were  the  First,  Second,  Third, 
Fifth,  Sixth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  and  the  Cavalry  Corps 
under  General  Alfred  Pleasanton,  with  an  average  for  each 
corps  of  less  than  11,000  men. 

Brigadier  General  Henry  J.  Hunt  was  Chief  of  the 
Artillery  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Brigadier  General 
Robert  0.  Tyler  commanded  the  Division  of  the  Reserve 
Artillery.  The  First  Volunteer  Brigade  of  this  Division 
was  commanded  by  Lieut.-Colonel  Freeman  McGilvery  and 
was  composed  of  the  I5th  New  York,  Light,  Captain  Patrick 
Hart,  F  and  G,  Pennsylvania,  Captain  R.  B.  Ricketts, 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  Charles  A.  Phillips,  Ninth 
Mass.  Battery,  Captain  John  Bigelow. 

THE  POSITION,  JULY  2d,  1863. 

On  July  2d,  our  Centre  rested  at  the  Cemetery,  the  line 
extending  east  across  the  valley  to  Gulp's  Hill,  down  its 
eastern  slope,  across  Spangler's  meadow,  and  resting  at 
McAllister's  Mill  or  Rock  Creek.  The  Left  wing  commenc 
ing  at  the  Cemetery  extended  down  the  Ridge  and  in  front 
of  it  to  Round  Top. 

General  Meade  arrived  at  i  a.  m.  of  the  2d,  and  approved 
of  the  position  selected  and  the  disposition  of  the  troops. 

THE  BATTLE  LINE. 

On  Gulp's  Hill  were  the  Twelfth  Corps,  General  Henry 
W.  Slocum,  at  their  left  on  Cemetery  Hill  were  the  First 
Corps,  General  John  F.  Reynolds,  divided  and  thrown  to 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  607 

the  right  and  left  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  General  Oliver 
O.  Howard,  who  occupied  the  Cemetery.  The  Second 
Corps,  General  Winfield  S.  Hancock,  were  placed  on  the 
left  of  the  First  Corps.  The  Third  Corps,  General  Daniel 
E.  Sickles  commanding — Captain  George  E.  Randolph  chief 
of  artillery  Third  Army  Corps — who  arrived  on  the  night 
of  July  ist  and  lay  on  Cemetery  Ridge,  took  position  on 
the  2d  at  the  left  of  the  Second  Corps.  Subsequently, 
abandoning  the  line  drawn  from  Cemetery  Ridge  toward 
Little  Round  Top  he  advanced  to  the  Emmittsburg  road 
without,  it  is  asserted,  informing  General  Hancock  and 
thereby  leaving  a  gap  of  some  hundreds  of  yards  between 
the  right  of  the  Third  Corps  and  the  left  of  the  Second. 
One  reason  given  for  this  change  was  that  the  position  to 
which  General  Sickles  had  been  assigned  was  low  and  un 
tenable.  Having  reached  the  Emmittsburg  road,  he  formed 
of  his  troops  an  angle,  both  sides  of  which  were  subject 
to  an  enfilading  fire,  one  along  the  Emmittsburg  road  to  the 
peach  orchard,  the  other  from  the  peach  orchard  southeast 
to  Devil's  Den,  a  rocky  gorge  at  the  foot  of  Little  Round 
Top. 

Early  in  the  morning,  General  Robert  O.  Tyler  had  two 
Brigades  of  the  Artillery  Reserve  in  park  behind  the  line 
prescribed  for  the  Third  Corps,  and  by  10.30  a.  m.  the 
remainder  of  the  Reserve  had  arrived,  and  was  parked 
between  the  Taneytown  road  and  the  Baltimore  turnpike. 
The  right  of  the  Third  Corps  was  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
in  front  of  Hancock's  left,  and  the  left  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  front  of  the  base  of  Round  Top.  At  this  time  nearly 
all  of  the  Confederate  army  had  reached  Gettysburg,  and 
was  in  condition  for  immediate  action.  The  Union  troops 
were  rapidly  concentrating.  General  Meade  was  on  the 
ground. 

The  Fifth  Corps  under  General  George  Sykes,  which  had 
marched  at  night  from  Hanover,  16  miles  east,  came  up  at 


'608  HISTORY    OF    THE 

noon  of  July  2d,  and  moved  to  the  Left  of  the  line  on  and 
about  Round  Top.  The  Sixth  Corps,  General  John  Sedg- 
wick,  making  a  hurried  march,  and  coming  up  later  in  the 
afternoon,  were  massed  on  the  Taneytown  road  at  Man 
chester,  Md.,  a  small  village  about  34  miles  n.  n.  w.  of 
Baltimore,  and  9  miles  northeast  of  Westminster,  which 
is  on  the  Western  Maryland  railroad.  Taneytown,  Md.,  is 
on  the  Frederick  branch  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  22-J 
miles  n.  e.  of  Frederick,  and  40  miles  n.  w.  of  Baltimore. 

The  Union  lines  from  Cemetery  Hill  to  Round  Top  faced 
nearly  west,  but  from  Cemetery  Hill  to  the  extreme  right 
it  faced  east,  being  about  four  miles  long,  nearly  semicircular 
in  shape;  the  two  flanks  being  one  and  a  half  miles  apart. 
The  Confederate  line  was  nearly  the  same  shape,  but  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  longer,  being  on  the  outside,  which  in  some 
respects  was  a  disadvantage,  but  the  long  range  of  hills 
afforded  more  available  space  for  artillery. 

The  number  officially  reported  as  "present  for  duty 
equipped"  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  101,262,  of 
which  6,427  were  officers,  and  7,546  belonged  to  the  artillery 
arm  of  the  service,  but  it  is  computed  that  the  actual 
strength,  including  the  reserves  and  all  arms  of  the  service, 
was  approximately  85,674,  with  354  pieces  of  artillery. 

Major  General  Meade  was  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  General  Hooker  having  voluntarily  resigned 
on  account  of  incompatibility.  He  could  not  see  his  way 
to  act  contrary  to  his  own  judgment.  General  Meade' s 
headquarters  were  in  a  small  house  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Taneytown  Road,  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  Second 
Corps  the  Centre  of  his  battle  line.  In  front  of  the  advanced 
line  of  the  Left  wing  was  a  ravine,  and  beyond  the  ravine 
was  a  stone  wall,  which  enclosed  a  wheat  field,  and  south 
of  that  was  a  peach  orchard. 

From  Seminary  Ridge  descended  the  Confederate  force 
on  July  2d,  to  attempt  to  turn  our  Left  near  Little  Round 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  609 

Top,  and  from  the  same  elevation  on  the  same  day,  they 
made  an  equally  futile  attempt  to  storm  our  Centre  at  Ceme 
tery  Hill. 

General  Sickles'  advanced  line  extended  through  the 
Devil's  Den,  along  the  Emmittsburg  road,  and  across  Plum 
Run.  It  was  to  turn  this  line  and  obtain  possession  of 
the  ground,  that  the  rebel  general  Longstreet  made  the 
memorable  assault  of  the  2d  of  July,  on  Ward's  (Colonel 
George  Hull  Ward's)  Brigade  of  the  Third  Corps,  which 
soon  extended  along  the  line.  The  design  of  the  enemy 
was  either  to  turn  our  Left  flank,  or  to  move  directly  across 
country  and  take  the  Union  army  in  the  rear,  and  they 
made  choice  of  the  plan  to  outflank. 

In  the  rear  of  the  Third  Corps,  afterwards  reinforced  by 
the  Fifth  Corps  and  the  infantry  of  the  Sixth,  were  the 
Brigade  of  batteries  commanded  by  Colonel  McGilvery, 
which  included  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

Between  two  and  three  o'clock  the  rebels,  who  were  direct 
ing  the  fire  of  their  artillery  upon  the  troops  at  the  Peach 
Orchard  and  along  the  Emmittsburg  road,  sent  their  in 
fantry  down  into  the  valley.  They  crossed  the  Wheat 
Field,  leaped  the  stone  wall,  and  charged  on  the  Divisions 
of  the  Third  Corps,  which  were  unable  to  hold  their  posi 
tion,  notwithstanding  the  assistance  given  them  on  their 
right  by  the  Fifth  Corps,  on  account  of  their  inability  to 
hold  the  two  mountain  spurs  and  defend  their  left  flank. 

The  endeavor  to  extend  their  line  to  cover  this  exposed 
ground,  scattered  their  forces,  and  compelled  them  to  fall 
back  after  two  hours  of  hard  fighting.  The  retreat  of  a 
Division  of  the  Third  Corps  on  the  extreme  left  forced  by 
this  desperate  charge,  let  the  determined  Confederates  in 
upon  the  artillery  in  the  gap  between  the  left  of  the  infantry 
line  and  Round  Top,  numbering  30  pieces  hurriedly  posted 
there;  the  extreme  left  of  which  was  held  by  the  Ninth 
Mass.  Battery,  who  were  in  position  with  the  Fifth  Mass. 


610  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Battery  on  the  cross  road  to  the  left  of  the  Peach  Orchard, 
and  who  at  this  critical  moment  were  directed  to  remain  on 
the  ground,  and  continue  firing,  until  other  batteries  should 
be  sent  to  their  relief.  But  the  Ninth  Battery  was  forced 
to  give  way  and  retire  firing,  saving  five  out  of  their  six 
guns,  and  so  the  enemy  fell  upon  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery, 
which  retired  in  the  same  way,  and  with  the  Ninth  took 
up  a  new  position  farther  up  the  hill  from  which  they 
again  opened  on  the  enemy,  whose  attack  now  being 
enfiladed  by  the  fire  from  the  troops  of  the  Centre  of  our 
line  suffered  great  loss.  They  had  encountered  a  Division 
and  a  Brigade  of  the  Fifth  Corps  coming  up  from  the  Balti 
more  turnpike,  who  protected  the  mountain  spurs  Little  and 
Big  Round  Top,  and  drove  the  rebels  back  across  the  ravine, 
over  the  stone  wall  to  the  Wheat  Field  which  they  held  for 
the  night. 

Our  new  position  was  strengthened  by  reinforcements 
from  the  Right  and  Rear,  consisting  of  Divisions  of  the 
First  and  Twelfth  Corps,  and  later  of  the  Sixth  Corps, 
aided  by  a  cross-fire  of  the  powerful  batteries  of  the  Artil 
lery  Reserve  now  posted  along  Plum  Run :  so  that  before 
nightfall  of  July  2d,  the  advantage  was  on  the  side  of  the 
Union  forces,  for  the  elevated  position  on  Cemetery  Ridge 
to  which  they  had  been  compelled  to  retire,  proved  to  be 
impregnable. 

While  the  Third  Corps  had  been  making  this  bold  advance 
and  suddenly  been  whirled  back  again,  the  field  at  the 
Centre  and  on  the  Right  was  comparatively  quiet  until  dark, 
when  a  charge  was  made  on  our  batteries  on  Cemetery  Hill, 
by  the  enemy's  troops  leaving  the  town  for  that  purpose, 
and  was  repulsed. 

Then  a  night  attack  was  made  on  the  Right  wing,  by 
which  they  gained  a  temporary  advantage,  having  our  works 
in  their  possession  for  a  few  hours,  and  seriously  threatening 
our  Rear.  All  failed,  however,  through  the  alertness  of  our 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  611 

artillery,  which  was  placed  in  a  position  to  protect  the  weak 
portions  of  our  line  on  the  Right,  and  at  daylight  on  the 
3d,  our  infantry,  after  a  sharp  contest,  had  repossessed  them 
selves  of  the  works,  and  frustrated  the  attempt  to  cut  off 
our  communications  with  Baltimore.  On  July  2,  1863,  the 
sun  set  at  7.23.  After  dark  a  council  of  war  was  held,  at 
which  all  the  corps  commanders  were  present,  and  it  was 
resolved  to  retain  the  present  positions,  and  fight  it  out  on 
those  lines  on  the  morrow. 

THE   BATTERY   MOVEMENTS. 

"Who  are  these  hangers-back,  these 

dark-robed  ones? 
They  are  the  mothers  who  are  reft  of 

sons; 
The  wives  whose  dearest  lie  all  unca- 

ressed 
Afar  with  vital  stains  on  brow  or 

breast: 
The  children  orphaned  at  the  mouths  of 

guns." 

— RICHARD  BURTON,  The  Background  Group. 

The  following  minute  narration  of  the  movements  of  the 
Battery  leading  up  to  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  has  been 
collated  with  the  most  painstaking  accuracy,  from  the 
Diaries  and  Letters  of  1863,  as  well  as  Notes  of  a  more 
recent  date,  from  the  pens  of  Captain  Phillips,  Lieuts.  Scott 
and  Blake,  Serg't.  Peacock,  Corporals  Thomas  E.  Chase  and 
Jonas  Shackley,  Privates  John  E.  Dyer  and  Louis  E. 
Pattison. 


We  left  our  camp  near  White  Oak  Church,  Saturday  after 
noon  June  13,  1863,  between  4  and  5  o'clock.  As  we  had 
been  expecting  to  move  with  the  Artillery  Reserve  for  some 
time,  we  were  all  ready,  and  started  out  on  the  road  to 
Stafford  Court  House.  The  road  was  quite  good,  but  dusty. 
Weather  very  warm  until  about  7  p.  m.,  when  a  thunder- 


612  HISTORY    OF    THE 

storm  came  up,  but  very  little  rain  fell.  We  of  course  en 
countered  the  usual  delays  from  wagons,  teams  etc.  A  short 
distance  before  reaching  Stafford  Court  House  there  was 
a  steep  hill,  which  seemed  to  have  caused  most  of  the  delay. 
Half  a  dozen  wagons,  a  caisson,  and  a  forge,  were  tumbled 
over  on  either  side,  but  we  got  up  without  a  halt.  We  were 
on  the  march  all  night.  Drove  out  on  the  side  of  the  road 
at  4  a.  m.  of  Sunday  the  i/j-th.  Ceased  raining.  We  fed 
our  horses,  made  coffee,  and  after  a  halt  of  half  an  hour 
and  a  scanty  meal,  we  started  and  pushed  on  for  Brooks 
Station  and  Dumfries  on  the  Potomac.  The  roads  were 
good,  though  very  dusty,  and  we  travelled  briskly.  Went 
about  two  miles  on  a  wrong  road;  countermarched,  and 
took  the  right  road.  Reached  Dumfries  about  noon  and 
made  another  short  halt.  After  dinner  we  started  again, 
and  with  constant  halts  pushed  on  till  dark.  Then  for  some 
inexplicable  reason,  the  column  halted  and  remained  till 
nine,  moving  during  that  time  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
by  fits  and  starts,  then  another  halt  of  two  hours.  All  the 
delay  was  caused  by  a  hill  ahead,  up  which  our  Battery 
went  with  halting.  After  passing  this  hill  we  kept  on  at 
a  pretty  good  jog.  We  had  marched  all  day  and  all  night, 
a  hard  march  for  man  and  beast,  and  were  pretty  well  played 
out.  At  7  p.  m.  when  we  had  made  coffee,  we  lay  down  to 
rest,  but  before  we  had  rested  15  minutes  we  were  called 
to  "Attention."  Not  a  wink  of  sleep  Saturday  night,  and 
but  one  hour's  sleep  Sunday  night.  About  sunrise,  Mon 
day,  June  1 5th,  we  crossed  the  Occoquan  River  by  fording 
it  at  Wolf  Run  Shoals.  Halted  at  6  o'clock,  and  unhitched 
and  unharnessed;  watered,  fed  and  groomed  our  horses, 
made  coffee,  and  rested  about  an  hour.  About  9  a.  m. 
hitched  up  and  marched  about  3  miles  beyond  Fairfax 
Station,  and  went  into  park  in  a  large  field  just  at  the  edge 
of  a  fine  grove  of  hard  wood,  about  f  of  a  mile  from  Fair 
fax  Court  House,  at  i  p.  m.  When  we  arrived  we  were  very 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  613 

dirty,  very  hungry,  and  very  sleepy.  Take  it  all  through 
it  was  a  pretty  good  march.  We  were  on  the  road  44 
hours,  and  marched  over  50  miles  without  sleep  or  rest 
of  any  account.  Some  of  the  men  went  to  sleep  on  horse 
back,  and  one  sergeant  rode  quite  a  distance  ahead  of  the 
Battery,  fast  asleep. 

On  this  march,  Major  McGilvery's  wagon  got  stuck  in 
a  mud  hole  the  other  side  of  Dumfries,  and  the  driver  got 
discouraged  and  left  it,  reporting  to  the  Major  on  his  arrival 
in  camp.  The  Major  sent  back  after  it,  but  as  several  thou 
sand  infantry  had  passed  over  the  same  road,  nothing  was 
left  but  a  drowned  mule  and  a  few  fragmentary  evidences 
of  the  contents.  By  this  accident  the  Major  lost  his  trunk, 
clothing,  papers,  tents,  mess  stuff,  and  was  in  a  very  desti 
tute  condition.  On  the  morning  after  we  reached  Fairfax 
Court  House,  Captain  Phillips  found  him  breakfasting  off 
hard  bread  and  coffee,  and  insisted  on  giving  him  some 
thing  better,  which  he  was  fortunately  able  to  do,  as  his 
larder  was  pretty  well  stocked. 

The  night  of  the  I5th  all  had  a  good  night's  rest. 
Reveille  at  the  usual  hour  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the 
1 6th.  Rested  in  camp  all  day.  At  night  shelter  tents  were 
issued  to  the  men.  Inspection  of  the  Battery  at  6  p.  m.  in 
light  marching  order  by  Major  McGilvery.  News  came 
that  the  rebels  were  in  Chambersburg.  The  Rappahannock 
evacuated.  Roll  call  in  the  evening  at  8  o'clock.  Turned 
out  at  9  p.  m.  Drew  two  days'  rations  of  coffee,  salt  pork 
and  bread,  and  strapped  on  4  bags  of  grain  to  each  caisson 
and  two  to  each  gun,  at  -J  past  9  p.  m.,  to  be  ready  to  march 
the  next  day :  then  turned  in  again. 

On  this  day  Captain  A.  P.  Martin  was  put  on  detached 
service, — commanding  Artillery  Brigade,  Fifth  Army 
Corps,  by  Special  Order,  and  Lieut.  Aaron  F.  Walcott  as 
sumed  command  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery. 


614  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Reveille  at  4  o'clock  June  i/th.  Rebels  said  to  be  in 
Maryland.  Fifth  Corps  at  Manassas;  other  corps  on  the 
march  toward  Leesburg.  Struck  tents,  hitched  up  and 
packed  up  for  a  march.  After  waiting  about  an  hour  orders 
came  to  unharness  and  stretch  the  picket  line.  Turned  in 
our  grain,  and  quietness  reigned  again. 

June  1 8th.  Battery  hitched  up  about  half  past  9  a.  m., 
and  was  inspected  by  Major  McGilvery.  A  sergeant  and 
five  gunners  were  sentenced  to  stand  on  the  caissons,  for  not 
knowing  what  they  had  never  been  taught  about  the  "time ' 
and  "elevation"  table.  They  were  ordered  to  stand  there  until 
they  learned  the  table,  but  were  relieved  in  about  f  of  an 
hour  as  ignorant  as  before.  The  men  had  raw  pork  for 
dinner. 

June  1 9th.  Big  drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  in  the 
afternoon  and  harness  by  detail.  Cavalry  fight  at  Aldie. 
The  Rebs  are  driven. 

June  20.  All  the  2d  Corporals  called  to  Head  Quarters 
and  questioned  about  the  "time  table"  etc. 

On  the  2  ist  heavy  cannonading  was  heard  to  the  north 
west  in  the  direction  of  Bull  Run.  Fighting  all  day  at 
Thoroughfare  Gap.  Cannonading  at  the  rate  of  6,  15,  12 
rounds  per  minute. 

June  22d,  the  Battery  hitched  up  and  drilled  in  the  morn 
ing:  company  drilled  on  the  manual  in  the  afternoon;  also 
the  drivers  harnessed  their  horses  by  detail.  The  men  were 
kept  at  drill  on  the  piece,  harness  drill  and  battery.  Noth 
ing  but  famine  rations  of  fat  pork  had  been  served  out  to 
the  men  for  two  or  three  days,  and  they  were  being  reduced 
to  a  state  of  suffering  and  tyrannical  discipline  as  fast  as 
possible.  No  coffee  allowed  the  "Non-Coms."  for  twenty- 
four  hours;  as  punishment  for  not  suppressing  noisy  and 
disorderly  conduct  of  the  men  at  tea  time.  "Non-Coms." 
had  coffee  as  usual,  without  having  to  go  after  it.  Pork 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  615 

without — anything  else — for  dinner.  About  400  rebel 
prisoners  pass,  from  Thoroughfare  Gap. 

This  day  Lieut.  Spear  was  appointed  acting  assistant 
adjutant  general  in  McGilvery's  Brigade.  Some  cannonad 
ing  to  the  west. 

June  23d,  laid  out  a  new  camp  in  the  grove  and  cleared 
the  ground  of  rubbish.  Two  rows  of  tents  were  arranged, 
and  we  now  had  a  neat,  orderly  camp.  Captain  Water 
man's  battery  had  been  transferred  to  the  Sixth  Corps,  and 
Captain  James  F.  Huntington  (of  Battery  H,  ist  Ohio, 
Light)  had  been  transferred  to  the  3d  Brigade  of  the 
Artillery  Reserve,  taking  command  of  the  brigade.  The 
only  infantry  in  our  neighborhood,  was  the  Sixth  Corps, 
and  we  knew  nothing  of  the  whereabouts  of  the  rest  of  the 
army.  We  heard  firing  occasionally  to  the  westward,  and 
knew  the  result  when  we  got  the  newspapers.  Two  batteries 
of  our  brigade,  Ames'  (Battery  G,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  Captain 
Nelson  Ames)  and  Dow's  (Sixth  Maine  Battery,  Captain 
Edwin  B.  Dow)  started  this  morning  for  Edwards  Ferry. 
News  came  of  the  cavalry  fight  at  Middleburg  on  Sunday. 
Two  pieces  of  artillery,  3  caissons,  i  blown  up,  and  the 
enemy  driven  towards  Ashby's  Gap.  Major  McGilvery 
gone  to  Washington. 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  FAIRFAX  COURT  HOUSE, 

Tuesday  morning,  June  23,  1863. 

As  things  began  to  look  like  a  permanent  camp,  I  have 
taken  to  drilling,  and  yesterday  I  had  the  camp  pitched  over 
again.  We  have  sent  on  to  Washington,  and  are  now  living 
on  such  luxuries  as  tomatoes,  pease,  string  beans,  squash, 
asparagus  &c.,  bottled  ale  for  dinner,  and  oranges  and 
bananas  for  dessert.  I  wish  our  men's  fare  was  as  good, 
but  they  are  at  present  living  very  poorly,  on  hard  bread 


616  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  salt  pork,  no  soft  bread,  no  vegetables,  not  even  salt 
beef,  and  what  little  fresh  beef  they  get  is  hardly  fit  to  be 
eaten.  And  as  if  to  prevent  them  from  improving  the  bill 
of  fare  the  sutlers  are  not  allowed  to  come  out  from  Wash 
ington, — rather  aggravating,  to  be  within  15  miles  of  a 
good  market  and  not  allowed  to  buy  anything." 


June  24th,  about  125  rebel  prisoners  passed  in  the  morn 
ing.  The  men  of  the  Battery  had  boiled  fresh  beef,  for 
a  change.  At  supper  time  by  request  of  the  cook,  Corporal 
Jonas  Shackley  called  Tucker  (bugler)  to  sound  the  call 
and  the  men  repeated  it  along  the  line.  As  a  punishment 
the  Captain  stopped  the  coffee  for  half  an  hour.  As  soon 
as  the  issue  was  resumed  the  calls  for  Tucker  were  heard, 
and  the  Captain  stopped  the  coffee  entirely  and  ordered  that 
the  non-commissioned  officers  go  without  coffee  for  24 
hours.  Perhaps  they  did.  Corporal  Shackley  did  not  ask 
any  one  for  coffee,  but  it  was  in  his  tent  at  meal  time. 

LETTER  FROM  LIEUT.  P.  W.  BLAKE. 

FAIRFAX  COURT  HOUSE,  VAV 

June  24,   1863. 

"We  are  now  15  miles  from  Washington,  but  the  d — 1 
knows  where  the  rebels  are.  We  had  a  rather  hard  march 
up  here,  48  hours  without  rest.  The  way  that  most  of  the 
corps  came  was  the  old  road  that  we  came  to  Bull  Run 
last  August.  There  was  only  one  spring  on  the  road;  the 
men  and  horses  suffered  greatly  for  the  want  of  water. 
There  were  20  men  in  one  corps  who  dropped  down  dead 
on  the  march.  Most  of  our  infantry  are  around  the  moun 
tains  somewhere.  Wounded  are  being  brought  in  every 
day  from  the  mountains,  ours  and  rebels. 

I  suppose  there  are  a  good  many  who  are  joining  General 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  617 

Debility's  army  at  present  up  north.  I  hope  the  rebels 
will  come  to  New  York  and  other  places,  and  stir  them 
up  a  little.  My  duty  is  rather  laborious  at  present,  one 
officer  (Lieut.  Scott)  is  on  court  martial,  and  another 
(Lieut.  Spear)  is  on  the  Major  of  trie  Brigade's  staff." 

VETERAN    VOLUNTEERS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

WASHINGTON,  June  25,  1863. 
General  Orders 
No.   191 

FOR  RECRUITING   VETERAN   VOLUNTEERS. 

In  order  to  increase  the  armies  now  in  the  field,  volunteer  infantry, 
cavalry,  and  artillery,  may  be  enlisted,  at  any  time  within  ninety  days 
from  this  date,  in  the  respective  states,  under  the  regulations  hereinafter 
mentioned.  The  volunteers  so  enlisted,  and  such  of  the  three  years' 
troops  now  in  the  field,  as  may  re-enlist  in  accordance  with  the  provi 
sions  of  this  order,  will  constitute  a  force  to  be  designated  "Veteran 
Volunteers." 

******************** 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.    D.    TOWNSEND, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

June  25,  1863.  Reveille  and  roll  call  just  at  sunrise. 
"Boots  and  Saddles"  at  8  a.  m.  Broke  camp  and  packed 
up,  and  left  Fairfax  Court  House  with  the  Artillery  Reserve 
at  about  9  a.  m.  Marched  all  day  and  evening.  The 
Brigades  marched  in  the  following  order :  Ransom,  Hunting- 
ton,  McGilvery,  DuPeyster,  Taft,— 

DuPeyster  switched  off  for  Washington.  The  Ninth 
Mass.  Battery  joined  our  Brigade.  We  started  towards 
Washington,  but  changed  the  direction  of  our  route,  and 
marched  towards  Edwards  Ferry  on  the  Potomac  River. 
Passed  Leesburg  station  at  4  p.  m.  Roads  good,  especially 
the  Leesburg  turnpike,  a  macadamized  road.  We  had 
much  halting  until  the  last  two  hours  of  our  march,  when 


618  HISTORY    OF    THE 

we  moved  very  fast,  a  good  part  of  the  time  "double-quick." 
Upset  one  caisson  about  5  p.  m.,  and  broke  the  stock,  but 
not  so  badly  as  to  detain  us.  We  righted  the  caisson  and 
proceeded.  At  6  o'clock  it  commenced  raining  and  rained 
all  night.  About  half  past  6  we  passed  through  Dranesville. 
Halted  for  the  night  a  mile  from  the  river  about  up.  m., 
but  did  not  unhitch.  The  men  made  coffee  and  lay  down 
on  the  wet  ground  by  the  fire  without  shelter  except  a  rubber 
blanket.  They  passed  the  long,  dreary,  wet  night  in  misery, 
being  wet  to  the  skin  and  not  a  wink  of  sleep. 

June  26th.  Friday.  Morning  rainy,  and  the  sky  very 
cloudy.  Horses  still  standing  in  harness.  Left  park  about 
^  past  7  a.  m.,  and  marched  about  a  mile  to  the  bridge 
across  the  Potomac  at  Edwards  Ferry.  There  were  two 
pontoon  bridges  across  the  river.  Our  Battery  crossed 
the  bridge  on  the  right.  There  were  65  boats  under  the 
bridge.  Length  1400  feet.  We  crossed  at  half  past  8  a.  m., 
and  went  into  Maryland.  Camped  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  bridge  and  stopped  here  all  day  and  all  night  on  the 
plantation  of  a  man  of  the  name  of  Fisher.  We  had 
marched  about  28  miles.  Heavy  masses  of  troops  and 
wagon  trains  on  the  move  all  day.  The  Fifth  Corps  passed 
in  the  afternoon.  Signs  of  a  long  rain  at  dusk.  Every 
thing  was  water-soaked.  The  men  made  tents  of  their  tar 
paulins  and  had  plenty  of  wheat  straw. 

June  27th,  1863.  Anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Gaines 
Mills.  Cloudy  morning.  We  packed  up  and  marched 
about  8  o'clock  a.  m.  Marched  through  Poolesville,  Union- 
town,  Barnesville,  and  Monocacy  Junction,  crossing  Mono- 
cacy  River  twice.  Marched  round  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain, 
Md.  The  road  was  quite  rough,  and  we  capsized  one  of 
our  wagons,  but  did  no  serious  damage.  After  getting  off 
the  mountain  the  road  was  quite  smooth,  and  we  travelled 
quite  rapidly.  No  infantry  marched  on  the  road  we  came. 
We  marched  about  27  miles,  a  considerable  part  of  it  being 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  619 

"double-quick."  We  reached  Frederick,  Md.  about  10  p.  m., 
passed  through  it  where  we  went  into  park  about  a  mile 
north  of  the  city,  on  the  Gettysburg  road.  There  were  only 
three  cannoneers  present  to  stretch  the  picket  rope,  and 
some  did  not  come  up  until  the  next  day.  The  men  went 
to  bed  supperless,  too  much  fatigued  to  make  coffee,  but 
they  had  a  good  night's  rest.  The  people  of  Frederick 
were  very  hospitable  to  us. 

June  28th,  Sunday,  we  were  routed  out  about  the  usual 
hour,  and  remained  in  camp  all  day.  Turned  in  some  con 
demned  horses.  Many  of  the  men  were  allowed  "passes" 
to  the  city.  The  Captain  went  into  Frederick  in  the  after- 
noon  and  evening.  The  city  was  full  of  soldiers  and  they 
heard  a  rumor  that  General  Meade  had  relieved  General 
Hooker.  Captain  Phillips  saw  General  Hooker  in  the  town ; 
also  General  (Alfred)  Pleasanton  who  was  at  the  City  Hall. 
The  Third  and  Eleventh  Corps  went  through  in  the  after 
noon. 

EXIT   HOOKER. 

His  FAREWELL  TO  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

June   28,    1863. 
General  Orders 

No.  66. 

In  conformity  with  the  orders  of  the  War  Department,  dated  June 
27,  1863,  I  relinquish  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  is 
transferred  to  Major  General  George  G.  Meade,  a  brave  and  accom 
plished  officer,  who  has  nobly  earned  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  this 
Army  on  many  a  well-fought  field. 

Impressed  with  the  belief  that  my  usefulness  as  the  commander 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  impaired,  I  part  from  it :  yet  not  without 
the  deepest  emotion.  The  sorrow  of  parting  with  the  comrades  of  so 
many  battles,  is  relieved  by  the  conviction  that  the  courage  and  devotion 
of  this  Army  will  never  cease,  nor  fail, — that  it  will  yield  to  my  suc 
cessor  as  it  has  to  me,  a  willing  and  hearty  support.  With  the  earnest 


HISTORY    OF    THE 

prayer  that  the  triumphs  of  its  arms  may  bring  successes  worthy  of  it 
and  the  nation,  I  bid  it  farewell. 

JOSEPH    HOOKER, 
Major  General. 

ENTER    MEADE. 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
June  28,    1863. 

General  Orders 

No.  67. 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  I  hereby  assume 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  As  a  soldier,  in  obeying  this 
order — an  order  totally  unexpected  and  unsolicited — I  have  no  promises 
or  pledges  to  make. 

The  country  looks  to  this  Army  to  relieve  it  from  the  devastation 
and  disgrace  of  a  hostile  invasion.  Whatever  fatigues  and  sacrifices 
we  may  be  called  upon  to  undergo,  let  us  have  in  view  constantly  the 
magnitude  of  the  interests  involved,  and  let  each  man  determine  to  do 
his  duty,  leaving  to  an  all-controlling  Providence  the  decision  of  the 
contest. 

It  is  with  just  diffidence  that  I  relieve  in  the  command  of  this  Army, 
an  eminent  and  accomplished  soldier,  whose  name  must  ever  appear 
conspicuous  in  the  history  of  its  achievements;  but  I  rely  upon  the 
hearty  support  of  my  companions  in  arms  to  assist  me  in  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  the  important  trust  which  has  been  confided  to  me. 

GEORGE  G.  MEADE, 
Major  General  Commanding. 


AS  REWARD :  A  MEDAL  OF  HONOR. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 
WASHINGTON,  June  29th,  1863. 

General  Orders 

No.   195 

The  Adjutant  General  will  provide  an  appropriate  Medal  of  Honor 
for  the  troops  who,  after  the  expiration  of  their  term,  have  offered  their 
services  to  the  Government  in  the  present  emergency;  and  also,  for  the 
Volunteer  troops  from  other  states  that  have  volunteered  their  tem 
porary  service1  in  the  states  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland. 
By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  621 

June  2g,  1863.  Reveille  at  half  past  3  a.  m.,  packed  up, 
hitched  up,  took  rations  of  bread  and  raw  pork,  and  after 
waiting  three  hours  in  a  pouring  rain,  got  on  the  road 
about  6  a.  m.  Marched  through  Frederick  City.  Had  a 
halt  for  about  an  hour,  half  a  mile  from  the  place  we 
left.  Very  rainy.  Passed  through  the  village  of  Walker^- 
ville,  Md.  about  10  a.  m.  Marched  about  three  miles  and 
halted  for  about  two  hours,  to  allow  wagon  trains  and 
troops  to  pass  us.  Passed  through  Ladysburg  and  reached 
Woodsborough  about  half  past  4  p.  m.  Marched  very 
steadily  until  about  9  p.  m.  when  we  halted  for  the  night. 
Roads  very  hard  and  good.  Marched  apparently  about  25 
miles  through  the  pleasantest  part  of  the  country.  The 
men  reached  camp  very  much  fatigued  and  footsore,  and 
had  a  good  night's  rest.  We  had  been  marching  in  the 
direction  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  about  ten  miles  distant. 
The  camp  was  now  about  two  miles  from  Taneytown. 

June  30,  1863.  Cloudy  and  rainy.  Reveille  as  usual. 
Hitched  up  and  left  park  about  £  past  10  a.  m.,  and  we 
were  until  J  past  4  p.  m.,  going  about  three  miles,  the  roads 
were  so  full  of  troops.  About  15  rebels  passed  us  in  the 
afternoon.  Passed  through  Taneytown,  Md.  and  went  into 
park  about  a  mile  from  the  town,  and  about  5  miles  from  the 
Pennsylvania  line,  where  we  remained  until  the  morning 
of  July  2d,  when  we  marched  to  Gettysburg.  The  camp 
was  a  very  pleasant  one,  quite  near  a  mill  stream,  and 
"all  hands"  had  a  good  bath.  Here  we  had  plenty  of 
hay  for  the  animals.  Lee's  forces  said  to  be  at  York  and 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

DUTY  AND  THE  DEATH  PENALTY. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
June  30,  1863. 

Circular : 

The  commanding  general  requests  that  previous  to  the  engagement 
soon  expected  with  the  enemy,  corps  and  all  other  commanding  officers 


622  HISTORY    OF    THE 

will  address  their  troops,  explaining  to  them  briefly  the  immense  issues 
involved  in  this  struggle.  The  enemy  are  on  our  soil.  The  whole  coun 
try  now  looks  anxiously  to  this  Army  to  deliver  it  from  the  presence 
of  the  foe.  Our  failure  to  do  so  will  leave  us  no  such  welcome  as  the 
swelling  of  millions  of  hearts  with  pride  and  joy  at  our  success  would 
give  to  every  soldier  in  the  Army.  Homes,  firesides,  and  domestic 
altars  are  involved.  The  Army  has  fought  well  heretofore.  It  is  be 
lieved  that  it  will  fight  more  desperately  and  bravely  than  ever,  if  it  is 
addressed  in  fitting  terms. 

Corps  and  other  commanders  are  authorized  to  order  the  instant 
death  of  any  soldier  who  fails  in  his  duty  at  this  hour. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Meade. 

S.  WILLIAMS 

Ass't  Adjt.  General. 


July  i,  1863.  First  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of 
Malvern  Hill.  In  camp,  but  liable  to  move  at  any  moment. 
Rumors  of  fight  at  Gettysburg,  the  death  of  General  John 
F.  Reynolds  of  the  First  Corps,  and  the  capture  of  a 
Brigade  of  rebels.  Extra  wagons  sent  to  the  rear.  Our 
forces  formed  line  and  held  the  enemy.  Fight  heavy.  A 
ration  of  fresh  meat — raw — and  3  days'  rations  of  coffee 
served  out  in  the  morning.  Two  Brigades  of  the  Reserve 
marched  at  7  p.  m. 

Thursday,  July  2,  1863,  the  Battery  crossed  the  celebrated 
"Mason  and  Dixons  line,"  and  entered  the  state  of  Mary 
land.  (This  dividing  line  was  partially  re-surveyed  in 
1765,  by  two  learned  mathematicians  and  surveyors,  Charles 
Mason  and  James  Dixon,  of  London,  employed  by  the  pro 
prietors  of  the  two  colonies  of  Perm  and  Calvert,  and  after 
wards  completed  by  other  engineers.  A  stone  was  set  up 
at  the  end  of  each  mile,  and  every  fifth  stone,  which  was 
larger  than  the  others,  had  on  the  north  side  the  arms  of 
Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  and  on  the  south  side  the  arms 
of  Frederick,  Lord  Baltimore.  The  preliminary  work  of 
restoring  the  historic  landmarks  of  Mason's  and  Dixon's 
line,  for  many  years  the  dividing  line  between  the  free 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  623 

states  and  the  slave  states  of  the  Union,  in  order  to  establish 
some  portions  now  in  doubt,  was  begun  by  a  commission 
appointed  by  the  state  governments  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  and  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  in  September, 
1900.  The  original  stones  which  remained  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation  have  been  reset  in  solid  cement  bases,  and 
iron  posts  are  put  up  in  places  where  the  old  markers  have 
disappeared. ) 

July  2,  1863.  First  call  at  half  past  2  a.  m.  We  packed 
up  and  left  camp  about  4  a.  m.  Marched  to  the  edge  of 
Taneytown  but  countermarched,  and  took  the  road  towards 
Gettysburg.  Saw  some  prisoners  and  wounded  men  com 
ing  to  the  rear.  Travelled  very  fast  most  of  the  time. 
Heard  cannonading  in  the  direction  of  Gettysburg  about  10 
a.  m.,  and  musketry  skirmishing  about  half  an  hour  later: 
Marched  about  12  miles  before  halting.  Weather  damp 
and  cloudy.  Halted  in  a  field,  with  close  intervals,  and 
cleared  the  guns  for  action. 

THE  FIGHT  OF  JULY  20. 

Two  letters  of  Captain  Phillips,  one  written  soon  after 
the  battle,  and  the  other  after  an  interval  of  more  than  four 
months,  give  in  detail  his  views  of  the  situation,  with  ac 
companying  plans,  drawn  from  the  indelible  impressions 
made  upon  his  mind  while  the  contest  raged  the  fiercest 
around  him  at  his  post,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  posi 
tions  on  the  field. 

The  first  bears  the  date:  "Camp  near  Littlestown.  Penn. 
July  6,  1863." 

"The  long  barns  which  abound  in  this  country  had  all 
been  converted  into  hospitals,  and  everything  portended  a 
fight.  Some  little  shelling  was  going  on,  and  we  could  see 
our  troops  in  line  on  the  hills  in  front.  About  3  o'clock 
the  fighting  commenced,  and  Hart's  and  Bigelow's  Ninth 


624  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mass,  were  sent  to  the  front.  I  was  ordered  up  at  4,  and 
found  the  shelling  pretty  lively.  I  took  position  between 
Hart  and  Bigelow,  and  threw  a  few  shells  at  a  rebel  battery, 
which  was  about  silenced.  The  following  diagram  will 
explain  our  position.  (See  Plan  of  Operations.) 

The  woods  on  our  left  were  occupied  by  our  infantry,  and 
skirmishers  were  deployed  in  the  ravine  in  front  of  us. 
The  line  of  battle  extended  some  distance,  and  our  infantry 
was  placed  on  our  flanks;  there  was  none  immediately  in 
front  or  rear  of  Hart,  Bigelow,  or  myself.  Thompson  was 
on  a  knoll  higher  than  my  position,  which  concealed  the 
rebel  line  in  that  direction  from  my  sight. 

About  five  o'clock  the  rebels  charged  across  the  fields 
into  the  woods  on  our  left  and  drove  back  our  line  on  our 
right.  We  poured  a  very  uncomfortable  enfilading  fire  into 
them  as  long  as  they  were  in  sight  in  the  fields  on  our  left, 
and  could  have  driven  them  back  if  the  infantry  and  artillery 
on  our  right  had  held  their  ground.  But  Thompson  was 
driven  back,  losing  one  gun,  Ames  retired,  and  Hart  left  the 
field,  and  our  whole  line  of  infantry  fell  back. 

We  had  been  for  an  hour  very  much  annoyed  by  the  en 
filading  fire  of  some  batteries  on  our  right,  which  were 
pouring  in  shell  in  a  very  uncomfortable  way.  We  could 
have  silenced  them  if  we  could  have  seen  them. 

At  the  same  time  that  our  right  fell  back,  the  rebels  had 
got  so  far  into  the  woods  on  our  left  that  their  musketry 
became  very  annoying.  Finding  that  the  place  was  getting 
too  hot,  Major  McGilvery  ordered  us  to  retire,  which  we 
executed  very  successfully.  The  horses  on  my  left  piece 
were  knocked  over,  and  we  started  the  piece  off  by  hand. 
Lieut.  Scott  was  pushing  the  piece  off  when  a  bullet  struck 
him  in  the  face  passing  through  both  cheeks,  and  breaking 
the  roof  of  his  mouth.  Fortunately  it  missed  his  eyes  and 
teeth,  and  he  will  easily  recover.  We  fell  back  across  the 
fields,  and  took  up  a  new  position  about  1000  yards  to  the 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  625 

rear.  The  rest  of  the  Brigade  had  gone  still  farther  to  the 
rear,  taking  with  them  my  caissons  and  three  of  my  pieces 
which  had  got  beyond  my  control  while  I  was  looking  after 
the  rear  of  the  column.  Lieut.  Scott's  wound  also  created 
a  little  confusion.  However,  I  got  three  pieces  in  position, 
and  blazed  away  at  the  rebels.  Lieut.  Dow's  6th  Maine 
Battery  was  on  my  left,  and  did  good  service.  The  rebels 
brought  their  batteries  on  the  hill  we  first  occupied,  and 
commenced  a  pretty  vigorous  shelling,  but  I  fancy  they 
found  that  two  could  play  at  that  game.  I  blazed  away 
till  dark,  and  used  up  all  my  ammunition,  when  I  was  re 
lieved  and  retired  to  get  the  Battery  together.  (The  guns 
had  been  carried  about  a  mile  to  the  rear.)  I  finally  got 
them  together  by  daylight. 

I  suffered  pretty  severely  in  this  day's  fight:  3  men  were 
left  dead  on  the  field,  and  one  died  the  next  morning  in  the 
hospital.  Some  30  horses  were  killed,  but  all  that  the  rebels 
made  out  of  me  was  one  limber  and  harness,  and  these  we 
got  off  two  days  after.  Bigelow  suffered  still  worse.  Four 
of  his  guns  were  left  on  the  field,  but  were  all  saved  event 
ually.  Lieut.  Erickson  was  killed,  Captain  Bigelow  and 
Lieut.  Whi taker  wounded.  This  battery  did  splendidly, 
particularly  considering  it  was  their  first  fight.  They  were 
exposed  to  a  very  hot  fire  of  musketry  and  could  not  have 
saved  their  guns." 

The  remainder  of  this  letter  refers  to  the  fight  of  July  3d, 
and  his  letter  dated  Camp  near  Kelly's  Ford,  Nov.  21,  1863, 
contains  the  following  regarding  the  second  day's  fight 
which  was  also  on  the  2d  of  July  : — The  letter  was  addressed 
to  his  brother  George. 

"I  received  your  letter  and  plans  of  Gettysburg  the  other 
day  and  have  indicated  our  position  as  accurately  as  pos 
sible  on  the  enclosed  plans.  (These  plans  have  been  con 
sulted  in  the  present  work.) 

As  I  went  into  position  on  Thursday  under  a  hot  fire, 


026  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  came  out  under  a  hotter  one,  I  did  not  get  a  very  clear 
idea  of  localities. 

On  the  morning  of  July  2d  we  left  Taneytown,  and  came 
into  park  on  the  right  of  the  road.  We  stayed  here  till  3 
p.  m.  when  McGilvery's  Brigade  went  up,  one  after  an 
other,  to  take  position  with  the  Third  Corps  which  had  been 
advanced  in  front  of  the  rest  of  the  line.  As  we  came  up 
we  were  formed  in  position  on  the  road  running  from  the 
Taneytown  to  the  Emmittsburg  road.  The  left  of  the  Bri 
gade  rested  on  the  woods  held  by  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  the 
right  stood  in  the  peach  orchard.  We  were  arranged  in  the 
following  order,  commencing  from  the  left:— 

Ninth  Mass.  Captain  (John)  Bigelow. 

Fifth  Mass.  Captain  Phillips. 

A  New  Jersey  Battery  belonging  to  the  Third  Corps. 
(Battery  B,  2d  New  Jersey  Artillery.) 

1 5th  N.  Y.  Battery,  Captain  (Patrick)  Hart. 

Battery  C,  Penn.  Art'y,  Captain  (James)  Thompson. 

My  left  piece  stood  in  the  road.  Hart  was  a  little  in  ad 
vance,  but  soon  fell  back. 

Four  of  Thompsons  Guns  faced  the  same  way  as  the 
Brigade,  the  other  two  faced  to  the  right  where  a  rebel  bat 
tery  was  enfilading  our  line  in  a  very  uncomfortable  man 
ner.  Some  rebel  batteries  in  front  of  us  on  the  wooded  hills 
were  firing  pretty  lively,  but  soon  after  we  got  into  position 
we  silenced  them,  and  the  only  artillery  fire  that  did  us  any 
serious  damage  was  the  enfilading  battery  on  our  right.  As 
the  peach  orchard  was  on  higher  ground  than  where  I  was, 
I  could  not  see  any  of  the  rebels  in  this  direction,  nor  the 
Third  Corps.  About  5  o'clock  the  rebels  started  a  heavy 
column  across  the  field  in  front  of  us  towards  the  woods 
held  by  the  Fifth  Corps.  We  blazed  away  at  them  all  the 
time,  but  most  of  them  contrived  to  get  into  the  woods.  A 
second  column  followed  right  after  with  similar  luck  though 
they  suffered  worse  than  the  first.  Some  of  them  tried  to 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  627 

get  behind  the  house  and  barn  in  our  front,  and  after  the 
fight  120  dead  South  Carolinians  were  found  in  the  en 
closures  round  them.  All  this  time  it  was  pretty  noisy  on 
our  right,  and  happening  to  look  that  way,  I  saw  our  infan 
try  coming  back  through  the  peach  orchard.  Hart  and  the 
New  Jersey  Battery  (Battery  B,  2d  N.  J.  Artillery)  left  at 
this  juncture,  and  Thompson  got  out  of  the  way  losing  one 
gun.  I  ordered  Lieut.  Lull  with  the  Right  section  to  retire 
200  yards  and  come  into  position  again.  At  this  moment 
Major  McGilvery  ordered  us  all  to  retire,  and  we  fell  back. 
My  horses  were  rather  mixed  up,  dead  ones  being  rather 
more  plenty  than  live  ones,  but  we  managed  to  limber  up  and 
get  off.  The  Right  Section,  being  all  ready,  got  off  first, 
the  Centre  Section  followed,  and  then  the  Left.  Unfortu 
nately,  as  we  were  going  to  limber  up  the  left  piece  the 
horses  were  all  shot,  but  we  managed  to  haul  it  off  by  hand. 
By  this  time  the  rebels  were  between  us  and  the  peach 
orchard  blazing  away  with  great  carelessness,  and  one  of 
them  hit  Lieut.  Scott  as  he  was  dragging  off  this  piece. 
However,  we  managed  to  drag  it  down  into  the  hollow  by 
Trossel's  house,  and  the  sergeant  brought  back  a  limber,  and 
we  went  off. 

During  this  retreat  a  circumstance  occurred  which  an 
noyed  me  very  much.  While  I  was  in  the  rear  the  head  of 
the  Battery  got  mixed  up  with  some  other  batteries  by  Tros  - 
sel's  house,  and  Captain  Hart,  as  he  informed  me  after 
wards,  not  seeing  any  officer,  took  charge  of  three  of  my 
guns,  and  carried  them  off  a  mile  to  the  rear.  So  when  I 
caught  up  I  found  only  three  guns.  McGilvery  had  got 
the  6th  Maine  in  position  behind  Trossel's  house,  and  I  came 
into  battery  on  his  right.  The  Ninth  Battery  was  not  so 
lucky  in  getting  off.  They  ran  into  a  stone  wall  and  lost 
four  of  their  guns,  the  rebels  getting  up  very  close  on  to 
them.  When  we  got  to  our  second  position,  the  rebels  were 
in  the  peach  orchard  Blazing  away  at  us,  but  it  was  pretty 


628  HISTORY    OF    THE 

dark  and  we  did  not  suffer  much.  We  stayed  here  till  dark, 
when  the  rebels  were  pretty  well  checked,  and  then,  as  I  was 
out  of  ammunition,  I  retired  across  the  Taneytown  road, 
and  unhitched  for  the  night.  By  midnight  I  got  the  whole 
battery  together  and  went  to  sleep." 

This  letter  is  continued  in  the  history  of  the  Battery  on 
July  3d.  In  his  Notes  of  that  date  he  says : — "We 
whipped  them  handsomely  yesterday  (the  2d).  I  saved  all 
my  guns,  though  I  had  to  haul  one  f  of  a  mile.  The  Ninth 
Mass.  Battery  close  by  us  did  splendidly.  The  artillery  suf 
fered  very  much." 

THE  PROLONGE. 

With  relation  to  the  use  of  the  prolonge  Captain  Phillips 
thus  wrote  in  a  letter  dated  Camp  near  Sharpsburg,  Md., 
Thursday  Evening,  October  16,  1862: — 

"The  long  rope  coiled  on  the  trail  of  the  gun  is  called  the 
'prolonge.'  It  is  used  when  you  want  to  retreat  and  to  fire 
while  you  are  retreating.  To  do  this  the  order  is  given  'Fix 
prolonge  to  fire  retiring!'  Then,  in  the  lucid  language  of 
the  book,  'tKe  limber  inclines  to  the  right,  wheels  to  the  left 
about,  and  halts  4  yards  from  the  trail.  No.  5  uncoils  the 
prolonge  and  passes  the  toggle  to  the  gunner,  who  fixes  it 
in  the  trail  by  passing  it  upwards  through  the  lunette,  whilst 
he  attaches  the  other  end  to  the  limber  by  passing  the  ring 
over  the  pintle  and  keying  it.  At  the  command  'Retire !' 
the  cannoneers  face" about,  all  march  on  the  left  of  the  piece 
except  Nos.  i  and  3.  They  keep  their  implements  in  their 
hands  &c.  &c.'  That  is  to  say,  they  go  on  loading  and  fir 
ing,  but  the  horses  all  the  time  dragging  the  gun  away  from 
the  enemy.  The  prolonge  is  also  very  useful  in  many  other 
ways." 

In  the  rear  of  the  axle-tree  of  the  limber  is  a  pintle-hook 
to  receive  a  strong  ring  on  the  end  of  the  trail  called  the 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY. 

"lunette."  It  has  a  key.  A  "toggle"  is  fastened  to  one 
end  of  the  prolonge  by  three  rings  and  a  thimble  which  is 
worked  into  the  rope;  another  thimble  holds  a  hook  at  the 
other  end  of  the  rope. 

SCOTT  ON  THE  FIGHT  OF  JULY  20. 

NOTES  OF  1863. 

"Camp  of  the  Artillery  Reserve  July  2,  1863.  Morn 
cloudy.  Orders  to  march  at  4  a.  m.  Hitched  up  and 
moved  on  towards  Gettysburg.  One  limber  of  Taft's  (5th  N. 
Y.  Battery  Captain  Elijah  D.  Taft)  Battery  blown  up  on 
the  road,  one  man  killed  10  a.  m.  Arrived  at  the  front  12 
m.  All  the  Artillery  Reserve  hitched  up  and  bunched  in  the 
rear  of  the  line  of  battle  near  the  Baltimore  turnpike.  Near 
us  was  the  Ninth  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  John  Bigelow. 
Nothing  could  be  seen  from  where  we  were  of  the  line  of 
battle.  All  \vas  quiet.  Hitched  up  at  4  p.  m.  Fighting 
commenced  at  5  p.  m.,  when  the  ball  opened  in  earnest.  Or 
dered  to  the  front.  I  was  talking  with  First  Lieut.  Chris 
topher  Erickson  of  the  Ninth  Mass,  about  the  probable  re 
sult  of  the  coming  contest,  when  the  batteries,  one  by  one, 
began  to  start  out  in  a  hurry.  A  staff  officer  rode  up  to 
Captain  Phillips  to  direct  the  Battery  to  the  front.  The 
order  to  strip  for  action  came  quickly.  All  incumbrances 
were  thrown  aside,  and  we  started  out  on  a  trot  across  the 
field,  passing  by  the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top,  over  stone 
walls  and  other  obstructions.  We  could  see,  as  we  ad 
vanced,  the  terrible  fight  that  was  going  on.  The  air  was 
already  full  of  sulphurous  smoke.  The  Battery  in  full  jump 
had  hard  work  to  keep  Captain  Phillips,  who  was  with  the 
staff  officer,  in  sight.  An  officer  rode  up  to  me  and  said : 
'The  Battery  is  wanted  at  once  on  the  Round  Top.'  I 
said,  There  is  my  captain  ahead.  I  know  no  other.' 

Passing  the  Trostle  house  we  swung  into  a  rocky  lane 


680  HISTORY    OF    THE 

leading  to  the  Emmittsburg  pike.  Gunners  on  the  limber. 
One  man  was  thrown  and  his  arm  was  broken  by  one  of  the 
limber  wheels,  and  he  was  out  of  the  fight.  Passing  half 
way  up  the  lane  spoken  of,  we  swung  square  to  the  left  into 
an  open  clear  field,  which  we  crossed  at  a  rapid  rate.  Over 
taking  Phillips  at  the  edge  of  a  lane  running  at  right  angles 
from  the  Emmittsburg  pike  past  Little  Round  Top,  the  Bat 
tery  was  thrown  quickly  into  line  by  a  right  oblique  move 
ment,  thus  bringing  the  Right  section  on  the  left. 

Six  batteries  were  in  this  line,  Bigelow's  Ninth  Mass. 
close  to  our  left.  Though  no  enemy  could  be  seen  in  our 
immediate  front,  the  smoke  of  the  enemy's  guns  could  be 
seen  over  a  rolling,  open  country  in  a  line, of  woods,  some 
1500  yards,  more  or  less,  distant. 

The  order  'Commence  firing'  was  given,  and  with  our 
rifled  guns  shot  and  shell  were  thrown,  with  what  effect  we 
could  hardly  tell. 

At  last  a  Battalion  of  Artillery  came  out  of  the  woods  on 
a  gallop.  Down  the  slope  they  fled,  and  on  a  ridge,  half  the 
distance  before  mentioned,  went  into  action.  We  had  them 
in  full  view,  and  we  opened  on  them  fiercely,  but  we  had 
them  in  range  but  a  short  time,  when  their  infantry  came 
down  obliquely  on  the  Third  Corps  stationed  on  the  Em 
mittsburg  pike  and  peach  orchard.  The  Right  section 
obliqued  its  guns  and  opened  on  this  line  leaving  its  fire  on 
their  artillery. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  met  with  no  material  loss  in  the 
Battery  that  I  was  aware  of. 

The  charge  of  the  rebel  line  was  a  magnificent  sight,  too 
much  for  the  Third  Corps.  It  had  to  retire,  and  commenced 
to  fall  back  in  our  rear  to  Cemetery  Hill.  The  batteries  on 
our  right  were  falling  back.  The  Centre  and  Left  section 
on  the  right  were  leaving.  The  Right  section  had  orders 
to  fix  prolonge  and  fire  retiring.  The  horses  were  faced  to 
the  rear.  The  prolonges  were  strung  out.  Now  came  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  631 

time  that  tried  the  men  of  the  section.  The  order  was  given 
to  'Limber  up'  the  guns,  as  the  enemy  were  almost  upon  us. 
The  horses  of  the  right  piece  were  killed  with  the  drivers. 
The  prolonge  was  taken  hold  of  by  Captain  Phillips  and  the 
gunners,  and  pulled  off  the  field.  The  left  piece  of  the  sec 
tion  was  limbered  up  after  a  struggle,  in  which  I  dismounted 
from  my  horse  and  through  the  confusion  and  excitement, 
with  the  assistance  of  one  cannoneer  at  the  trail  threw  the 
lunette  on  to  the  pintle  hook  and  gave  the  order  'Drive  on  F 
At  that  moment  the  driver,  Henry  Soule  of  New  Bedford 
on  the  lead,  dropped  from  his  horse,  J.  Sanford  pole  driver's 
arm  was  broken,  and  as  the  muzzle  of  the  gun  passed  me  a 
shot  went  through  my  face  and  I  was  out  of  the  fight.  I 
threw  my  hand  up,  thinking  my  face  was  gone.  The  blood 
flew  and  I  was  gone. 

Coming  to  a  realizing  sense  that  I  was  alive,  I  rose  up 
and  saw  the  rebel  line  near  me,  colors  flying.  I  did  not 
like  the  idea  of  being  a  prisoner  in  their  hands  and  started 
for  the  rear.  The  field  where  the  Battery  had  stood  was 
clear.  I  did  not  notice  limber  or  dead  men  and  horses  of 
the  Battery,  in  fact  did  not  think  I  should  get  far  alone,  but 
Sergt.  O.  B.  Smith  of  the  Battery  came  to  my  assistance 
with  his  horse,  and  mounting  me  upon  him  led  me  off  the 
field. 

The  utmost  confusion  prevailed  near  the  Trostle  house 
and  barn.  The  Ninth  Mass.  Battery  had  been  severely 
handled.  Four  of  the  guns  were  held  by  the  enemy  for  a 
short  time,  but  the  guns  of  the  Fifth  Battery  covered  them 
at  its  new  position  700  yards  in  rear  of  the  first  position. 
Captain  Bigelow  told  me  afterwards  that  Captain  Phillips 
with  his  guns  covered  them  so  completely  that  the  enemy 
could  not  take  them  off  and  they  were  afterwards  recovered. 

Corporal  Graham  hauled  the  limber  of  the  First  detach 
ment  from  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  pickets  with  a  little 
help  during  the  night  after  the  battle.  Seven  men  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Battery  were  killed  or  died  from  wounds  on  the  field. 
Twelve  were  wounded,  and  the  loss  of  horses  was  about 
fifty.  Had  not  the  order  to  fix  prolonge  been  given  I  am 
of  the  opinion  that  the  Right  section  would  have  left  the 
field  without  loss.  No  time  was  given  for  drill  movements 
and  such  time  was  lost  that  we  came  near  annihilation. 
Colonel  McGilvery  gave  Phillips  great  credit  (see  McGil- 
very's  Report  p.  667)  for  the  part  he  took  in  the  Reserve 
Artillery  on  this  occasion.  The  Artillery  Reserve  lost 
heavily  in  this  fight.  I  have  often  talked  with  General 
Henry  J.  Hunt  chief  of  artillery  on  the  part  the  artillery 
took.  He  thought  they  did  not  get  half  the  credit  belong 
ing  to  them.  Certainly  the  men  of  the  Fifth  Battery  did 
their  duty  bravely  and  well,  without  any  distinction  of  office 
or  place. 

I  was  carried  to  the  rear  from  the  Trostle  house  to  near 
Rock  Creek  and  the  Baltimore  turnpike  by  two  men  of  the 
Battery,  one  of  them  I  recollect  was  Charles  Stiles.  I  rested 
on  the  bank  of  the  Creek  during  the  night  alone,  as  best  I 
could.  No  room  near  the  hospital.  The  next  'day,  the  3d 
July,  1863,  I  could  move  about.  The  heat  of  the  day  was 
oppressive.  I  could  hear  the  cannonading  of  the  artillery, 
and  wished  I  could  have  been  with  the  Battery.  I  was 
threatened  with  lockjaw  and  suffered  severely.  I  fell  into 
the  hands  of  a  field  surgeon  whose  name  I  never  knew.  He 
dressed  my  wound  after  an  examination  and  said:  — 

'You  may  thank  your  stars  and  your  God  today,  for  the 
slightest  variation  of  the  shot,  you  would  never  have  known 
what  hurt  you.' 

It  would  have  been  suicide  to  have  continued  with  the 
battery  further,  and  I  remained  with  the  hospital  depart 
ment  until  I  could  get  transportation  home.  The  hospitals 
were  crowded  with  the  wounded.  Every  available  house, 
barn,  or  church  was  crowded.  First  Lieut.  Erickson  of  the 
9th  Mass.  Battery  whom  I  conversed  with  before  going  into 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  633 

the  fight  of  the  2d,  and  was  but  a  short  distance  from  me, 
was  shot  through  the  head  and  instantly  killed.  First  Lieut. 
Alexander  H.  Whitaker  shot  in  the  knee,  was  in  the  hos 
pital,  but  died  before  reaching  home.  Provisions  were 
short.  I  had  $5  with  me  with  which  to  help  those  who 
were  worse  wounded  than  I  was  myself.  I  gave  up  3. 
During  the  day  I  met  General  Griffin  of  the  Fifth  Corps, 
who  formerly  commanded  Battery  D,  5th  Regulars,  of  Bull 
Run  fame.  He  had  been  sick  and  had  just  arrived  from 
Baltimore.  Knowing  me,  he  inquired  after  the  Fifth  Bat 
tery.  I  told  him  wfiat  I  knew.  He  was  much  pleased  and 
said  in  complimenting  Captain  Phillips,  that  he  considered 
him  one  of  the  best  artillery  officers  in  the  Volunteer  ser 
vice,  and  he  would  not  except  the  Regular. 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1863,  was  a  rainy  day,  but  General 
Lee  was  on  the  retreat.  On  the  5th  the  army  was  on  the 
move,  and  at  12  noon  the  Fifth  Battery  moved  out  of  Get 
tysburg  with  the  Artillery  Reserve,  and  to  me  it  was  like 
parting  with  my  best  friend  as  the  Battery  passed  out  of 
sight." 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  SCOTT. 
JANUARY  30,  1901. 

"I  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  Right  piece  of  the  section. 
Captain  Phillips  speaks  of  the  Left  piece.  The  Right  sec 
tion  of  the  Battery  was  on  the  left,  and  as  being  in  com 
mand  of  that  section  I  have  spoken  of  the  Left  piece  of  the 
section  as  the  Right  piece.  Phillips  was  right,  however. 
Phillips  gave  the  order  to  fire  retiring.  I  repeated  it.  Be 
fore  the  order  could  be  executed,  Phillips  gave  the  order, 
'Limber  up !'  which  I  repeated.  The  horses  facing  the  rear, 
with  the  prolonge  stretched,  had  to  be  reversed.  Here  I 
think  if  the  section  had  gone  to  the  rear  they  might  have  got 
clear.  The  horses  of  the  Left  piece  were  shot  but  with  the 
Right  piece  the  limber  came  about.  Mounted  on  my  horse 


634  HISTORY    OF    THE 

I  saw  Phillips,  with  the  end  of  the  prolonge  over  his  shoul 
der,  leading  his  horse,  pulling  off  the  field.  Cannoneers 
pulling  and  pushing  the  Gun.  I  saw  but  one  cannoneer  near 
my  Gun.  I  jumped  from  my  horse  and  he  at  once  left  the 
field.  With  one  man  I  limbered  the  Gun.  You  can  imag 
ine  I  had  no  easy  task, — the  horses  and  drivers  uneasy,  and 
it  was  a  mere  chance  that  we  did  not  have  to  leave  the  Gun.' 

In  regard  to  the  charge  of  the  rebel  artillery  from  the 
woods  (see  p.  630)  he  adds  the  following: — 

"I  saw  the  charge  and  the  battery  in  our  front,  but  I 
directed  the  fire  of  the  section  to  their  infantry.  I  do  not 
think  we  silenced  their  batteries  entirely  that  day." 

FROM  LIEUT.  SCOTT'S  DIARY. 

"July  6,  1863.  Morn  cloudy.  In  hospital.  Wagon 
trains  moving.  Sick  being  cared  for.  Our  forces  in  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy.  Afternoon  cloudy.  Very  quiet.  The 
enemy  said  to  be  very  much  discomfited.  Gettysburg  full 
of  wounded.  A  great  many  rebels  left  behind  and  prison 
ers  taken. 

July  7,  1863.  Took  the  cars  for  Baltimore  and  at  n 
p.  m.  went  to  the  hospital  in  a  bad  condition. 

July  8,  1863.  In  the  hospital  at  Baltimore.  Got  a  pass 
and  took  the  cars  at  8  p.  m.  for  New  York.  Very  feeble. 

July  9,  1863.  Arrived  at  New  York  at  5  a.  m.  Went 
on  board  of  steamboat  for  Newport,  which  left  at  5  p.  m. 
Very  sick  this  night. 

July  10,  1863.  Arrived  at  Newport  R.  I.  at  4  a.  m. 
Went  to  my  home  and  called  a  doctor  (Butler)  who  at 
tended  me."  (The  entries  in  the  diary  are  from  July  nth 
to  July  25th.  "Sick  this  day.") 

"July  25,  1863.     The  wounds  healing  some." 


Lieut.   Scott's  leave  of  absence  lasted  until   September 
25,  1863.    On  the  24th  he  arrived  at  Washington  at  -J  past 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  635 

6.  Got  a  "pass"  and  went  to  Alexandria.  At  3  p.  m.  took 
cars  for  the  Front.  Arrived  at  Culpeper  at  9  p.  m.  Stopped 
at  Almy's,  ist  Division,  ist  Brigade,  2  miles  south  of  Cul 
peper.  Batteries  in  line  of  battle. 

''Friday,  Sept.  25th,  1863.  Morn  pleasant.  Went  to  the 
Battery  and  reported  to  Captain  Phillips.  Troops  about  to 
move." 


FROM  CAPT.  PHILLIPS— THE  GUIDON. 

To  a  little  nephew,  written  at  the  camp  near  Warrenton 
July  31,  1863 : — "In  the  fight  of  the  2d  they  had  a  battery 
right  in  front  of  us  shelling  pretty  lively  when  I  went  into 
position,  and  when  we  came  up  they  had  got  the  range 
pretty  well.  I  placed  my  guidon,  which  is  almost  as  large 
as  a  regimental  flag,  on  the  right  of  the  Battery,  and  the 
rebels  must  have  aimed  at  it,  for  their  first  shot  killed  the 
two  wheel  horses  on  the  Right  piece  and  broke  the  car 
riage  pole  all  to  pieces.  All  the  time  we  were  there  we  had 
to  work  pretty  hard  changing  harnesses  as  fast  as  the  horses 
were  killed.  The  way  we  do  it  is  this, — I  send  to  the  rear 
and  have  spare  horses  brought  up,  and  then  as  soon  as  a 
horse  is  killed,  the  driver  sets  to  work,  takes  off  his  harness 
and  puts  it  on  a  new  horse.  This  takes  some  time,  as  an 
artillery  harness  is  very  heavy,  and  they  generally  have  to 
take  it  all  to  pieces  to  get  it  off  a  dead  horse,  and  when  the 
enemy's  infantry  get  within  musket  range,  they  can  kill 
horses  faster  than  we  can  change  them.  That  is  the  reason 
we  had  to  leave  one  limber  on  the  field. 

When  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  the  enemy  were  within 
pistol  shot  on  both  flanks.  We  limbered  up  all  the  pieces 
but  the  Left  one.  One  wheel-horse  on  this  had  been  shot  a 
few  minutes  before,  and  we  had  just  got  the  harness  on  a 
new  horse,  when,  before  we  could  hitch  him  in,  down  went 
the  other  wheel-horse  and  the  leaders,  and  we  found  we 


636  HISTORY    OF    THE 

must  pull  it  off  ourselves  or  leave  it,  so  we  hitched  on  the 
prolonge,  and  the  cannoneers  pulled  the  gun  off  lively. 
Lieut.  Scott  was  pushing  away  on  the  carriage  when  he  was 
struck.  The  shot  came  from  our  right,  and  I  think  must 
have  been  a  bullet  from  a  smooth  bore  musket.  The  enemy 
in  that  direction  were  firing  buck  and  ball  cartridges. 

One  of  my  sergeants  came  pretty  near  being  hit.  One 
bullet  went  in  close  by  his  coat  buttons,  and  came  out  in  the 
middle  of  his  back,  having  made  the  circuit  in  his  coat  lin 
ing.  Another  bullet  struck  the  top  of  his  gun  while  he  was 
aiming  it,  and  glanced  through  the  top  of  his  cap.  One 
wheel  on  my  Left  piece  had  seven  spokes  hit  by  shell,  and  a 
piece  of  shell  sticking  in  the  hub.  On  the  whole,  the  old 
iron  flew  round  pretty  lively.  What  bothered  us  most  was 
a  battery  on  our  right  which  we  could  not  see,  and  which 
was  throwing  case  shot  at  us  very  carelessly,  and  every  min 
ute  a  shower  of  bullets  would  come  in,  whoosh, — just  like 
a  heavy  shower  of  hailstones.  .  .  .  They  seemed  to  have  a 
wholesome  dread  of  getting  in  front  of  our  guns,  but  made 
for  the  woods  on  our  flanks,  and  having  driven  our  infantry 
out  of  these,  we  concluded  to  retire,  and  so  fell  back  a  little 
way  in  good  order.  If  some  of  the  batteries  in  our  Brigade 
had  not  got  frightened,  we  should  have  given  the  Rebs  a 
hotter  fight  than  we  did,  but  as  soon  as  the  order  was  given 
to  fall  back,  Hart  and  Thompson  fell  back  at  least  two  miles 
...  I  felt  pretty  mad  when  I  found  out  that  they  had  car 
ried  off  some  of  my  guns  and  caissons  with  them,  so  that  I 
had  only  about  70  rounds  of  ammunition  left.  Major  McGil- 
very  was  rushing  around,  and  trying  to  form  a  new  line, 
and  so  I  came  into  battery  again.  I  lost  several  men  in  this 
second  position,  and  they  got  up  a  story  that  I  was  killed, 
because  a  staff  officer  was  killed  about  10  feet  from  me. 
We  stayed  till  dark,  using  up  all  our  ammunition,  and  then 
I  went  back  and  brought  up  Seeley's  (Capt.  Frank  Seeley, 
Battery  K,  4th  U.  S.  commanded  by  Lieut.  Robert  James) 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  637 

Regular  battery  to  relieve  me.  I  was  up  all  night  hunting 
up  my  carriages,  and  did  not  find  some  of  them  till  the 
next  morning." 

SHACKLEY   ON    THE   FIGHT   OF   JULY  2D. 

Corporal  Jonas  Shackley,  one  of  those  who  "brought 
off  the  last  gun"  in  a  letter  dated  Dec.  n,  1900,  thus  ex 
plains  the  composition  of  the  Battery : — "The  Battery  was 
composed  of  six  guns,  numbered  from  one  to  six.  No.  I 
was  the  right  piece,  and  was  in  charge  of  Sergeant  Wm.  B. 
Pattison. .  No.  2  was  in  charge  of  Sergt.  W.  H.  Peacock. 
The  ist  and  2d  detachments  formed  the  Right  section  un 
der  First  Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott.  Each  full  detachment,  or 
gun-team,  comprised  a  corporal  who  aimed  the  gun,  seven 
cannoneers,  and  a  corporal  who  had  charge  of  the  caisson. 

Corporal  Benjamin  Graham  was  Gunner  and  Corporal 
Jonas  Shackley  was  chief  of  caisson  in  ist  detachment, 
Right  section." 

NOTES    OF    SHACKLEY,    1863. 

"July  2,  1863,  arrived  at  Gettysburg  about  10  a.  m. 
Went  into  line  in  close  order  near  the  Taneytown  road, 
until  about  4  p.  m.  Ordered  into*  line  of  battle,  mounted  the 
cannoneers  and  went  on  the  gallop.  The  ground  being 
rough  Corporal  Eagan  was  thrown  and  his  arm  broken  in 
two  places:  which  ended  his  services  in  the  army.  John 
Moudorf  was  also  thrown  but  not  seriously  hurt,  though 
he  did  not  go  to  the  front  that  day. 

The  Battery  went  'On  the  Left  into  line,'  which  placed 
the  ist  detachment  on  the  Left  of  the  Battery,  next  to  the 
Right  section  of  the  gth  Mass.  Battery,  which  joined  the 
Right  of  the  Fifth  Corps  on  Little  Round  Top.  The  Third 
Corps  was  on  our  right  in  the  Peach  Orchard.  The  two 
batteries  filled  the  gap  between  the  two  Corps,  with  no 
infantry  support. 

Longstreet's    Division    advanced    obliquely    across    our 


638  HISTORY    OF    THE 

front  toward  our  Left,  at  a  distance  of  from  five  hundred 
to  three  hundred  yards,  and  the  writer  (Jonas  Shackley) 
could  see  the  rebels  fall  and  the  gaps  closed  at  each  dis 
charge;  our  guns  loaded  with  canister. 

The  right  wheel  horse  of  the  ist  piece  was  soon  shot, 
and  the  harness  was  taken  from  him,  and  put  on  Bugler 
James  Winter's  horse,  but  meantime  he  was  wounded  twice 
and  left  loose  with  the  harness  on,  and  came  into  camp  in 
the  night  bringing  the  harness  on  him. 

The  Qth  being  driven  from  their  position,  and  we  out 
flanked  on  our  left,  our  ammunition  nearly  exhausted,  Cap 
tain  Phillips  gave  the  order  to  fix  prolonge  and  fire  retiring. 
The  limber  was  reversed  with  the  five  horses.  Almost  in 
stantly  all  but  the  right  swing  horse  went  down.  The  pro 
longe  was  toggled  to  the  trail,  but  not  hitched  to  the  pintle- 
hook.  Captain  Phillips  gave  orders  to  break  the  sponge 
staves  and  leave  the  piece.  Corporal  Graham  broke  the 
staves.  The  Captain  then  ordered  by  hand  to  the  rear,  and 
taking  the  prolonge  'over  his  right  shoulder,  and  assisted 
by  Corporal  Benjamin  Graham,  A.  K.  P.  Hay  den,  and 
Corporal  Jonas  Shackley,  brought  the  gun  500  or  600  yards 
to  the  rear,  when  we  met  Sergt.  Wm.  B.  Pattison  with  the 
limber  of  the  caisson,  and,  limbering  up,  proceeded  to  the 
next  ridge  of  ground,  and  together  with  the  5th  piece  went 
into  battery  and  fired  at  the  enemy  on  our  former  position. 
The  limber  was  left,  with  7  horses. 

While  coming  to  the  rear,  the  advance  of  the  Sixth 
Corps  marched  in  between  us  and  the  enemy.  Captain 
Phillips  exclaimed  Thank  God,  there's  the  Sixth  Corps!' 

Soon  after  beginning  our  movement  to  the  rear  First 
Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott  was  shot  through  the  face,  but  not 
fatally. 

Soon  after  sunset  we  went  into  park  near  Rock  Creek, 
and  collected  what  was  left  of  the  Battery.  The  ist  piece 
fired  84  rounds  on  this  day. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  639 

After  getting  into  park  Lieut.  Peleg  W.  Blake,  Sergt. 
Wm.  B.  Pattison,  Corporal  Benj.  Graham,  and  Corp.  Jonas 
Shackley,  went  back  to  the  field  to  try  to  recover  our  lim 
ber,  but  the  rebel  pickets  were  close  to  it,  and  the  officers  of 
our  pickets  would  not  permit  us  to  pass  through.  So  we 
returned  to  the  Battery." 

NOTES  OF  CORP.  BENJAMIN  GRAHAM. 

Corporal  Benjamin  Graham,  when  he  was  urged  to  con 
tribute  something  from  his  store  of  recollections  of  the  war 
to  the  history  of  the  Battery,  observed  that  it  brought  back 
to  him  the  times  when  Captain  Phillips  would  send  for  him 
and  say : — 

"Here  Graham,  here  is  another  letter  from  your  mother, 
who  is  wanting  to  know  if  you  are  dead  or  alive.  Now  sit 
on  that  limber,  and  answer  it!" 

ARMOR    IN    THE    WRONG    PLACE. 
GRAHAM'S  NOTES  OF  Nov.  12,   1900. 

"Just  before  we  went  on  the  field  in  the  fight  of  July  2d, 
we  drew  up  in  line  just  off  the  Taneytown  road  to  wait  for 
orders  to  see  where  our  position  should  be,  and  just  then 
the  rebels  opened  fire  on  us,  and  as  good  soldiers  we  all  laid 
as  close  to  the  ground  as  possible.  The  right  piece  was  on 
the  Left,  as  it  always  was  when  there  was  any  trouble  ahead, 
and  we  were  sheltered  by  some  large  rocks,  when  our  lead 
driver  of  the  piece  was  hit  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell  and 
had  to  go  to  the  rear.  The  steel  vest  that  he  wore  did  net 
protect  him  in  the  right  place. 

BRINGING    OFF   THE   LAST    GUN. 

When  the  order  came  to  retreat  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
2d  and  Captain  Phillips  gave  the  order  to  'Fix  prolonge' 
and  'Fire  retiring,'  as  Gunner  it  became  my  duty  to  attend 
to  that.  After  I  had  fixed  the  prolonge,  I  gave  the  order 


640  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  'Drive  on,'  and  when  they  did  not  move  stepped  to  one 
side  of  the  limber  to  see  why,  when  I  discovered  that  all 
six  of  the  horses  were  down.  Then  I  asked  the  Captain 
what  I  should  do.  Captain  Phillips  said  'Bring  the  Gun  off 
if  you  can,  if  not,  leave  it.'  I  replied  to  the  Captain  that 
we  would  stay  by  the  piece  as  long  as  the  piece  would  stay 
by  us.  I  then  unhooked  the  prolonge  from  the  pintle-hook. 
(The  pintle-hook  is  in  the  rear  of  the  axle-tree  and  ordina 
rily  receives  the  lunette,  or  strong  ring  of  the  trail.)  By 
that  time  the  Captain  had  dismounted.  He  seized  the  end 
of  the  prolonge  with  one  hand,  while  he  held  his  horse 
by  the  bridle  with  the  other,  and  then,  with  the  assistance 
of  James  Kay,  William  L.  Purbeck,  A.  K.  P.  Hayden  and 
myself,  we  started  to  the  rear,  and  after  going  a  few  hun 
dred  yards,  the  Captain  mounted  his  horse,  and  said  he 
would  send  up  assistance.  We  four  then  drove  the  piece 
down  the  lane  near  the  Trostle  house,  where  we  met  Cor 
poral  Shackley  with  the  limber.  We  then  limbered  up  and 
drove  to  about  where  the  railroad  is  now,  where  I  saw  the 
Second  Corps  coming  in. 

I  ordered  the  piece  to  halt,  and  went  in  action  for  the 
second  time,  where  we  stood  until  after  sundown.  It  was 
here  where  little  Purbeck  was  wounded. 

The  men  manned  the  Gun  in  this  manner : — Hayden  No. 
i,  Purbeck  2,  5,  7,  Kay  3  &  4,  Shackley  6,  Graham,  Gunner. 

'WHO    WILL    CARE    FOR    MOTHER    NOW?' 

We  had  not  been  in  action  long,  when  a  shell  from  one 
of  the  reb.  batteries  exploding  on  our  right,  struck  one  of 
General  Hancock's  aides-de-camp,  and  his  horse;  the  horse 
falling  on  the  officer.  The  officer  was  calling  for  help,  and 
the  horse  was  whinnying,  as  much  as  to  say,  'Help  me, 
too,'  when  little  Purbeck,  a  good,  smart  boy,  only.  17,  saw 
the  man  and  horse  down,  and  started  to  go  over  towards 
them,  when  he,  too,  got  hit  in  the  side  with  a  piece  of  shell. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  641 

He  was  taken  to  the  rear  and  to  the  hospital,  where  he  died 
that  night,  and  as  he  was  dying  he  uttered  these  words, — 
'Who  will  care  for  Mother  now?'  They  suggested  the 
song  which  became  immensely  popular. 

As  I  understand  it,  he  was  a  widow's  son  and  his 
mother's  only  support.  The  words  were  written  by  a  ser 
geant  of  the  22d  Regiment,  and  the  music  by  some  man  in 
Boston.  There  was  not  a  braver  boy  in  the  army  than 
Purbeck. 

BRINGING    OFF    THE    LIMBER. 

After  we  had  supper  on  the  night  of  the  2d  about  9.30 
p.  m.,  Captain  Phillips  came  to  me,  saying, — 'Graham,  you 
take  four  men  and  trie  prolonge,  and  go  and  see  if  you  can 
gfet  that  limber.' 

I  picked  out  the  ones  to  help  me,  Kay,  Hayden,  and  one 
3ther  whose  name  I  have  now  forgotten.  We  got  along  all 
right  until  we  came  to  the  picket  line,  for  the  limber  was 
200  yards  outside  of  the  line  and  within  100  yards  of  the 
rebs  line.  The  picket  halted  us,  and  we  made  our  business 
known,  and  he  sent  for  the  Officer  of  the  Day.  When  he 
:ame  we  told  him  what  we  wanted,  and  after  a  long  talk 
he  allowed  us  to  proceed,  and  when  within  about  100  yards 
Df  the  limber,  I  had  the  men  to  lie  down,  and  then  I  crept 
3n  my  hands  and  knees  to  where  the  limber  was,  the  dead 
horses  still  hitched  to  it,  and  in  trying  to  unhitch  them  the 
:hains  on  the  traces  and  on  the  pole  yoke  would  rattle,  and 
for  every  rattle  of  the  chains  I  would  get  a  volley  from 
the  rebs. 

I  was  some  time  in  trying  to  get  the  horses  loose,  for  one 
of  them  had  fallen  across  the  pole,  and  the  limber  and 
horses  were  struck  several  times  while  I  was  trying  to  get 
them  loose.  I  had  to  lie  down  in  between  them,  and  when 
I  had  everything  ready  I  gave  a  signal,  and  the  others 
came  up  to  help  me,  and  it  did  not  take  us  long  then  to  take 


642  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  limber  down  to  the  Trostle  house,  where  we  found  in 
waiting  for  us,  William  Pattison,  with  two  horses,  and 
after  shaking  hands  with  the  pickets  and  bidding  them  good 
night,  we  returned  to  camp." 

ABOUT  THE  FIRST  DETACHMENT. 

Louis  E.  Pattison  became  company  clerk  on  the  reorgan 
ization  of  the  Battery  in  1862,  and  held  that  office  and  also 
worked  on  a  gun  until  his  discharge  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service  Oct.  8,  1864,  as  they  were  always  short  of 
men  until  the  last  campaign.  He  was  succeeded  as  clerk 
by  John  S.  Doane.  He  was  in  the  4th  detachment  in  charge 
of  Sergt.  Baxter  who  succeeded  Page. 

In  a  letter  dated  Nov.  i,  1900,  he  says  of  the  detachment 
in  charge  of  his  brother  William  B.  Pattison,  that  being  on 
the  right  it  always  seemed  to  have  to  bear  the  brunt  of  nearly 
all  the  actions. 

GRAHAM    ON    THE   GUN. 

"Our  gun  number  was  8.85^  pounds,  and  we  had  that 
gun  from  the  time  it  came  to  us  until  I  was  wounded  on 
the  1 2th  of  May,  1864.  I  asked  some  men  of  the  loth 
N.  Y.  Battery,  as  they  passed  us  as  we  were  drawing  the 
Gun  from  the  field  in  the  fight  of  July  2d,  and  as  Shackley 
was  coming  in  with  the  limber,  for  a  sponge  staff.  I  had 
brought  in  the  sponge  staff  and  worm  as  we  started  to  draw 
the  Gun  off  the  field,  so  if  we  had  to  leave  the  piece,  they 
could  not  turn  it  on  us.  But  on  getting  back  the  limber  I 
found  that  there  was  only  one  round  of  ammunition  left  in 
it,  and  that  was  a  case  of  canister." 

THE    WHEEL    OF    THE    iST    PIECE. 

Shackley  notes  in  his  Diary  of  July  30,  1863,  record,  that 
"We  turned  in  the  wheel  of  the  ist  piece,  which  was  disabled 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  643 

at  Gettysburg  on  July  2d,  1863,  by  having  seven  spokes 
knocked  out  or  broken.  It  was  an  object  of  much  interest 
to  thousands  of  men  on  the  march  south." 

His  attention  having  been  recently  called  to  this  note  of 
Shackley's  Graham  said  :— 

"I  remember  the  wheel  well.  It  had  seven  fellies  (por 
tions  of  the  circumference  of  the  wheel)  and  fourteen 
spokes,  and  every  felly  and  spoke  was  hit  but  one  spoke. 
One  of  the  spokes  had  a  piece  of  shell  fast  in  its  centre,  and 
the  left  side  of  the  piece  looked  as  if  you  had  dipped  your 
fingers  in  black  lead,  and  then  marked  the  side  of  the  piece 
with  them.  There  were  hundreds  of  spots  on  the  Gun  to 
show  where  it  had  been  hit.  It  makes  me  shiver  even  now 
to  think  that  I  was  sighting  the  Gun  while  all  that  was 
going  on,  but  I  did  not  shiver  then.  The  boys  will  all  re 
member  how  I  kept  singing.  I  could  hear  them  say,  'Hear 
Ben!' — 'Hear  Ben!' — I  was  not  singing  because  I  was 
brave.  It  was  my  duty  to  stay  there,  and  I  was  like  the 
little  boy  in  the  dark  cellar,  he  had  to  whine  to  give  him 
courage.  It  is  too  bad  we  lost  sight  of  that  wheel,  for  it 
ought  to  be  in  the  State  House  with  the  flags." 

LIST    PRESERVED    BY    CAPTAIN    PHILLIPS. 

In  the  back  of  his  Diary  for  1864,  Captain  Phillips  pre 
served  the  following  list: — 

"Men  who  brought  off  the  right  piece  at  Gettysburg:— 
Corp.  Graham. 

Shackley. 
Private  Barry. 

Kay. 

W.  H.  Wells  loth  N.  Y. 

Hayden." 

NOTES  OF  FRANCIS  P.  WASHBURN. 

A  DRIVER  ON  SIMONDS'  GUN. 

"We  were  in  position  near  the  Peach  Orchard,  and 
Pickett's  men  came  on,  only  to  be  mown  down  by  our  fire 


644  HISTORY    OF    THE 

which  was  something  terrific.  The  enemy  advanced  in 
echelon  (a  formation  of  troops,  where  battalions  or 
brigades  follow  each  other  on  separate  lines  like  the  steps 
of  a  ladder)  presenting  a  soldierly  front  in  each  line.  We 
had  been  given  orders  to  reserve  our  fire,  and  were  as  rest 
less  as  colts.  Finally,  word  was  given,  and  we  began  by 
pouring  shrapnell  into  the  ranks  of  our  foe.  As  Pickett's 
troops  neared  our  position,  we  loaded  with  single  canister, 
and  after  changing  front  to  bring  our  guns  to  bear  more 
directly  on  the  centre  of  the  enemy,  we  loaded  with  double 
canister,  which  we  sent  down  into  their  ranks,  making  great 
gaps,  only  to  be  filled  in  again  by  those  fearless  fellows. 
Just  as  Pickett's  men  were  within  25  yards  of  us,  Captain 
Phillips  sang  out  'Triple  shot  with  canister  boys !' 

We  could  see  their  begrimmed  faces  looking  at  us  with 
intense  hatred  before  that  shot  was  fired  which  mowed 
down  those  poor  fellows.  The  reality  of  war  was  never 
more  vividly  impressed  on  my  mind  than  during  that  awful 
carnage,  with  the  fearful  result  of  that  one  shot  of  triple 
canister,  and  I  believe  it  is  the  only  time  that  we  fired  such 
a  shot.  Captain  Phillips  raised  his  sabre,  and  with  the  cry 
'We've  got  'em  now,'  gave  the  order  for  single  shot.  It 
was  a  fearful  slaughter  of  the  enemy.  The  slaughter  of  our 
horses  was  so  great  that  we  were  nearly  crippled,  59  being- 
killed.  In  that  battle  we  fired  700  rounds." 

FROM    THE    DIARY    OF    CORP.    CHASE. 

"July  2,  1863.  Reports  that  the  nth  Corps  broke  again 
yesterday,  and  that  our  troops  were  beaten.  Battery  halted 
about  10  a.  m.  in  a  field  in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  and 
about  ij  miles  from  Gettysburg.  Battery  remained  in  the 
field  until  about  4  p.  m.  when  we  advanced,  and  took  posi 
tion  in  the  line  of  battle  on  the  right  of  the  Qth  Mass.  Bat 
tery,  and  commenced  shelling  the  enemy  with  slow  firing. 
The  enemy  advanced  batteries  in  front  of  us,  and  opened 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  645 

a  very  destructive  fire  upon  us;  they  also  advanced  their  line 
of  infantry,  who  kept  up  a  murderous  fire  on  us.  Fired  all 
our  canister  at  the  enemy  and  fixed  the  prolonges,  and  some 
of  the  pieces  fired  retiring.  Limbered  up  and  fell  back  as 
many  as  three  times,  and  retired  about  100  yards  each  time. 
Many  of  our  men  fell :  some  never  to  rise.  Lieut.  Scott 
seriously  wounded  in  the  jaws  and  face;  a  frightful  looking 
wound,  perhaps  dangerous.  Lieut.  Scott  left  the  field, — 
when  the  pieces  did, — and  went  to  the  hospital.  Edward 
Fotheringham,  John  W.  Verity, — formerly  of  the  loth 
N.  Y.  Battery, — killed.  Henry  Graff  erman  of  the  loth, 
slightly  wounded.  Of  our  men,  John  Hathaway,  William 
L.  Purbeck,  Martin  J.  Coleman,  H.  W.  Soule,  W.  E. 
Estee,  John  Sanford,  Henry  Fitzsimmons,  John  Agen, 
George  Trumbull,  and  Bernard  Doherty,  all  wounded.  Was 
shot  through  the  flesh  of  my  left  arm  just  above  the  elbow, 
while  retiring  with  the  Battery.  The  ball  just  touched  the 
bone  and  benumbed  my  two  little  fingers;  bone  uninjured. 
Acted  as  No.  3  and  4  man  from  the  time  the  Battery  went 
into  the  engagement  until  we  came  out.  My  wound  bled 
profusely,  but  did  not  become  very  painful  until  I  left  the 
field.  Left  the  field  about  dusk,  having  been  engaged  about 
three  hours  in  the  hottest  position  we  ever  occupied. 
Brought  off  all  our  pieces  and  caissons,  but  lost  horses.  The 
pieces  and  caissons  went  into  park  in  different  parts  of  the 
field,  having  separated  when  they  came  out  of  the  fight. 
Worked  on  Serg't  Peacock's  piece,  2d  detachment,  and  on 
Serg't  Morgridge's,  5th  detachment.  My  person  and  clothes 
very  tired,  bloody,  and  dirty,  and  my  wound  very  painful  in 
the  evening.  Lost  my  bundle  from  the  caisson,  with  every 
thing  except  what  was  about  my  person.  Found  the  cais 
sons  and  had  my  arm  bandaged.  Weather  through  the 
day  cloudy,  muggy,  and  the  heat  oppressive.  The  hardest 
day's  work  I  ever  did  up  to  date.  Wm.  E.  Estee  probably 
mortally  wounded.  Darkness  quelled  the  dreadful  storm, 


646  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  in  the  evening  and  through  the  night  all  was  still,  as 
though  death  was  satisfied  with  the  slaughter  of  the  com 
batants.  Remained  around  a  bivouac  fire  all  night,  chat 
ting  with  two  intelligent  rebel  prisoners  from  the  8th 
Georgia  Regiment,  Longstreet's  Corps.  Exchanged  but 
tons  with  one  of  them." 


This  was  the  situation  at  nightfall  of  July  2,  1863,  when, 
as  in  Campbell's  "Soldier's  Dream," 

"the  sentinel  stars  set  their  watch  in  the  sky ; 
And  thousands  had  sunk  on  the  ground  overpowered, 
The  weary  to  sleep,  and  the  wounded  to  die." 


THE  ACTION  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

OBSERVATIONS. 
FROM    THE   HISTORY    OF   THE    NINTH    MASS.    BATTERY. 

"Our  place  in  the  park  was  on  the  left  and  rear,  and  in  the  south 
west  corner  of  the  field,  nearest  the  part  of  the  line  of  battle  occupied 
by  Gen.  Sickles'  3d  Corps.  A  little  after  4  p.  m.  (July  2d)  an  aide-de 
camp  rode  up  to  the  wall  near  the'  left  piece  of  our  battery,  inquired  for 
Colonel  McGilvery,  commanding  the  brigade,  and  said,  'Capt.  Randolph, 
chief  of  artillery  of  the  3d  Corps,  sends  his  compliments,  a'nd  wishes 
you  to  send  him  two  batteries  of  light  twelves.' 

Colonel  McGilvery  turned  around  and  said  'Capt.  Hart  and  Capt. 
Bigelow,  take  your  batteries  and  report  to  Capt.  Randolph!'  (Colonel 
McGilvery  in  his  official  report  says  the  "5th  Mass.  Battery  Captain 
Phillips,"  instead  of  "Capt.  Hart."  See  p.  667.) 

The  distance  across  the  field  was  300  yards,  up  a  slope  to  a  road : 
fences  all  down. 

Our  position  was  between  the  Peach  Orchard  and  Wheat  Field,  on 
the  left  of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery,  and  nothing  in  sight  on  our  left. 
The  position  was  swept  by  Confederate  artillery,  and  some  were 
wounded  while  going  in  battery." 

General  Henry  J.  Hunt,  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  is  quoted  as  saying  in  a  paper  published  in 
the  Century  of  December,  1886: — 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  647 

"Although  already  much  cut  up  he  (Bigelow)  was  directed  by  Mc- 
Gilvery  to  hold  that  point  at  all  hazards  until  a  line  of  artillery  could 
be  formed  in  front  of  the  wood  beyond  Plum  Run;  that  is,  on  what 
we  have  called  the  Plum  Run  line.  This  line  was  formed  by  collecting 
the  serviceable  batteries  and  fragments  of  batteries  that  were  brought 
off,  with  which  and  Dow's  Maine  Battery,  fresh  from  the  Reserve,  the 
pursuit  was  checked.  .  .  .  When,  after  fully  accomplishing  its  purpose, 
all  that  was  left  of  Bigelow's  Battery  was  withdrawn,  it  was  closely 
pressed  by  Humphrey's  21  st  Mississippi,  the  only  Confederate  regiment 
which  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Run.  As  the  battery  had  sacrificed  it 
self  for  the  safety  of  the  line,  its  work  is  specially  noticed,  as  typical  of 
the  service  that  artillery  is  not  infrequently  called  upon  to  render,  and 
did  render  in  other  instances  at  Gettysburg  besides  this  one." 

The  Adjutant  General's  Report  of  the  state  of  Massachu 
setts  has  the  following  in  the  narrative  of  the  Ninth  Mass. 
Battery  :— 

"Canister  could  be  brought  to  bear  only  on  the  centre  of  the  rebel 
line,  while  its  wings,  comparatively  unhurt,  closed  in  on  either  flank. 

After  suffering  the  losses  enumerated  .  .  .  the  enemy  firing  from 
our  limber  chests,  and  the  exit  through  the  stone  wall  blocked  up  with 
dead  animals,  the  command  was  ordered  to  fall  back  and  necessarily 
left  four  of  its  pieces  on  the  field.  (Horses  being  killed.)  Covered, 
however,  by  the  efficient  fire  of  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery,  Cap 
tain  Phillips,  the  guns  were  all  afterwards  secured." 

FROM    CAPT.    BIGELOW'S    LETTER. 

Captain  Bigelow  wrote  a  letter  June  2,  1879,  to  the 
Philadelphia  Times  in  which  occurs  the  following  reference 
to  the  Fifth  Battery  :— 

"Owing  to  large  stone  bowlders  interfering  with  my  left  section,  I 
ordered  Lieut.  (Richard  S.)  Milton  to  take  it  out  and  to  the  rear.  In 
accomplishing  this  most  of  the  horses  were  shot,  and  one  of  the  pieces 
was  drawn  off  by  hand,  but  the  right  and  centre  sections  remained  until 
overwhelmed  by  the  enemy,  who  came  in  on  their  unprotected  flanks. 
While  we  were  thus  engaged,  McGilvery  succeeded  in  placing  the 
Sixth  Maine,  Dow,  and  5th  Massachusetts,  Phillips,  Batteries  in  posi 
tion  on  the  high  ground  in  my  rear,  Cemetery  Ridge  proper.  When  I 
was  raised  from  the  ground,  the  enemy  who  had  come  in  on  the  flanks 
of  the  Battery,  were  standing  on  the  chests  shooting  down  my  can 
noneers  who  were  still  securing  their  guns:  but  McGilvery  was  ready. 
I  ordered  my  men  to  stop  firing  and  get  back  to  our  lines  as  best  they 
could.  Dow  and  Phillips  immediately  opened  fire  on  their  positions, 


648  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  the  enemy's  advance  in  this  direction  was  stopped,  although  there 
were  no  infantry  on  our  line  for  some  time  afterward." 

THE  FIGHT  OF  JULY  30. 

"With  bristling  bayonets  glistening  in  the  sun, 
The  stubborn  ranks,  inspired  by  victories  won, 
Pressed  grimly  on,  unmindful  of  the  storm 
Of  shot  and  shell  that  felled  full  many  a  form. 
Until  an  earthquake  shook  the  startled  earth, 
As  though  the  fiends  of  hell  were  given  birth. 
The  Federal  guns  now  belched  volcanic  wrath, 
Which  carried  untold  misery  in  its  path. 

'Strike!     Strike!  for  freedom  and  your  native  land!' 
And  bayonets  clashed  in  contests  hand  to  hand. 
Oh,  fierce  the  struggle,  but  they  break!  they  fly! 
And  God  to  freedom  gives  the  victory." 

— BREVET  COLONEL  HORATIO  C.  KING. 

Thirty-second  Annual  Reunion  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 


Edwin  Forbes  who  made  the  famous  sketches  on  the 
battle  fields,  in  his  description  of  the  field  of  Gettysburg  on 
the  morning  of  July  3,  1863,  says  :— 

"A  great  convulsion  of  nature  could  not  have  made  more  universal 
destruction;  everything  bore  the  mark  of  death  and  ruin.  The  whole 
slope  was  massed  with  dead  horses." 

THE    DISPOSITION    OF    THE    FORCES. 

Slocum  with  the  Twelfth  Corps  and  Wadsworth's  Divi 
sion  of  the  First,  held  Gulp's  Hill,  reclaimed  from  the  rebel 
general  Ewell  in  the  early  morning.  Howard's  Eleventh 
Corps  and  Robinson's  Division  of  the  First,  were  on  Ceme 
tery  Hill,  then  extending  to  the  left  came  Alexander  Hays' 
Brigade  of  the  Second  Corps  in  two  lines;  the  front  being 
posted  behind  a  low  stone  wall  until  the  line  turned  west 
ward  where  it  was  lower,  with  a  rail  fence  on  the  top  of  the 
wall.  Farther  along,  in  front  of  John  Gibbon's  Division 
of  the  same  Corps  the  only  protection  was  an  ordinary  rail 


GETTYSBURG. 


of  i7i»7y  3 


X  Jmes'  Z.  6'*S/<Ty<ne.  3.  Z"*MJ. Battery  B.  4.  Rant's  Section  S.  /sf 'Conn. 
G.Hqrfs /5™N.Y.    7.   P7ri77riQ$;5t}'WaSS.    8.  Thompson's    C.Peirn./trf-y. 

of  Tnfa-ntr-y  as  zue7?  45  the  Batter/es.    10.  /?e3e7  guns.  //.  McAllisters 
M-in.   IZ.  reacT,  Ore-hard.    13.  Gvns  advanced  Zry  /Ae  7?eJe7S.   14-.  Florida 
Br-iyacle.   captured  t>-y  a  Union    **     ' 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  649 

fence  put  together  by  the  troops  for  the  occasion.  Next 
came  General  Abner  Doubleday's  Division  of  the  First 
Corps ;  then  General  J.  C.  Caldwell's  Division  of  the  Second 
Corps;  then  the  Third  Corps  with  D.  B.  Birney's  Division 
in  the  front  line;  then  the  Fifth  Corps,  closing  up  the  line 
to  Round  Top,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  principally  in  reserve. 

At  eleven  o'clock  on  July  3d  the  battle  ceased  on  the  right. 
The  Federal  line  was  that  to  which  it  had  been  forced  back 
on  the  previous  day,  and  almost  as  it  was  at  noon  of  July  2d, 
before  the  Third  Corps  moved  out  to  the  Emmittsburg  road 
and  the  Wheat  Field,  except  that  the  Fifth  Corps  extended 
the  line  on  the  left,  occupying  Little  and  Big  Round  Tops. 

The  assault  of  the  enemy  was  made  upon  the  ground 
occupied  on  July  2d,  by  the  2d  and  3d  Divisions  of  the 
Second  Corps. 

The  Artillery  Reserve,  commanded  by  General  Henry  J. 
Hunt,  were  posted  from  General  H.  W.  Slocum's  Head 
Quarters  near  the  Baltimore  turnpike,  to  the  extreme  left  of 
Great  Round  Top. 

At  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  enemy,  whose  artillery  had  been 
placed  on  the  most  commanding  positions,  from  Benner's 
Hill  on  the  right  to  Seminary  Ridge  opposite  Round  Top, 
opened  fire  on  our  batteries  out  of  a  line  of  artillery  three 
miles  in  length,  concentrated  on  a  clump  of  trees  held  by 
Webb's  Brigade  of  the  Second  Corps.  There  were  150  guns 
on  the  rebel  side,  80  effective  guns  on  ours.  The  battle  on 
the  Union  side  according  to  General  Henry  J.  Hunt,  was  a 
purely  defensive  one.  The  Confederates  fired  two  hours 
without  interruption  from  our  guns,  and  ceased.  Our 
troops  were  protected  by  whatever  shelter  they  could  pile 
together.  Then  followed  absolute  silence.  The  Confeder 
ates  have  observed  the  fire  of  the  guns,  attached  to  the 
Corps  as  described  from  right  to  left,  dying  down — the  Sec 
ond  Corps  batteries  had  nothing  left  but  canister, — and  be 
lieve  all  our  guns  are  being  silenced.  They  advance  the 


650  HISTORY    OF    THE 

attacking  column,  a  long  line  of  skirmishers  to  the  number 
of  18,000  across  the  field  and  up  the  slope  of  Cemetery 
Ridge,  and  the  rebel  flags  of  Virginia  and  the  alleged  Con 
federacy  wave  for  a  moment  over  the  low  stone  wall  in 
front  of  Webb's  Brigade  in  the  very  centre  of  the  Union 
position. 

In  another  portion  of  the  field  a  desperate  battle  was 
being  fought  by  cavalry;  Custer's  Michigan  Brigade  against 
the  rebel  general  Stuart  for  the  possession  of  the  road  to 
Baltimore. 

The  ill  effects  of  the  bombardment  of  the  Union  Centre 
were  more  easily  avoided  by  those  who  occupied  Cemetery 
Ridge  than  those  lingering  on  the  plain  behind  it.  Head 
Quarters  and  ordnance  stores  were  reached  by  the  flying 
shells,  and  had  to>  be  removed  farther  to  the  rear,  while 
General  Meade  and  staff  rode  forward  nearer  to  the  line 
of  battle  on  the  Ridge,  a  much  safer  post  of  observation 
than  the  open  plain. 

GENERAL  O.  O.  HOWARD'S  STORY. 

General  Howard  thus  wrote  in  an  article  published  in  the 
Atlantic  Monthly  for  July,  1876: — 

"Longstreet  is  said  to  have  brought  together  in  his  front,  opposite 
the  low  ground  north  of  Little  Round  Top,  fifty-five  long  range  guns, 
and  Hill  massed  some  sixty  more  a  little  farther  towards  and  opposite 
to  our  centre.  ...  As  there  seemed  to  be  actually  no  place  of  safety, 
my  staff  officers  sat  by  me  nearly  in  front  of  four  twelve-pound  Parrott 
guns  that  played  over  our  heads,  almost  every  available  space  being 
covered  with  artillery. 

At  half  past  two  p.  m.  we  ceased  to  fire.  .  .  .  The  firing  of  the 
enemy  lulled,  and  I  could  see,  better  than  the  day  before,  their  infantry 
in  line ;  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  it  was  exposed  to  my  view,  as  it 
started  from  Oak  Ridge  opposite  our  left.  It  was  like  an  extensive 
parade;  the  flags  were  flying,  and  the  line  steadily  advancing.  ...  As 
soon  as  they  were  near  enough,  Osborne,  Wainwright,  McGilvery,  and 
other  artillery  chiefs,  started  the  fire  of  their  batteries;  first  with  solid 
shot,  making  hardly  any  impression,  soon  with  shells  exploding  near 
and  over  and  beyond  the  advancing  line.  .  .  .  When  nearer  the  canister 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  651 

was  freely  used,  and  the  gaps  in  the  enemy's  line  grew  bigger  and 
harder  to  close.  Soon  this  array  came  within  short  musketry  range  of 
our  full  long  line  in  their  front,  all  concealed  by  temporary  cover, 
breastworks,  stone  walls,  and  trenches.  As  if  by  some  simultaneous 
impulse,  the  whole  line  fired  and  continued  to  fire,  rapidly,  for  perhaps 
five  or  ten  minutes.  As  the  smoke  rose  I  saw  no  longer  any  enemy's 
line.  There  was  running  in  every  direction.  Regiments  of  ours  from 
Steinwehr's  position  to  Round  Top,  were  moving  into  the  valley,  with 
their  flags  flying,  and  apparently  without  much  order,  taking  flags,  guns, 
and  provisions,  and  bringing  them  in." 

FROM    HYDE'S    "FOLLOWING    THE    GREEK 

CROSS." 
General  T.  W.  Hyde  thus  describes  the  assault : — 

"On  they  came,  it  looked  to  me  like  three  lines,  about  a  mile  long 
each,  in  perfect  order.  They  cross  the  Emmittsburg  pike  and  our 
guns,  eighty  in  all,  cool  and  in  good  shape,  open  first  with  shot,  and 
then  with  shell.  .  .  .  But  a  tremendous  roar  of  musketry  crashes  out, 
and  I  know  the  big  guns  are  firing  grape  and  canister  now.  And  soon 
they  appear  again,  and  this  time  the  colors  are  together,  like  a  little 
forest,  but  the  men  are  dropping  like  leaves  in  autumn.  .  .  .  From  a  hill 
I  was  fortunate  enough  to  see  the  defeat  of  Stuart's  cavalry  by  Gregg. 
All  it  looked  like  was  a  dust  cloud  with  flakes  of  light  in  it,  as  the  sun 
shone  upon  the  swinging  sabres." 

It  is  said  that  a  motion  in  the  British  House  of  Commons 
to  recognize  the  Confederate  States,  would  have  passed  but 
for  the  news  of  the  victory  at  Gettysburg. 

THE   POSITION   OF   THE   BATTERY. 

At  daylight  July  3,  1863,  we  took  position  to  the  right 
and  rear  of  our  position  on  the  day  before.  At  10  a.  m. 
General  Hunt,  chief  of  artillery,  made  an  inspection  of  the 
entire  line.  "Phillips'  Fifth  Massachusetts  6  3-inch,"  is 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  batteries  on  the  left  of  the  Second 
Corps,  betwen  Thompson's  Pennsylvania  and  Hart's  New 
York. 

At  3  o'clock  when  Longstreet's  Corps  charged  we  en 
filaded  them  terribly.  Powell  the  historian  says:— 


652  HISTORY    OF    THE 

''the  rifled  guns  of  the  Union  Artillery,  having  no  canister,  were  with 
drawn  from  the  line,  and  the  double-shotte'd  12  pounders  were  left  to 
do  the  work." 

Captain  Phillips  in  his  letter  written  at  Littlestown, 
Perm.,  July  6,  1863,  in  relation  to  the  fight  of  July  3d  pro 
ceeds  as  follows : 

"The  next  morning  I  went  into  position  at  daylight,  and 
everything  remained  quiet  till  one  o'clock.  Finding  that 
the  rebels  were  massing  artillery  in  our  front,  the  Major 
ordered  us  to  throw  up  a  parapet,  which  we  afterwards 
found  conduced  very  much  to  our  comfort.  About  one  they 
commenced  the  most  tremendous  cannonading  I  ever  heard. 
They  must  have  had  80  or  90  guns  in  position.  As  artillery 
ammunition  was  rather  short,  we  had  been  ordered  not  to 
reply  to  their  batteries,  and  so  we  could  lie  still  and  enjoy 
it.  My  men  were  entirely  sheltered  by  our  parapet,  and 
about  the  only  damage  done  was  to  kill  8  or  10  horses. 

Viewed  as  a  display  of  fireworks,  the  rebel  practice  was 
entirely  successful,  but  as  a  military  demonstration  it  was 
the  biggest  humbug  of  the  season. 

About  half  past  one  General  Hancock  ordered  us  to  reply, 
thereby  showing  how  little  an  infantry  officer  knows  about 
artillery.  The  rebels  were  not  doing  us  any  harm,  and  if 
they  wanted  to  throw  away  their  ammunition  I  do  not  see 
why  we  should  prevent  them.  However,  we  obeyed  orders. 
Fortunately,  Major  McGilvery  came  up  and  stopped  us 
before  we  had  fired  a  great  while. 

After  firing  an  hour  and  wasting  all  their  ammunition, 
and  probably  fancying  that  they  had  achieved  a  great  result 
and  silenced  our  guns,  Longstreet's  Corps  made  the  grand 
charge  of  the  day.  This  charge  was  made  on  our  right, 
so  that  the  rebels,  in  crossing  the  fields,  exposed  their  right 
flank  to  an  enfilading  fire  from  our  position. 

As  soon  as  the  rebel  line  appeared,  our  cannoneers  sprang 
to  their  guns,  and  our  silenced  batteries  poured  in  a  rain  of 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  653 

shot  and  shell,  which  must  have  sickened  the  rebels  of  their 
work.  I  never  saw  artillery  so  ably  handled,  or  productive 
of  such  decisive  results.  It  was  far  superior  even  to  Mal- 
vern  Hill.  For  half  an  hour  our  line  was  one  continuous 
roar  of  artillery,  and  the  shot  ploughed  through  the  rebel 
ranks  most  terrifically.  Then  our  infantry  went  in  and 
repulsed  the  rebels,  taking  a  great  many  prisoners. 

During  this  charge  an  event  took  place,  which  must  have 
convinced  the  rebel  artillery  officers  that  they  had  something 
to  learn.  They  advanced  a  12  pdr.  battery  about  200  yards 
on  our  left,  and  blazed  away.  We  let  them  get  well  at 
work,  and  then  the  Major  turned  four  batteries  on  them, 
and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  not  a  cannoneer  was  left  to 
work  the  guns :  all  were  dead  or  had  'skedaddled.'  The 
guns  stood  out  in  the  field  till  late  in  the  afternoon,  when 
we  allowed  the  rebels  to  take  them  off,  as  it  cost  too  much 
ammunition  to  keep  them  off,  and  they  could  have  removed 
them  after  dark  any  way. 

After  the  repulse  of  the  grand  charge,  a  ridiculous  demon 
stration  took  place  in  front  of  us.  A  Florida  Brigade  ad 
vanced  and  got  into  a  ravine  about  200  yards  in  front  of  us, 
when  a  Brigade  of  ours  got  the  other  side  of  them  and  cap 
tured  the  whole  concern!  This  finished  the  rebels  for  that 
day,  and  the  next  day  their  batteries  had  disappeared,  but 
our  forces,  instead  of  advancing,  by  which  we  might  have 
gained  a  decisive  victory,  spent  the  whole  day  in  skirmish 
ing,  allowing  a  line  of  rebel  pickets  to  conceal  from  us  what 
was  going  on  in  their  rear, — I  may  be  mistaken,  but  this  is 
the  way  it  struck  me. 

Saturday  forenoon  we  retired  to  the  Rear  and  rested,  and 
yesterday  we  marched  to  this  place.  My  losses  for  the  two 
days  foot  up  i  officer  wounded  severely,  4  men  killed,  16 
wounded, — 2  probably  mortally — 40  horses  killed,  690 
rounds  fired.  There  were,  of  course,  the  usual  number  of 
narrow  escapes,  but  I  was  not  wounded  even  in  my  coat  or 
hat." 


654  HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  a  letter  dated  December  16,  1901,  Private  Louis  E. 
Pattison  says  of  the  reference  of  Captain  Phillips  to  the 
action  of  General  Hancock : — 

"Phillips'  comment  upon  Hancock's  action  at  Gettysburg 
in  ordering  the  artillery  fire,  is  exactly  what  the  rank  and 
file  thought. 

Had  Hancock  let  Hunt  manage  the  whole  line  of  artillery, 
the  rebel  column  would  never  have  reached  the  clump  of 
trees,  and  a  counter  charge  should  then  have  been  made  by 
our  Army,  which  would  have  been  successful,  and  much 
of  the  slaughter  of  1864,  would  have  been  avoided.  Our 
Battery  was  only  excelled  by  D,  5th  U.  S." 


From  the  letter  of  Captain  Phillips  sent  with  the  plans 
from  the  camp  near  Kelly's  Ford  Nov.  21,  1863 : — 

"At  daylight  the  next  day  (July  3d)  McGilvery  placed 
his  Brigade  in  position.  He  had  37  guns  placed  close  to 
gether,  arranged  as  follows,  commencing  from  the  left : — 
Battery  G,  ist  N.  Y.  (Capt.  Nelson  Ames)  6  guns,  6th 
Maine  (Captain  Edwin  B.  Dow)  4  guns,  New  Jersey  Bat 
tery  (Battery  B,  2d  N.  J.  Art'y),  6  guns,  N.  Y.  (Rank's 
Section)  2  guns,  ist  Conn.  6  guns,  I5th  N.  Y.  (Capt. 
Patrick  Hart)  4  guns,  Fifth  Mass.  (Phillips)  4  guns, — 
I  did  not  have  men  and  horses  enough  for  six, — C,  Penn. 
Art'y  (Capt.  James  Thompson)  5  guns.  ["Rank's  Sec 
tion"  was  a  section  of  Battery  H,  3d  Pennsylvania  Heavy 
Artillery,  which  served  that  day  as  Light  Artillerv.  com 
manded  by  Captain  William  D.  Rank.] 

The  rebel  batteries  were  arranged  along  the  crest  in  our 
front,  the  peach  orchard  being  full  of  them.  From  the 
woods  on  our  left  to  the  right  of  our  Brigade  we  threw  up 
a  little  breastwork  of  rails  and  dirt,  about  two  feet  high, 
very  useful  and  convenient.  A  Division  of  infantry  were 
placed  on  this  line  between  our  guns,  and  only  one  man  in 
the  whole  Division  was  hurt  by  the  rebel  artillery  fire,  and 


FIFTH    MASS.    BATTERY.  655 

he  was  foolishly  lying  about  10  feet  behind  the  breastwork. 

About  noon  the  rebels  opened  a  grand  cannonade  from 
their  whole  line,  and  for  an  hour  and  a  half  we  had  a 
grand  Fourth  of  July  performance.  During  the  whole  of 
this  time  the  reports  averaged  by  actual  count  70  or  80  a 
minute.  I  don't  know  what  the  rebels  expected  to  do,  but  it 
was  certainly  a  very  foolish  performance. 

We  hitched  our  horses  to  trees,  placed  all  our  men  snugly 
behind  our  heap  of  dirt,  and  rather  enjoyed  it  than  other 
wise.  To  be  sure  they  made  a  great  noise,  and  the  shells 
whistled  round  our  heads  so  thick  that  a  timid  man  hardly 
cared  to  stand  up  and  look  round  to  see  what  was  going  on, 
but  we  did  not  care  about  running  away,  when  it  was  a 
great  deal  safer  to  stay  where  we  were.  I  suppose  the  rebels 
thought  they  were  blowing  everything  to  pieces.  The  at 
tack  of  Longstreet's  Corps  was  on  our  right,  but  we  had  a 
splendid  range  on  them  as  they  came  across  the  fields,  and 
must  have  injured  them  badly.  The  country  was  so  open 
that  they  had  no  shelter  from  our  fire  and  as  we  nearly 
enfiladed  them,  we  could  not  help  hitting  them  at  every 
shot;  so  when  they  were  repulsed  they  evidently  did  not 
care  about  going  across  the  same  open  fields,  but  retreated 
more  to  our  right,  where  they  could  get  into  the  woods 
easier." 

Corp'l  George  L.  Newton  in  Notes  dated  Oct.  24,  1899, 
adds  the  following  to  the  quotations  from  Captain  Phillips : 
— "I  remember  some  years  after  the  War  ended,  I  was  with 
Captain  Phillips  in  his  office  in  Boston,  and  we  were  talking 
over  old  times,  and  he  told  me  that  the  Battery  fired  nearly 
5^  tons  of  ammunition  at  Gettysburg  during  the  fighting 
on  the  2d  and  3d  of  July." 

LETTER   OF   SERGT.   WM.    H.    PEACOCK. 

"July  5,  1863. 

CAMP  NEAR  THE  BATTLEFIELD  OF  ,   PA. 

I  came  out  of  the  fight  all  right.  Our  Battery  was  en 
gaged  two  days,  and  a  terrible  time  we  had  of  it.  ...  The 


656  HISTORY    OF    THE 

9th  Mass.  Battery  lost  38  men  killed  and  wounded.  Captain 
Bigelow  of  Brighton  was  shot  through  the  side;  not  a  fatal 
wound,  I  hear.  On  my  Gun  one  man  was  killed  and  five 
wounded,  out  of  10  of  us.  The  second  day  we  gave  them 
an  awful  whipping.  .  I  think  we  will  have  another  battle 
before  the  rebels  leave  this  state,  or  Maryland." 

FROM    CORPORAL    CHASE'S    DIARY. 

"July  3,  1863.  Not  a  wink  o>f  sleep  last  night:  wound 
very  painful.  Four  of  our  pieces  left  for  the  front  about  6 
this  morning,  the  other  two  pieces,  caissons,  battery-wagon 
and  forge  advanced  about  half  a  mile  nearer  the  front  about 
10  a.  m.  Cannonading  began  again  this  morning  at  day 
light.  Kept  with  the  caissons  this  morning.  Met  Lieut. 
Lombard  of  the  i6th  Mass.  Reg't.  Not  much  fighting  until 
i  p.  m.  when  a  terrific  cannonading  commenced,  and  at 
3  p.  m.  has  not  slackened.  Wm.  L.  Purbeck  died  of  his 
wounds  this  a.  m.  and  his  remains  were  buried.  No  hopes 
of  the  recovery  of  Wm.  E.  Estee  this  a.  m.  Battery  engaged 
again  this  p.  m.  John  Canty  and  John  Olin  wounded  this 
p.  m.  Olin  slightly.  The  battery-wagon,  forge  teams,  two 
guns  and  caissons,  started  to  the  Rear  when  the  heavy 
firing  commenced.  Serg't  Nye  came  to  us  this  p.  m.  with 
rations.  A  furious  cannonading  kept  up  until  about  4  p.  m. 
when  it  gradually  slackened.  The  men  on  our  pieces  in 
front  report  that  the  enemy  is  shelling  them  terribly. 
Quite  a  large  lot  of  rebel  prisoners — about  800 — passed  us 
about  4  p.  m.;  among  them  several  commissioned  officers. 
The  prospect  looks  more  and  more  favorable  for  us  this 
p.  m.  Martin  J.  Coleman  and  Henry  W.  Soule  still  missing. 
D.  K.  Shackley  slightly  bruised  by  a  fragment  of  shell 
p.  m.  Very  quiet  up  to  the  front  at  6  p.  m.,  but  little  can 
nonading  at  this  time.  Many  of  the  rebel  prisoners  today 
badly  wounded.  Our  guns  partly  sheltered  from  the  fire  by 
breastworks,  but  many  of  the  caisson  horses  were  killed. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  657 

My  wound  very  sore  today  and  somewhat  inflamed. 
Weather  cloudy  and  quite  cool.  Stragglers  warned  of  the 
wrath  to  come  if  they  incur  the  indignation  of  General 
Meade  by  skulking.  Wm.  Greeley  made  delirious  by  the 
wind  of  a  shell  p.  m.;  sent  him  to  the  hospital.  W.  A. 
Waugh  slightly  bruised  by  a  piece  of  shell.  More  hopes 
of  Wm.  E.  Estee  tonight.  John  Canty's  right  arm  ampu 
tated  to-day.  M.  J.  Coleman  still  missing.  The  5th  detach 
ment  exchanged  gun  (see  p.  923  Captain  Fitzhugh)  for  one 
with  a  charge  wedged  in  from  a  New  York  battery. 

July  4,  1863.  All  quiet  this  morning.  Not  as  much  as  . 
'bunch  of  crackers'  to  be  heard,  except  the  grinding  of  hard 
crackers  this  morning.  Quite  a  comfortable  night's  rest  last 
night.  A  little  rain  fell  in  the  night.  The  dead  body  of 
H.  W.  Soule  found  on  the  field  where  we  fought  on  the 
2d  inst.  by  Lieut.  Spear  this  morning.  Serg't.  Smith  reports 
that  we  have  already  lost  forty  horses  in  the  two  days'  fight 
ing.  Had  a  good  bath  this  morning  and  feel  quite  refreshed, 
My  wound  doing  well  but  very  sore.  Martin  J.  Colemar* 
found  on  the  field  seriously  wounded,  a,  m.  He  was  brought 
to  the  rear  and  carried  to  the  hospital. 

The  5th  and  6th  detachments  with  guns,  caissons,  and  the 
battery- wagon,  forge  and  team,  moved  to  a  field  near  where 
we  halted  before  going  into  action  on  the  2d  inst.,  in  front 
of  the  nth  Corps  hospital.  The  whole  Battery  in  park  in 
the  above  field.  A  thundershower  came  up  about  half  past 
3  p.  m.  and  rained  very  fast  for  about  an  hour.  Went  on 
the  battlefield  after  the  shower  p.  m.  Many  bodies  of  both 
Union  and  rebel  soldiers  were  unburied.  Saw  20  dead 
horses  within  the  space  of  half  an  acre,  probably  horses  be 
longing  to  the  Qth  Mass.  Battery.  Put  up  tents  and  'turned 
in'  on  the  wet  ground!  A  party  of  our  men  went  out  on 
the  field  p.  m.  and  buried  the  remains  of  Fotheringham, 
Verity,  and  Soule. — Distant  cannonading  heard  in  the 
evening.  Weather  cool  and  comfortable  with  some  rain. 


658  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Some  of  our  men  went  out  beyond  the  outer  pickets  for  the 
limber  of  the  ist  detachment  gun  and  brought  it  to  camp; 
a  hazardous  job.  The  rebel  pickets  fired  upon  them  with 
out  effect. 

July  5,  1863.  Sunday.  Went  to  the  hospital  this  morn 
ing  and  had  my  wound  dressed.  No  hopes  of  the  recover} 
of  Martin  J.  Coleman.  J.  Hathaway  seriously  wounded 
J.  Canty  comfortable.  All  quiet  today.  Lieut.  Scott  came 
to  us  a.  m.  Battery  hitched  up  and  joined  the  column  on 
the  march  for  Frederick  City,  Md.  Went  to  the  hospital 
of  the  Reserve  Artillery  with  all  our  wounded,  p.  m.,  hospi 
tal  on  the  Baltimore  turnpike  about  three  miles  from  the 
battlefield.  Hospital  a  good  dwelling  house  and  a  barn. 
All  hands  had  a  plentiful  supper  of  broiled  mackerel,  bread 
and  coffee.  Remained  with  the  wounded  till  up.  m.,  with 
G.  Trumbull,  attending  to  their  wants.  Two  of  our  men 
up  all  the  time  and  were  relieved  every  two  hours. 

Our  Battery,  with  the  Volunteer  Reserve,  passed  the  hos 
pital  about  6  p.  m.  on  the  march  to  Frederick,  Md.  Lieut. 
Scott  left  here  with  us. 

July  6,  1863.  Quite  a  comfortable  night's  rest  last  night. 
The  wounded  men  rested  very  quietly  most  of  the  time. 
Hard  bread  and  coffee  with  a  little  beef  steak  for  break 
fast.  Some  clean  clothing  given  to  those  of  us  who  needed 
it  most.  By  request  of  M.  J.  Coleman  wrote  to  his  father 
that  he  could  not  live,  and  that  the  letter  would  probably 
be  the  last  he  would  hear  from  him.  The  Dr.  has  no  hopes 
of  Coleman' s  recovery.  Boiled  meat  and  broth  for  dinner, 
ham,  bread  and  coffee  for  supper.  Went  to  see  some  rebel 
prisoners  in  the  hospital, — wounded, — p.  m.  Their  hospital 
was  a  small  church  and  a  cemetery,  graves  serving  as 
pillows. 

July  7,  1863.  John  M.  Canty  died  last  night  about 
II  p.  m.  and  was  buried  this  morning.  Arose  at  2  a.  m  to 
help  watch  with  the  wounded.  A  good,  plentiful  breakfast 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  659 

fried  ham  this  morning;  boiled  fresh  meat,  and  a  good 
Dth  for  dinner.  Lieut.  Scott  with  other  commissioned 
icers  left  us  today  for  home.  Ham  for  supper.  Weather 
ite  cool  and  comfortable. 

DYING    WORDS    OF    COLEMAN. 
NOTES  OF  AUG.  13,  1899. 

Martin  J.  Coleman  was  mortally  wounded  at  Gettysburg 
d  was  brought  to  a  temporary  hospital  where  I  was.  I 
i  not  know  that  he  was  seriously  wounded  until  I  asked 
\  surgeon  how  he  was  getting  on,  and  he  told  me  he 
ild  not  live  long.  Soon  after  Coleman  sent  for  me  to 
ite  a  letter  for  him.  I  could  relate  other  instances  to 
)w  the  spirit  and  material  of  the  old  5th  Mass.  Battery, 
t  writing  that  letter  was  the  most  pathetic  act  I  was  called 
D-n  to  perform  while  in  service.  He  dictated  this  to  me : — 
?ar  Father :  I  have  not  long  to  live.  I  have  tried  to  be  a 
thful  soldier,  and  I  die  for  the  flag.' ' 

LOM   NOTES  OF  CORPORAL  SHACKLEY,   1863. 

"On  the  3d  July  we  went  into  line  with  only  3  guns,  not 
'ring  men  and  horses  to  serve  more. 

THE   WOUNDING  OF  JOHN    M.   CANTY. 

Aiter  the  enemy  had  shelled  our  lines,  and  had  begun  their 
/ance,  we  commenced  firing.  John  Canty  was  driver  of 
:  pole  team  of  the  ist  caisson — the  limber  of  the  Gun 
s  left  on  the  field  on  the  previous  day, — and  was  kneeling 
his  right  knee,  his  right  arm  behind  the  horse's  left 
e  leg,  his  left  hand  holding  the  bridle  rein.  Corporal 
ackley,  assisting  No.  5  to  serve  ammunition,  had  a 
lenkle  combination  shell  on  the  ground,  between  his 
*es,  trying  to  turn  the  cap  to  set  the  time-fuze,  when  a 
;11  came  and  took  off  the  horse's  leg  above  the  knee, 


660  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Canty's  arm  off  above  the  elbow,  and  the  horse's  righ 
hind  foot  off  above  the  ankle  with  such  force  as  to  tear  th< 
shoe  clear  of  the  foot,  and  the  shoe  struck  the  Corpora 
on  his  left  wrist,  and  made  him  lame  for  nearly  a  week 
The  skin  was  not  broken,  but  turned  very  dark,  the  sleev 
of  his  blouse  having  protected  it  to  some  extent.  The  shel 
fell  to  the  ground  under  the  Corporal's  nose  and  he  picket 
it  up,  and  threw  it  away. 

Canty  died  of  his  wound.     The  shell  did  not  explode.' 

In  relation  to  the  battle  Shackley  wrote  in  a  letter  at  th 

time : — "We  have  had  two  days  of  as  hard  fighting  as  ha 

been  done  in  this  war,  but  as  long  as  I  have  health  I  wil 

not  grumble." 

NOTES  OF  JOHN  E.  DYER,   1863. 

"July  3,  1863.  A  thick  morning.  Firing  commence< 
about  daybreak.  Our  Battery,  with  four  pieces,  went  t< 
the  front  at  6  a.  m.  At  i  p.  m  the  most  awful  cannonading 
commenced  from  the  enemy,  and  was  kept  up  until  3^  p.  m 
During  the  time  we  silenced  one  of  their  batteries.  Genera 
Longstreet  reported  taken  with  part  of  his  men.  Slept  01 
the  field. 

July  4,  1863.  Independence  Day.  Still  on  the  field 
Went  over  it,  and  among  the  wounded  found  Coleman  am 
J.  Hathaway.  Took  a  blanket,  put  one  in  at  a  time,  am 
brought  them  off.  About  7  a.  m.  we  left  our  position,  am 
went  to  the  rear  with  all  our  pieces  and  caissons,  but  witl 
a  loss  of  21  men  killed  and  wounded,  also  41  horses  killed 
This  is  a  great  loss  for  artillery." 

NOTES  OF  CORPORAL  GRAHAM. 
FINDING  THE  BODIES. 

"On  the  afternoon  of  the  4th  Captain  Phillips  ordered  i 
sergeant  to  go  down  on  the  centre  of  the  field,  out  beyonc 
our  pickets,  where  the  rebs  had  left  one  of  their  guns  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  661 

ay  before.  So  he  mounts  a  horse  and  starts  down.  When 
e  got  to  the  picket  line  his  heart  failed  him,  so  he  came 
ack.  Then  the  Captain  came  to  me,  and  he  says,  'Graham, 
ou  go  down  on  the  field,  and  get  me  that  pole-yoke  from 
lat  limber.'-  So  I  went  out  on  the  centre  of  the  field,  and 
ried  to  get  it,  but  as  I  had  no  wrench,  and  there  was  none 
i  the  limber  chest,  I  had  to  leave  it.  I  walked  from  there 
i  the  centre  of  both  picket  lines,  to  the  position  we  occupied 
n  the  second  day.  It  was  there  where  I  found  poor  Henry 
•oule.  He  was  the  first  one  that  I  found.  He  was  under  a 
mall  apple  tree.  Fotheringham  was  nearer  the  position 
f  the  Battery. 

From  the  field  I  went  into  the  Trostle  house,  where  I 
Dund  John  Hathaway  and  Coleman.  They  were  both  badly 
Bounded.  The  rebels  had  stripped  Hathaway  of  all  his 
tothing.  When  I  found  him  he  was  sitting  in  a  chair 
nderneath  a  mirror,  and  I  saw  him  in  the  glass  first,  and 
e  gave  me  quite  a  fright,  for  the  only  thing  he  had  on  was 

white  sheet.  He  looked  more  like  a  ghost  than  a  man. 
asked  him  if  there  were  any  other  of  the  boys  in  the  house, 
nd  he  said  he  did  not  know,  so  I  looked  the  house  over 
•om  garret  to  cellar,  and  there,  behind  the  chimney,  found 
oleman.  I  tried  to  get  an  ambulance  to  take  them  to  the 
*ar,  but  it  was  of  no  use.  I  went  back  to  the  Battery  and 
sported  to  the  Captain.  He  had  the  men  make  some 
;retchers,  and  had  Hathaway  and  Coleman  taken  to  the 
eld  hospital,  where  they  died  in  a  day  or  two.  The  last  I 
iw  of  Henry  Soule  they  were  digging  a  grave  under  that 
Dple  tree,  but  I  did  not  stay  to  see  whether  he  was  buried 
lere  or  not." 

The  last  resting  place  of  Henry  W.  Soule  is  in  Oak  Grove 
emetery,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

"You  may  lean  your  backs  against  comrades  now, 
They'll  moisten  your  lips,  and  they'll  kiss  your 
brow, 


662  HISTORY    OF    THE 

For  they  fought  like  men,  and  a  man  may  weep 
When  he  lays  a  man  to  his  last  long  sleep." 

— RICHARD  MANSFIELD. 

REPORT    OF   CAPTAIN   C.    A.    PHILLIPS. 

HD.  ORS.  BATTERY  E,  MASS.  ART'Y, 

July  6,  1863. 
MAJOR  McGiLVERY,  Com'd'g  ist  Brig.  i/.  A.  R. 

MAJOR: 

I  have  the  honor  to  forward  a  report  of  the  battery 
'luring  the  action  of  July  2(1  and  3d. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2d  I  marched  from  Taneytown 
towards  Gettysburg,  and  came  into  park  near  the  battlefield. 
At  4  o'clock  I  was  ordered  into  action,  and  took  position  on 
the  right  of  Captain  Bigelow  and  left  of  Captain  Hart. 
The  enemy  soon  opened  a  heavy  artillery  fire  on  our  front 
and  right,  one  battery  on  my  right  which  I  could  not  see, 
giving  us  a  very  hot  enfilading  fire.  Towards  5  o'clock  the 
enemy  succeeded  in  forcing  back  our  lines  on  our  right  and 
left,  and  the  battery  was  subjected  to  a  heavy  musketry  fire 
on  both  flanks.  Accordingly  upon  receiving  the  order  from 
you,  I  limbered  to  the  rear  and  retired.  The  horses  on  the 
left  piece  were  shot  before  limbering,  and  we  were  obliged 
to  bring  the  piece  off.  by  hand,  leaving  the  limber, — this  was 
however  brought  off  on  the  4th.  Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott 
was  shot  in  the  face  and  severely  wounded  while  bringing 
off  this  piece.  After  retiring  about  1000  yards  I  came  into 
battery  by  the  side  of  the  6th  Maine  Battery,  Lieut.  Dow 
com'd'g,  and  remained  until  my  ammunition  was  expended, 
when  I  marched  to  the  rear,  and  went  into  park  for  the 
night. 

At  daylight  on  the  3d  I  was  ordered  to  the  front,  and 
took  position  to  the  right  and  rear  of  the  position  of  the  day 
before,  on  the  right  of  Captain.  Hart,  and  left  of  Captain 
Thompson.  Under  your  direction  the  guns  were  protected 
by  a  slight  parapet,  which  proved  of  very  great  service. 


FIFTH    MASS.    BATTERY.  663 

About  one  o'clock  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  from  a 
long  line  of  batteries,  which  was  kept  up  for  an  hour,  but 
beyond  the  noise  which  was  made,  no  great  harm  was  done. 
Having  received  orders  from  General  Hunt,  and  from  you, 
not  to  reply  to  their  batteries,  I  remained  silent  for  the  first 
half  hour,  when  General  Hancock  ordered  us  to  open.  We 
then  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  batteries,  but  in  the  thick 
smoke  probably  did  very  little  damage.  By  your  orders 
we  soon  ceased  firing.  Soon  after  a  charge  was  made  by 
General  Longstreet's  Corps,  and  from  my  position  I  was 
enabled  to  pour  a  heavy  enfilading  fire  into  the  rebel  infantry. 
After  the  repulse  of  this  charge,  another  was  made  by  a 
Florida  Brigade  within  range  of  my  guns.  During  the 
charge  of  General  Longstreet,  the  rebels  advanced  a  battery 
of  12  pdrs.  on  our  left,  whereupon  the  batteries  of  the  ist 
brig,  were  ordered  to  concentrate  their  fire  on  it,  which  was 
done  with  such  good  effect  that  the  rebel  cannoneers  were 
driven  from  their  posts  almost  immediately,  and  left  their 
guns  in  the  field. 

I  remained  in  this  position  until  Saturday  forenoon. 

I  beg  leave  to  express  entire  satisfaction  with  my  officers 
and  men.  During  the  two  days  I  fired  -  690  rounds,  lost 
i  officer  wounded,  4  men  killed,  16  wounded,  40  horses 
killed,  and  a  number  disabled.  A  number  of  small  imple 
ments  were  lost  during  the  falling  back  of  the  first  day,  but 
the  only  losses  of  material  which  interfere  with  the  efficiency 
of  the  Battery  are : 

1  Wheel  Harness  for  one  horse. 
4  Sets  Lead  Harness. 

2  Wheels. 

I  am  very  Respectfully 

Your  ob't  Serv't, 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS,  Capt. 

Battery  E,  Mass.  Art'y. 


664 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  OF  BATTERY  E,   MASS. 

ART'Y  AT  THE  BATTLE   NEAR   GETTYSBURG, 

PA.,  JULY  2D  AND  30,  1863. 


NAMES. 

Henry  U.  Scott 
Thomas  E.  Chase 
John  Agen 
Wm.  L.  Piirbeck 
Henry  W.  Soule 
John  G.  Sanford 
Henry  Fitzsimmons 
George  R.  Trumbull 
Martin  J.  Coleman 
William  E.  Estee 
William  H.  Dunham 
John  F.  Hathaway 
John  M.  Canty 
Daniel  K.  Shackley 
John  H.  Olin 
William  A.  Waugh 


RANK. 

ist  Lieut. 
Corporal 

Private 


wounded 

Arm  broke 
Killed. 


face 

arm  slightly. 


wounded     side  slightly. 
"  leg  severely 

"  foot  slightly. 

"  Knee  and  Arm  mortally. 

hip  severely 

"  shoulder  slightly 

"  breast  severely 

arm  amputated. 
"  arm  slightly 

"  hip  severely. 

"  arm  slightly. 


LIST   OF   KILLED   AND    WOUNDED   OF   THE    10™    NEW 
YORK  IND.  BATTERY  NOW  SERVING  WITH  BATTERY 
E.,  MASS.   ART'Y  AT  THE  BATTLE  NEAR  GETTYS 
BURG,  PA.,  JULY  2»  &  3°,  1863. 


NAMES. 

Edward  Fotheringham 
Henry  Graff  elman 
Thomas  Fairhuret 
William  M'  Kern 
John  W.  Verity 


RANK. 
Private 


Killed. 

Wounded  b y  severely 

"          shoulder  slightly 

groin  severely. 
Killed. 


In  the  Roll  of  Honor,  published  in  Fox's  "New  York 
at  Gettysburg,"  names  of  soldiers  in  New  York  Regiments 
and  Batteries,  who  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  at 
that  Battle,  are : 

IOTH  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY  L.  A. 

Fotheringham  Edward,  Private. 
Verity  John  W.,  Private. 

Temporarily  attached  to  the  5th  Massachusetts  Battery. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  665 

In  relation  to  the  Third  Day's  Fight  Captain  Phillips 
wrote  his  little  nephew,  under  date  July  3ist,  1863:  "On 
the  next  day  we  had  a  splendid  exhibition  of  fireworks 
got  up  by  the  rebel  chief  of  artillery  for  our  amusement. 
For  about  an  hour  and  a  half  there  were  at  least  100  shots 
a  minute,  and  the  banging  and  whizzing  round  was  so  con 
stant  as  to  be  quite  confusing.  Just  before  it  commenced 
Lieut.  Lull  and  I  were  lying  in  a  little  shelter  tent,  but 
when  the  shower  came  we  concluded  to  get  behind  a  pile 
of  dirt,  and  it  \vas  lucky  we  did  so,  for  in  less  than  five 
minutes  a  shell  struck  the  shelter  tent  and  knocked  it  all 
to  pieces  .  .  .  But  when  the  infantry  came  out  we  jumped 
up  and  went  at  it  hammer  and  tongs.  We  had  a  splendid 
chance  at  them,  and  we  made  the  most  of  it ...  The  prettiest 
thing,  however,  was  the  way  we  silenced  a  rebel  battery 
which  they  brought  out  into  the  field.  We  let  them  get  into 
position  and  all  ready,  and  then  we  went  at  them.  For 
about  five  minutes  the  shells  were  bursting  round  their  heads 
pretty  thick,  and  when  the  smoke  and  dust  cleared  away 
we  could  see  one  horse,  but  no  men  left.  The  guns  stood 
just  where  they  placed  them,  but  they  did  not  fire  another 
shot." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  J.  E.  SPEAR. 

"The  Major  referred  to  here  is  Major  McGilvery  of 
Maine,  who  commanded  several  batteries  on  Sickles'  line 
when  he  was  forced  back  the  second  day.  I  was  on  his 
staff  as  Assistant  Adjutant  General."  Note  by  Lieut.  Spear 
July  24,  1901. 

"HEAD  QUARTERS  ist  BRIG.  VOL.  A.  C. 
CAMP  NEAR  FREDERICK,  MD. 

July  7,  1863. 

Well  here  we  are  back  to  Frederick,  Md.,  which  place  we 
left  one  week  ago  last  Monday  morning.  The  first  day, — 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  OF  BATTERY  E,   MASS. 

ART'Y  AT  THE  BATTLE   NEAR   GETTYSBURG, 

PA.,  JULY  20  AND  30,  1863. 


NAMES. 

Henry  D.  Scott 
Thomas  E.  Chase 
John  Agen 
Wm.  L.  Purbeck 
Henry  W.  Soule 
John  G.  Sanford 
Henry  Fitzsimmons 
George  R.  Trumbull 
Martin  J.  Coleman 
William  E.  Estee 
William  H.  Dunham 
John  F.  Hathaway 
John  M.  Canty 
Daniel  K.  Shackley 
John  H.  Olin 
William  A.  Waugh 


RANK. 

ist  Lieut. 
Corporal 

Private 


wounded 

C( 

Arm  broke 
Killed. 


face 

arm  slightly. 


wounded     side  slightly. 

"  leg  severely 

"  foot  slightly. 

"  Knee  and  Arm  mortally. 

"  hip  severely 

"  shoulder  slightly 

"  breast  severely 

"  arm  amputated. 

"  arm  slightly 

"  hip  severely. 

"  arm  slightly. 


LIST   OF   KILLED   AND    WOUNDED   OF   THE    10™    NEW 
YORK  IND.  BATTERY  NOW  SERVING  WITH  BATTERY 
E.,  MASS.   ART'Y  AT  THE  BATTLE  NEAR  GETTYS 
BURG,  PA.,  JULY  2°  &  30,  1863. 


NAMES. 

Edward  Fotheringham 
Henry  Graff  el  man 
Thomas  Fairhuret 
William  M'  Kern 
John  W.  Verity 


RANK. 
Private 


Killed. 

Wounded  b y  severely 

"          shoulder  slightly 

groin  severely. 
Killed. 


In  the  Roll  of  Honor,  published  in  Fox's  "New  York 
at  Gettysburg,"  names  of  soldiers  in  New  York  Regiments 
and  Batteries,  who  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  at 
that  Battle,  are : 

IOTH  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY  L.  A. 

Fotheringham  Edward,  Private. 
Verity  John  W.,  Private. 

Temporarily  attached  to  the  5th  Massachusetts  Battery. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  665 

In  relation  to  the  Third  Day's  Fight  Captain  Phillips 
wrote  his  little  nephew,  under  date  July  3ist,  1863:  "On 
the  next  day  we  had  a  splendid  exhibition  of  fireworks 
got  up  by  the  rebel  chief  of  artillery  for  our  amusement. 
For  about  an  hour  and  a  half  there  were  at  least  100  shots 
a  minute,  and  the  banging  and  whizzing  round  was  so  con 
stant  as  to  be  quite  confusing.  Just  before  it  commenced 
Lieut.  Lull  and  I  were  lying  in  a  little  shelter  tent,  but 
when  the  shower  came  we  concluded  to  get  behind  a  pile 
of  dirt,  and  it  wras  lucky  we  did  so,  for  in  less  than  five 
minutes  a  shell  struck  the  shelter  tent  and  knocked  it  all 
to  pieces  .  .  .  But  when  the  infantry  came  out  we  jumped 
up  and  went  at  it  hammer  and  tongs.  We  had  a  splendid 
chance  at  them,  and  we  made  the  most  of  it ...  The  prettiest 
thing,  however,  was  the  way  we  silenced  a  rebel  battery 
which  they  brought  out  into  the  field.  We  let  them  get  into 
position  and  all  ready,  and  then  we  went  at  them.  For 
about  five  minutes  the  shells  were  bursting  round  their  heads 
pretty  thick,  and  when  the  smoke  and  dust  cleared  away 
we  could  see  one  horse,  but  no  men  left.  The  guns  stood 
just  where  they  placed  them,  but  they  did  not  fire  another 
shot." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  J.  E.  SPEAR. 

"The  Major  referred  to  here  is  Major  McGilvery  of 
Maine,  who  commanded  several  batteries  on  Sickles'  line 
when  he  was  forced  back  the  second  day.  I  was  on  his 
staff  as  Assistant  Adjutant  General."  Note  by  Lieut.  Spear 
July  24,  1901. 

"HEAD  QUARTERS  ist  BRIG.  VOL.  A.  C. 
CAMP  NEAR  FREDERICK,  MD. 

July  7,  1863. 

Well  here  we  are  back  to  Frederick,  Md.,  which  place  we 
left  one  week  ago  last  Monday  morning.  The  first  day,— 


066  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Monday, — we  marched  as  far  as  Middleburg,  Md.,  and  there 
we  went  into  camp  for  the  night.  The  next  morning, — 
Tuesday, — we  broke  camp  and  marched  that  day  about  ten 
miles,  to  Taneytown,  where  we  went  into  camp,  and  re 
mained  until  Wednesday  morning,  when  we  were  ordered 
to  move,  but  orders  were  countermanded,  and  we  remained 
until  Thursday  morning,  when  we  broke  camp  and  marched 
towards  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  we  went  into  park  about  : 
o'clock,  near  the  Battlefield. 

At  4  o'clock  the  Major  received  orders  for  his  batteries 
to  move  into  position^  and  they  were  placed  near  the  centre 
of  the  3d  Corps  on  the  Left  of  the  line  of  battle.  As  soon 
as  the  batteries  were  placed  in  position  the  rebels  opened  a 
heavy  artillery  fire  on  our  front  and  right.  Towards  5 
o'clock  the  enemy  succeeded  in  forcing  back  our  lines  on  our 
right  and  left,  and  the  batteries  were  subjected  to  a  hot 
musketry  fire  on  the  flanks.  Some  of  the  batteries  then  com 
menced  to  retreat  before  the  order  was  given  by  the  Major, 
but  Ca.pt.  Phillips  and  Capt.  Bigelow  of  the  gib.  Mass. 
Battery,  remained  until  the  Major  gave  the  order  to  retire. 
When  retiring  Capt.  Phillips  and  Capt.  Bigelow  lost  a 
great  many  men  and  horses,  and  had  to  pull  some  of  their 
pieces  off  by  hand.  After  retiring  about  1000  yards  these 
two  batteries  came  into  position  and  remained  there  until 
all  their  ammunition  was  expended,  when  they  went  into 
park  to  the  rear  of  the  Battlefield. 

At  daylight  on  the  3d  we  were  ordered  into  position  near 
the  centre  of  our  line,  and  here  the  men  built  a  slight  parapet 
to  protect  themselves  from  the  shells  and  bullets  of  the  rebels, 
which  proved  of  very  great  importance,  for  it  saved  the 
lives  of  many  men.  About  I  o'clock  p.  m.  of  the  3d 
the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  from  a  long  line  of  batter 
ies,  which  was  kept  up  for  an  hour,  but  beyond  the  noise 
made  no  great  harm  was  done.  Soon  after  the  firing 
ceased,  the  rebels  made  a  charge,  and  from  our  position 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  667 

we  were  enabled  to  pour  a  heavy  enfilading  fire  into  the 
rebel  infantry. 

After  the  repulse  of  this  charge,  another  was  made  by  a 
Florida  Brigade  within  range  of  our  guns.  These  were  very 
soon  repulsed,  and  we  remained  in  position  until  the  day 
after,  when  the  rebels  commenced  to  retreat,  and  we  com 
menced  to  march  and  head  them  off.  We  expect  to  move 
towards  Antietam.n 

REPORT   OF   COLONEL   FREEMAN   McGILVERY, 
FOUND  AMONG  THE  PAPERS  OF  MAJOR  CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS  : 

"Report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  ist  Brigade  Vol.  Division  Artillery 
Reserve,  and  other  Batteries  under  my  command  in  the  Battle  near 
Gettysburg  Pa.  July  2d  and  3d  1863." 

The  list  of  batteries  composing  the  Brigade  is  here  given, 
then  follows  the  Report: 

"GENERAL  R.  O.  TYLER,  Commanding  Artillery  Reserve  A.  P. 

General. 

I  have  the  honor  to  respectfully  report  that  my  Brigade  being  in  park 
at  a  central  position  near  our  line  of  battle  at  half-past  three  o'clock 
p.  m.  on  the  2d  of  July,  I  received  an  order  from  yourself  to  report  to 
General  Sickles  with  one  Light  12  pdr.  and  one  Rifled  Battery. 

The  5th  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  Phillips,  and  Qth  Mass.  Battery  Cap 
tain  Bigelow  were  marched  immediately  to  a  position  occupied  by  Gen 
eral  Sickle's,  near  a  belt  of  oak  woods  considerably  in  front  of  the  pro 
longation  of  the  natural  line  of  defenses  of  our  Army  on  the  Left  Cen 
tre,  in  which  General  Sickles'  command  was  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

By  General  Sickles'  order  I  made  an  examination  of  the  ground, 
and  placed  the  two  Mass.  Batteries  in  a  position  that  commanded  most 
of  the  open  country  between  the  woods  held  by  our  troops  on  the  Left 
Centre  and  the  woods  and  high  ground  occupied  by  the  enemy  on  their 
right.  A  New  Jersey  Battery  immediately  on  the  right  of  the  two 
Mass.  Batteries,  was  receiving  the  most  of  the  fire  of  two  or  more  rebel 
batteries.  Hart's  I5th  New  York  Battery  reporting  at  that  time,  I 
placed  it  in  position  in  a  Peach  Orchard  on  the  right  and  a  little  to  the 
front  of  the  New  Jersey  Battery.  The  four  batteries  already  mentioned 
presented  a  front  nearly  at  right  angles  with  the  position  occupied  by 
our  troops  facing  towards  our  left,  the  fire  of  which  I  concentrated  on 
single  rebel  batteries,  and  five  or  more  were  driven  in  succession  from 
their  position. 


668  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Captain  Thompson's  F  and  C  consolidated  Pa.  Battery  of  my  Bri 
gade,  took  oosition  on  the  right  of  the  15th  New  York  Battery,  two 
sections  of  which  battery  fronted  and  fired  in  the  direction  of  those 
heretofore  mentioned  and  the  right  section  fronted  to  the  right  and 
opened  fire  on  a  section  or  more  of  rebel  artillery  posted  in  the  woods 
at  canister  range,  immediately  on  the  right  of  the  batteries  under  my 
command,  the  enfilade  fire  of  which  was  inflicting  serious  damage 
through  the  whole  line  of  my  command.  At  about  5  o'clock  a  heavy 
column  of  rebel  infantry  made  its  appearance  in  a  grain  field  about  850 
yards  in  front,  moving  at  quick  time  towards  the  woods  on  our  left 
where  the  infantry  fighting  was  then  going  on.  A  well  directed  fire 
from  all  the  batteries  was  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  which  destroyed 
the  order  of  their  march  and  drove  many  back  into  the  woods  on  their 
right,  though  the  main  portion  of  the  column  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
point  for  which  they  started,  and  sheltered  themselves  from  the  artil 
lery  fire. 

In  a  few  minutes  another  and  larger  column  appeared  at  about  750 
yds.  presenting  a  slight  left  flank  to  our  position.  I  immediately  trained 
the  entire  line  of  our  guns  upon  them,  and  opened  with  various  kinds 
of  ammunition.  The  column  continued  to  move  on  at  double  quick, 
until  its  head  reached  a  barn  immediately  in  front  of  my  left  battery 
at  about  400  yards  distant,  when  it  came  to  a  halt.  I  gave  them  canis 
ter  and  solid  shot  with  such  good  effect  that  I  am  sure  that  several  hun 
dred  were  put  hors  du  combat  in  a  short  space  of  time.  The  column 
was  broken ;  part  fled  in  the  direction  from  whence  it  came,  part  pushed 
on  into  the  woods  on  our  left.  The  remainder  endeavored  to  shelter 
themselves  in  masses  around  the  house  and  barn.  I  visited  the  position 
after  the  battle  where  the  column  in  confusion  massed  up  around  the 
house  and  barn  heretofore  mentioned,  and  found  120  odd  dead  belong 
ing  to  three  So.  Carolina  Regiments.  This  mortality  was  no  doubt 
from  the  effects  of  the  artillery  fire.  The  asperities  of  the  ground  in 
front  of  my  batteries  were  such  as  to  enable  the  enemy's  sharpshooters 
in  large  numbers  to  cover  themselves  within  very  short  range.  At 
about  a  quarter  to  six  o'clock  the  enemy's  infantry  gained  possession  of 
the  woods  immediately  on  the  left  of  my  line  of  batteries,  and  our  in 
fantry  fell  back  both  on  our  right  and  left,  when  great  disorder  ensued 
on  both  flanks  of  the  line  of  batteries.  At  this  period  of  the  action  all 
the  batteries  were  exposed  to  a  warm  infantry  fire  from  both  flanks  and 
front,  whereupon  I  ordered  them  to  retire  250  yards  and  renew  their 
fire.  The  New  Jersey  Battery  mentioned  being  out  of  ammunition  re 
tired  to  the  rear.  The  I5th  New  York  Battery  also  retired  from  the 
field.  Captains  Bigelow  and  Phillips,  who  were  under  my  observation 
about  all  the  time,  evinced  great  coolness  and  skill  in  retiring  their  bat 
teries.  Captain  Phillips  with  Lieut.  Scott  and  four  men  hauled  off  one 
piece  by  hand.eve'ry  horse  on  the  limber  having*been  shot  down.  Lieut. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  669 

Scott  was  shot  through  the  face  whilst  at  this  work,  and  it  is  a  mystery 
to  me  that  they  were  not  all  hit  by  the  enemy's  fire,  as  they  were  nearly 
surrounded  and  fired  upon  from  almost  every  direction.  Captain 
Bigelow  retired  by  prolonge,  firing  canister,  which  with  Captains  Phil 
lips  and  Thompson  firing  on  his  right  in  their  new  position,  the  enemy 
was  checked  effectually  in  his  advance  for  a  short  time.  Captain 
Thompson,  having  all  the  horses  killed  from  the  limber  of  one  of  his 
pieces  whilst  retiring,  was  compelled  to  leave  the  piece,  which  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  crisis  of  the  engagement  had  now  arrived.  I  gave  Captain 
Bigelow  orders  to  hold  his  position  as  long  as  possible  at  all  hazards, 
in  order  to  give  me  time  to  form  a  new  line  of  artillery,  and  justice 
demands  that  I  should  state  that  Captain  Bigelow  did  hold  his  position, 
and  execute  his  firing,  with  a  deliberation  and  destructive  effect  upon 
the  enemy  in  such  a  manner  as  only  a  brave  and  skilled  officer  could, 
until  one  officer  killed  and  the  others  wounded  and  more  than  half  his 
men  either  killed  or  wounded  and  his  horses  all  shot  down  at  the  lim 
bers,  he  was  forced  to  leave  four  guns  and  retire.  Lieut.  Milton  brought 
two  guns  safely  to  the  rear.  In  the  meantime  I  formed  a  new  line  of 
artillery  about  400  yds.  to  the  rear,  close  under  the  woods,  and  covering 
the  opening  which  led  into  the  Gettysburg  and  Taneytown  road,  of  the 
following  batteries  and  parts  of  batteries:  Battery  I,  5th  Regulars,  and 
a  volunteer  battery  which  I  have  never  been  able  to  learn  the  name  of. 
Three  guns  of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery,  Two  of  Captain  Thompson's  Pa. 
Battery,  and  commenced  firing  on  the  enemy's  line  of  infantry  and  ar 
tillery  which  had  formed  in  the  open  field  only  about  7  or  800  yards 
in  our  front ;  a  brook  running  through  low  bushes  parallel  to  our  front 
midway  between  ours  and  the  enemy's  lines,  being  occupied  by  rebel 
sharpshooters.  As  soon  as  the  6th  Maine  Battery  reported,  which  was 
just  before  sundown,  I  ordered  canister  to  be  used  on  the  low  bushes  in 
front,  which  compelled  them  (sharpshooters)  to  retire.  About  this  time 
Pettit's  ist  N.  Y.  Battery  reported,  and  took  a  position  on  the  right  of 
the  6th  Maine.  At  this  time  the  enemy's  fire,  artillery — was  very  rapid 
and  heavy.  The  unknown  volunteer  battery  heretofore  mentioned  left 
the  field.  The  guns  of  Battery  I,  5th  Reg.  were  abandoned.  Captain 
Thompson's  guns  being  out  of  ammunition  were  sent  to  the  rear. 
Pettit's  ist  N.  Y.  Battery  remained  only  a  few  minutes,  and  left  while 
I  was  directing  the  fire  of  the  6th  Maine  and  a  section  of  the  5th  Mass. 
Captain  Phillips,  which  remained  in  position  and  kept  up  a  well 
directed  fire  upon  the  enemy's  lines  until  they  had  ceased  firing,  which 
was  about  8  o'clock.  I  then  placed  Captain  Seely's  Regular  Battery 
Lieut.  James,  in  position  near  Lieut.  Dow's  Battery,  with  instructions 
to  watch  the  enemy  closely  and  fire  upon  any  advancing  column,  or 
reply  to  any  artillery  that  might  be  opened  upon  us.  There  ended  the 
engagement  of  the  2d  of  July.  A  detail  was  now  made  from  the  6th 


(170  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Maine  and  Seely's  Battery,  to  go  to  the  front  and  haul  off  the  guns  of 
Battery  I,  5th  Regulars.  Lieut.  Dow  I  instructed  to  procure  an  infan 
try  detail  and  go  to  the  front  and  haul  off  the  guns  of  the  Qth  Mass.,  all 
of  which  was  accomplished.  The  Guns  of  the  two  batteries,  numbering 
8,  were  brought  safely  to  the  rear,  and  arrangements  made  to  secure 
their  safe  transportation  in  the  event  of  any  contingency  that  might 
necessitate  a  retreat  or  other  movement.  During  the  engagement  my 
horse  was  hit  four  times  in  the  fore  shoulder  and  breast  by  musketry, 
once  on  the  fore  leg  by  shell,  and  once  on  the  hip  by  spent  solid  shot,  of 
which  wounds  he  soon  after  died.  During  the  night  I  ascertained  the 
whereabouts  of  all  my  batteries  and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  3d  of 
July  brought  them  into  lime  on  the  low  ground  on  our  left  centre,  front 
ing  the  woods  and  elevated  position  occupied  by  the  enemy  along  the 
Gettysburg  and  Emmittsburg  road,  a  point  at  which  it  was  plain  to  be 
seen  they  were  massing  artillery  in  great  force.  The  line  of  batteries 
under  my  command  commencing  on  the  left,  which  rested  on  an  oak 
wood  occupied  by  our  infantry  were  in  numbers  and  kinds  of  guns,  as 
follows : — 

Ames'  Battery  G,  ist  N.  Y..  6  Lt.  12  Pdrs. 

Dow's  6th  Maine  Battery  4  Lt.  12  Pdrs. 

A  N>ew  Jersey  Battery  6,  3  in.  Guns. 

One  Section  New  York  Artillery,  Lieut  Rank  2,  3  in.  Guns. 

[Rank's  Section,  Battery  H,  3d  Penn.  Heavy,  see  p.  654.] 

ist  Conn.  4  James  Rifled  &  2  Howitzers. 

Hart's  I5th  New  York  Ind.  Battery  4  Lt.   12  Pdrs. 

Phillips'  sth  Mass.  6,  3  in.  Rifles. 

Thompsons  Battery  F.  &  C. Consolidated  Pa.  Art'y  5,  3  in.  Rifled. 

Total  39  Guns. 

In  front  of  these  batteries  I  had  a  slight  earthwork  thrown  up,  which 
proved  sufficient  to  resist  all  the  projectiles  which  struck  it,  and  the 
commanders  of  batteries  were  repeatedly  ordered  that  in  the  event  of 
the  enemy's  opening  a  cannonading  fire  upon  our  lines  to  cover  their 
men  as  much  as  possible,  and  not  to  return  the  fire  until  ordered. 

At  about  half-past  12  o'clock  the  enemy  opened  a  terrific  fire  upon 
our  lines,  with  at  least  140  Guns;  this  fire  was  very  rapid  and  inaccu 
rate,  most  of  the  projectiles  passing  from  20  to  100  feet  over  our  lines. 
About  one  half  hour  after  the  commencement  some  general  command 
ing  the  infantry  line,  ordered  three  of  the  batteries  to  return  the  fire. 
After  they  had  fired  a  few  rounds  I  ordered  the  fire  to  cease,  and  the 
men  to  be  covered. 

After  the  enemy  had  fired  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  expended 
at  least  10,000  rounds  of  ammunition  with  but  comparatively  little 
damage  to  our  immediate  line,  a  slow,  well-directed  fire  from  all  the 
guns  under  my  command  was  concentrated  upon  single  batteries  of  the 
enemy  of  those  best  in  view  and  several  were  badly  broken  up,  and  sue- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  671 

cessively  driven  from  their  position  to  the  rear.  At  about  3  p.  m.,  a  line 
of  battle  of  about  3  or  4000  men  appeared,  advancing  directly  upon  our 
front,  which  were  completely  broken  up  and  scattered  by  our  fire  before 
coming  within  musket  range  of  our  Guns.  Immediately  after  appeared 
three  extended  lines  of  battle  of,  at  least,  35,000  men,  advancing  upon 
our  centre.  Those  3  lines  of  battle  presented  an  oblique  front  to  the 
guns  under  my  command,  and  by  training  the  whole  line  of  guns  ob 
liquely  to  the  right,  we  had  a  raking  fire  through  all  three'  of  their  lines. 

The  execution  of  the  fire  must  have  been  terrible,  as  it  was  over  a 
level  plain,  and  the  effect  was  plain  to  be  seen.  In  a  few  minutes  in 
stead  of  well  ordered  lines  of  battle,  they  were  broken  and  confused 
masses,  and  fugitives  flying  in  every  direction. 

This  ended  the  operations  of  the  batteries  under  my  command  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

In  conclusion  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  state  that  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  batteries  in  my  Brigade  behaved  in  the  most  gallant  manner  on  the 
2d  of  July,  where  the  battle  raged  most  furiously.  Part  of  the  5th  and 
9th  Mass,  and  C.  &  F.  Consolidated  Pa.  Art'y,  contested  every  inch  of 
ground,  and  remained  on  the  field  to  the  very  last.  The  6th  Maine 
Battery  came  into  action  in  very  opportune  time,  and  rendered  very 
valuable  service.  Captain  Irish  (Nathaniel  Irish)  of  Battery  F,  Pa. 
Artillery,  acting  voluntary  aid  to  me,  was  hit  on  the  thigh  in  the  early 
part  of  the  engagement  by  solid  shot,  but  would  not  leave  the  field  until 
ordered  by  me  to  do  so  to  have  his  wound  dresse'd,  and  notwithstand 
ing  a  serious  contusion  which  he  was  suffering  under,  reported  to  me 
on  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  July,  and  remained  with  me  during  the 
day.  ready  to  discharge  any  duty. 

Captains  Phillips  and  Bigelow's  conduct  was  gallant  in  the  extreme. 

F.    McGlLVERY    Col. 

Me.  Art'y  Cotnm'd'g. 
Brigade." 

This  copy  of  Colonel  McGilvery's  report  was  not  dated, 
but  the  note  accompanying  it  was  written  at 

HEAD  QUARTERS  IST  BRIGADE 
ART'Y  RESERVE  A.  P. 
September  17,  1863. 

Cap  tain. - 

Herewith  I  send  you  a  true  copy  of  my  report  of  the  part  taken  by 
my  Brigade  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  as  I  have  no  other  copy, 
you  will  greatly  oblige  me  if  you  will  cause  a  copy  to  be  written  for 


672  HISTORY    OF    THE 

yourself,  and  return  the  one  I  send  you  as  soon  as  you  have  done  with 
it.     I  shall  try  to  come  over  and  see  you  this  evening. 
Very  truly  yours, 

F.    McGlLVERY. 

CAPT.  PHILLIPS 

Com'd'g  5th  Mass.  Battery. 

THE  MONUMENTS. 

"The  brave  men,  living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here,  have  conse 
crated  it  far  above  our  power  to  add  or  detract." 

— ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Immediately  after  the  invading-  forces  had  been  driven 
out  of  Pennsylvania,  Governor  Andrew  Y.  Curtin,  the  "War 
Governor"  of  that  state,  with  the  co-operation  of  the  govern 
ors  of  states  represented  on  the  field,  proceeded  to  secure 
a  suitable  site  of  seventeen  acres  adjoining  the  village 
cemetery,  for  the  interment  of  the  soldiers  who  there  fell 
in  defense  of  the  Union,  and  purchased  it  in  the  name  of  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  which  assumed  the  expense  of  main 
tenance,  while  the  cost  of  re-interment  and  the  erection 
of  a  suitable  monument,  was  borne  by  the  several  states  in 
due  proportion.  For  this  purpose,  Massachusetts  appro 
priated  $9,471.83;  her  burials  numbered  159. 

Unknown  979.  Total  for  all  the  states  3,555.  But  this 
does  not,  by  any  means,  represent  the  actual  loss  of  the 
Union  army  in  killed  and  wounded.  Many  bodies  were  ex 
humed  and  taken  North  for  burial,  and  some  of  those  buried 
in  the  cemetery  died  of  disease  after  the  battle.  The  head 
stones  for  the  known  and  unknown  cost  $20,000.  The 
work  of  disinterment  on  the  battlefield  and  removal  to  the 
cemetery  beautifully  located  on  the  highest  ground  of 
Cemetery  Ridge,  commenced  October  27,  1863. 

Major  General  Darius  N.  Couch  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  was 
in  charge  of  the  arrangements  for  the  dedication  in  these 
grounds,  November  19,  1863,  of  a  monument  which  cost 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  673 

$50,000.  The  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  ex-governor  of  Mas 
sachusetts  and  ex-president  of  Harvard  College,  delivered 
the  oration  in  the  presence  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  members  of  his  cabinet,  foreign  ministers,  governors 
of  many  states,  and  an  immense  concourse  of  people,  and 
President  Lincoln  made  his  famous  Gettvsburg  address. 

In  1864,  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  passed  an  act 
establishing  "The  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Asso 
ciation."  In  1867,  and  1868,  Pennsylvania  appropriated 
$3000  for  the  purchase  of  land  on  the  battlefield,  which  was 
used  in  the  acquisition  of  land  on  Gulp's  and  Cemetery  Hills 
and  Little  Round  Top. 

On  July  i,  1869,  the  national  monument  was  dedicated; 
address  by  General  George  G.  Meade,  an  oration  by  Govern 
or  O.  P.  Morton  of  Indiana,  and  an  ode  by  Bayard  Taylor. 

In  1872,  the  cemetery  was  transferred  to  the  care  of  the 
National  Government  in  whose  charge  it  has  since  remained, 
and  generous  appropriations  have  been  made  for  its  im 
provement  by  congress;  titles  to  lands  on  the  battlefield 
being  acquired. 

Congress  in  1873,  and  1887,  donated  a  large  number  of 
cannon  and  cannon  balls  to  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Me 
morial  Association,  which  have  been  effectively  used;  the 
cannon  being  placed  in  positions  occupied  by  the  batteries 
during  the  battle. 

Tablets  as  markers  were  erected  on  Little  Round  Top  by 
Grand  Army  Posts  of  Pennsylvania,  but  the  first  regimental 
monument  erected  on  the  battlefield,  was  that  of  the  Second 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  Twelfth  Corps,  in  1879.  It  is  near 
Spangler's  Spring,  which  is  on  Gulp's  Hill  just  in  the  rear 
of  the  Twelfth  Corps  line.  The  next  was  in  1880,  the  9ist 
Penn.  Infantry,  Fifth  Corps,  on  Little  Round  Top.  In 
1883,  an  appropriation  of  $5000  was  received  from  the  state 
of  Massachusetts,  which  was  the  first  grant  of  money  for 
the  erection  of  monuments  on  the  field. 


674  HISTORY    OF    THE 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial 
Association  May  5,  1887,  it  was  resolved  that  hereafter  regi 
ments  erecting  monuments  on  the  grounds  of  the  Associa 
tion  would  be  required  to  locate  and  place  them  in  the 
position  held  by  the  regiment  in  the  line  of  battle,  but  that 
they  would  not  be  prohibited  from  erecting  such  markers 
on  the  field  to  indicate  secondary  or  advanced  positions,  as 
the  Association  might  determine. 

February  n,  1895,  the  Secretary  of  War  was  authorized 
by  act  of  congress  to  receive  from  the  Gettysburg  Battle 
field  Memorial  Association  a  deed  of  conveyance,  embracing 
about  800  acres,  and  on  May  22,  1895,  at  the  last  meeting 
of  the  board  o<f  directors,  the  land  owned  by  the  Association 
consisting  of  600  acres  and  17  miles  of  driveways, — earth 
works  having  been  preserved  or  reconstructed  whenever 
practicable, — was  transferred  to  the  United  States  Govern 
ment.  It  is  now  under  the  care  of  three  government  com 
missioners,  and  is  known  as  "The  Gettysburg  National 
Park." 

The  total  amount  of  expenditures  made  by  the  various 
states,  1 8  in  number,  on  account  of  the  Gettysburg  battle 
field,  including  purchase  of  land,  cost  of  monuments  and 
contributions  to  the  work  of  the  Memorial  Association, 
exclusive  of  appropriations  for  the  National  Cemetery,  is 
$680,228.33,  of  which  Massachusetts'  share  is  $30,000. 

THE  IOTH  N.  Y.  IND.  BATTERY. 

FROM  "NEW  YORK  AT  GETTYSBURG,"  EDITED  BY  LIEUT.  COL.  WILLIAM 

F.  Fox. 

"At  Gettysburg  the  Tenth  New  York  was  attached  to  Phillips'  Fifth 
Massachusetts  Battery,  and  with  that  command  fought  in  the  battles  of 
the  second  and  third  day.  Of  the  21  men  killed  and  wounded  in  Cap 
tain  Phillips'  command,  5  were  from  the  Tenth  New  York  Battery.  In 
the  second  day's  battle,  Phillips  was  stationed  with  his  six  guns  on  the 
road  leading  from  the  Wheatfield  to  the  Peach  Orchard,  where  he  was 
hotly  engaged.  On  the  third  day  his  battery  was  in  position  on  Ceme 
tery  Ridge,  when  it  participated  in  the  grand  cannonade  of  that  day. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  675 

In  July,  1863,  after  Gettysburg,  the  battery  (Tenth)  under  command  of 
Lie'ut.  T.  C.  Bruen,  was  stationed  in  the  defences  of  Washington, 
where  it  formed  a  part  of  the  Twenty-second  Corps.  The  monument  is 
situated  on  what  is  now  called  'Sickles  Avenue,'  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road  leading  from  the  Peach  Orchard  to  the  Wheatfield  and  Little 
Round  Top.  The  general  dimensions  are,  base  4'  3"  x  3'  3".  Total 
height  7'  8".  Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front  2'  o"  x  3'  o".  Materials  of 
Construction  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Con 
tractors,— Frederick  &  Field.  Cost,  $500." 


INSCRIPTION. 

(FRONT.) 

"loth  Independent  Battery 

New  York  Light  Artillery 

ist  Volunteer  Brigade. 

Artillery    Reserve. 

July  2,   1863 

Attached  to  5th  Massachusetts 
Light  Battery  'E.' 

Casualties. 

Killed  2,  Wounded  3. 
Organized  as  the  2d 

Excelsior  Battery 
Mustered  into  U.  S.  Service 

April  9,   1862 

Consolidated  with  6th 

N.   Y.   Independent  Battery 

June  21,  1864. 
Mustered  out  June  22,  1865." 

THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY. 

In  1883,  the  position  selected  for  the  monument  to  the 
men  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  was  a  short  distance  farther 
to  the  front  than  that  which  it  now  occupies,  but  it  was 
thought  best  to  place  it  on  the  ridge  beside  those  of  the 
Ninth  Mass.  Battery,  and  Clarke's  Battery  (Battery  B,  ist 
N.  J.)  on  Sickles  Avenue,  Wheatfield  Road.  It  stands 
near  the  road  running  from  the  Peach  Orchard  to  Little 
Round  Top.  It  is  of  pure  granite,  and  was  made  and 
erected  by  the  Smith  Granite  Company  of  Westerly,  Rhode 


676  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Island;  about  five  feet  square,  resting  on  two  bases,  and 
about  six  feet  high,  with  bevelled  top.  On  the  top  are  two 
sponge  staves  crossed.  On  the  front  face  is  the  Fifth  Corps 
badge,  and  within  the  Maltese  Cross  are  the  words: — 

FIFTH 

MASSACHUSETTS 
BATTERY. 

On  the  right : — 

THE  NATION  LIVES. 

On  the  base : — 

RESERVE  ARTILLERY. 

On  the  left  :— 

7  enlisted  men  killed, 
i  officer  and  12  enlisted 

Men  wounded. 

700  rounds  fired. 

Chs.  A.  Phillips,  Captain 

Commanding. 

July  2d,  1863. 

The  cost  of  the  monument  was  $550,  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts  contributing  $500,  and  the  Battery  the 
remainder. 

On  July  15,  1885,  at  a 'meeting  of  veteran  organizations 
of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  arrangements  were  planned 
for  its  dedication,  which  took  place  Thursday,  October  8, 
1885,  between  9  and  10  o'clock,  a.  m.,  in  a  drizzling 
rain.  The  members  of  the  Battery  present  were  Captain 
Henry  D.  Scott,  Corporal  Thomas  E.  Chase,  Serg't.  Patrick 
Welsh,  Privates  John  G.  Sanford  and  John  F.  Murray,  and 
Corporal  Rodney  Campbell.  Captain  Scott  made  the  dedi 
catory  address,  and  remarks  were  made  by  Captain  John  F. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  677 

Murray,  secretary  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  Association. 
At  the  close  of  Captain  Scott's  address  "America"  and 
"Auld  Lang  Syne"  were  sung. 

At  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
monument,  with  others  dedicated  on  that  day,  was  turned 
over  by  Colonel  Edward  J.  Russell  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  a 
veteran  of  the  Fifteenth  Mass.  Reg't.  Infantry,  and  a 
member  of  the  Governor's  Staff,  representing  His  Excel 
lency  Governor  George  D.  Robinson,  to  the  keeping  of  the 
Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association.  The  cere 
mony  took  place  in  the  hall  of  Corporal  Skelly  Post  9, 
G.  A.  R. 

At  the  exercises  at  the  Court  House,  after  the  decoration 
of  the  graves  of  the  Massachusetts  dead  in  the  National 
Cemetery,  the  following  message  from  Governor  Robinson 
was  read : — 

BOSTON,  Oct.  8,  1885. 
To  COLONEL  EDWARD  J.  RUSSELL,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Massachusetts  will  never  fail  to  appreciate  the  noble  heroism  and 
abundant  loyalty  of  her  soldiers  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg.  She  offers 
now  her  tenderest  tribute  of  reverence  to  the  memory  of  her  sons  who 
fell  there  in  defence  of  liberty  and  union. 

GEO.  D.  ROBINSON. 

The  band  played  "Home,  Sweet  Home."  Among  the 
speakers  was  Colonel  John  B.  Batchelder  of  Hyde  Park, 
Mass.,  the  Government  Historian  of  the  Battle  of  Gettys 
burg,  who  described  successively  the  movements  of  the 
Massachusetts  organizations  in  the  battle.  The  Memorial 
Association  was  represented  by  Mr.  David  H.  Buckler,  vice- 
president  of  the  organization.  At  5.30  the  exercises  closed 
with  the  singing  of  ^My  Country,  'tis  of  thee,"  and  thus 
ended  the  dedicatory  exercises  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
Monument  at  Gettysburg.  In  the  words  of  Lieut.  Edward 
M.  Knox,  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  in  his  address  at  the 


678  HISTORY    OF    THE 

dedication  of  the  I5th  N.  Y.  Ind.  Battery,  Hart's,  July  2, 

1888:— 

"Stand  here,  oh  block  of  granite 
Against  all  storms  of  time !" 

THE  HIGH-WATER  MARK. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Gettys 
burg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  May  10,  1891,  the 
board  approved  the  plan  for  a  large  tablet  at  the  "Copse  of 
Trees"  or  "High-Water  Mark,"  at  the  position  of  the 
Second  Corps,  Hancock  Avenue.  This  designation  of 
"high-water  mark"  was  applied  by  the  historian  William 
Swinton  in  his  "Prelude  to  Gettysburg,"  1867:— 

"Into  this  bunch  of  woods  a  few, — it  may  be  a  score  or  two, — of  the 
boldest  and  bravest  that  led  the  van  of  Pickett's  charging  column  on 
the  3d  of  July,  1863,  attained.  Thus  far  the  swelling  surge  of  invasion 
threw  its  spray,  dashing  itself  to  pieces  on  the  rocky  bulwark  of  North 
ern  valor.  Let  us  call  this  the  high-water  mark  of  the  rebellion." 

What  is  called  the  "bloody  angle"  was  the  angle  made 
by  Pickett's  line  crossing  the  two  stone  walls.  At  the 
northernmost  crossing  he  was  stopped.  This  was  the  "rocky 
bulwark"  upon  which  the  invasion  dashed  itself  to  pieces. 
The  corner  was  held  by  W^ebb's  Brigade  of  the  Second 
Corps,  July  3d,  1863. 

The  inscription  on  the  Right  Hand  Page  of  the  bronze 
book  is  as  follows : — 

"REPULSE  OF  LONGSTREET'S  ASSAULT. 

Longstreet's  assault  was  repulsed  by  Webb's,  Hall's,  and 
Harrow's  Brigade  of  Gibbon's  Division,  Second  Army 
Corps. 

Smyth's  and  Willard's  Brigades,  and  portions  of  Carroll's 
Brigade  of  Hay's  Division,  Second  Army  Corps,  and  the 
First  Massachusetts  Sharpshooters  (unattached). 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  679 

Portion  of  Rowley's  and  Stannard's  Brigades  of  Double- 
day's  Division,  First  Army  Corps. 

Hazard's  Second  Army  Corps  Artillery  Brigade  consist 
ing  of  Woodruff's,  Arnold's,  Cushing's,  Brown's  and 
Rorty's  Batteries,  assisted  on  the  right  by  Hill's,  Edgell's, 
Eakin's,  Bancroft's,  Dilger's,  and  Taft's  Batteries  on  Ceme 
tery  Hill  and  on  the  left  by 

Cowan's,  Fitzhugh's,  Parson's,  Wheeler's,  Thomas', 
Daniels'  and  Sterling's  Batteries  and  McGilvery's  Artillery 
Brigade,  consisting  of  Thompson's,  Phillips',  Hart's, 
Cooper's,  Dow's  and  Ames'  Batteries,  and  by  Hazlett's  Bat 
tery  on  Little  Round  Top  and  supported  by  Doubleday's 
Division  of  the  First  Army  Corps,  which  was  in  position  on 
the  immediate  left  of  the  troops  assaulted. 

The  Third  Army  Corps  moved  up  to  within  supporting 
distance  on  the  left,  and  Robinson's  Division  of  the  First 
Army  Corps  moved  into  position  to  support  the  right." 

INSCRIPTION  ON  HIGH-WATER  MARK  TABLET. 
Left  Hand  Page  :— 

"HIGH-WATER    MARK    OF    THE    REBELLION. 

This  copse  of  trees  was  the  Landmark  toward  which 
Longstreet's  Assault  was  Directed  July  3,  1863." 

Then  follow  the  names  of  the  organizations  composing 
the  assaulting  column  in  which  were  portions  of  4  Divisions 
of  Infantry,  and  43  batteries  of  Artillery. 

IMPRESSIONS  AFTER  MANY  YEARS. 

Captain  Nathan  Appleton,  in  a  note  dated  Boston,  Janu 
ary  29,  1901,  observes  in  relation  to  the  monuments: — 

"After  the  G.  A.  R.  encampment  at  Philadelphia  in  Sep 
tember,  1899,  I  made  the  trip  to  Gettysburg.  I  had  but 
very  little  time;  enough  to  see  the  monument  of  the  Fifth 


680  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mass.  Battery,  which  was  not  far  from  that  of  the  Ninth 
Mass.  Before  going-  to  them  I  stopped  at  the  High-Water 
Mark  Tablet,  and  saw  the  name  of  our  Battery  on  one  page 
of  the  bronze  book.  It  was,  of  course,  to  me  a  very  interest 
ing  occasion.  I  ordered  of  the  photographer  of  the  battle 
field  some  photographs  which  were  sent  me,  one  of  which 
is  now  with  the  other  illustrations  of  the  history  of  the 
Battery.  I  was  sorry  I  had  so  little  time  to  visit  the  historic 
field." 

Of  the  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg  Corporal  Thomas  E. 
Chase  writes  under  date  of  September  24,  1900,  soon  after 
his  visit : — 

"I  visited  the  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg  alone  at  five  a.  m., 
and  stood  by  the  graves  of  two  of  our  Battery  who  fell 
there,  and  my  thoughts  went  back  to  the  day  I  saw  them 
fall.  There  they  sleep,  in  those  acres  of  graves  and  monu 
ments, 

'Nor  couldst  thou  wish  couch  more  magnificent' 

'No  rumor  of  the  foe's  advance, 
Now  sweeps  upon  the  wind, 
No  troubled  thought  at  midnight  haunts, 
Of  loved  ones  left  behind.'  " 


FROM  GETTYSBURG  TO  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July,  it  was  ascertained  by  a  reconnois- 
sance  that  the  confederate  general  Lee  was  still  holding  a 
strong  position  in  the  Centre  of  the  line,  behind  his  fortifi 
cations  on  Seminary  Ridge,  and  had  wholly  withdrawn 
from  the  front  of  the  Right  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
He  was  slowly  withdrawing  his  Left  wing  which  menaced 
our  Right.  On  the  morning  of  July  5th  our  forces  became 
aware  that  the  rebels  were  in  full  retreat  by  the  Fairfield 
and  Chambersburg  roads,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  was  ordered 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  681 

down  the  Fairfield  road  in  pursuit  of  them  while  those  mak 
ing-  their  way  south  by  the  Cashtown  road  and  the  mountain 
passes,  were  looked  after  by  the  Union  cavalry. 

The  Right  flank  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  crossed 
the  Antietam  on  July  I2th.  The  rebels  abandoned  Hagers- 
town  as  Meade  came  up,  but  were  reported  to  be  standing 
at  bay,  being  strongly  posted  on  the  Hagerstown  and  Wil 
liamsport  road.  That  evening  General  Meade  held  a  coun 
cil  of  war  on  the  subject  of  attack  and  decided  in  the 
negative,  calling  forth  that  shrewd  remark,  by  telegraph,  of 
General  Halleck  after  having  been  informed  of  the  pro 
cedure. 

"It  is  proverbial  that  Councils  of  War  never  fight.  .  .  .  Do  not 
let  the  enemy  escape." 

July  1 3th  in  the  night  the  enemy  silently  stole  away  across 
the  Potomac  River  on  their  way  back  to  Virginia  and  during 
the  progress  south  of  both  armies  they  maintained  an  atti 
tude  of  watchfulness  towards  and  close  proximity  to  our 
troops;  an  attitude  which  was  preserved  after  each  had 
reached  the  southernmost  point  for  quite  ten  months  with 
never  a  pitched  battle,  nor  an  encounter  of  more  importance 
than  the  slight  trouble  at  Manassas  -Gap  where  Lee's  trains 
claimed  for  the  moment  the  right  of  way  and  then  once  more 
stole  away  in  the  gloaming. 

When  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  moved  across  country 
to  Williamsport,  said  to  be  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  but 
acknowledged  by  all  to  be  too  far  in  the  rear  to  be  able  to 
make  up  the  time  lost,  overtake  them  and  prevent  their 
going  wherever  they  felt  inclined^  Meade  had  no  troops  at 
his  command  which  he  could  use  to-  head  them  off;  Wash 
ington  still  requiring  the  same  number  for  protection.  Yet, 
although  the  army  lacked  the  stimulus  of  a  sure  prospect 
of  soon  overtaking  the  flying  foe,  the  future  with  its  hope 
deferred  cast  no  shadows  before,  and  it  is  said  that  between 
the  Antietam  and  Williamsport  crossing  the  open  country 


(582  HISTORY    OF    THE 

its  columns  produced  one  of  those  magnificent  scenic  effects 
so  often  described  but  so  rarely  seen,  of  a  triumphant  army 
moving  in  "battle  array/'  each  Corps,  Division,  Brigade 
and  battery  in  line  with  colors  flying  and  bayonets  gleaming 
in  the  sun;  in  the  centre  moving  on  two*  parallel  roads,  the 
red  artillery  ready  for  instant  action. 

The  Army,  like  an  immense  glacier,  swept  everything 
before  it,  leaving  nothing  standing  that  it  could  conveniently 
convert  into  use  for  man  or  beast,  tearing  away  every 
fence  and  wall,  every  stalk  of  ripe  grain  growing  in  the 
great  fields.  Desolation  they  left  behind  them,  and  in  their 
hearts  as  they  approached  once  more  the  great  river,  the 
painful  realization  that  there  was  nothing  to  which  to  look 
forward  in  the  way  of  that  decisive  action,  which  was  so 
earnestly  desired  to  end  the  war,  nothing  but  to  march  on. 

They  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Berlin,  taking  the  course 
down  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge  to  Manassas  Gap, 
and  after  a  short  stop  and  fight  there  pushed  on  by  way  of 
Warrenton  to  the  Rappahannock  River,  having  the  rebel 
army  abreast  of  them  most  of  the  time,  till  they  all  settled 
down  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers  in  the  vicinity  of  Fredericks- 
burg. 

In  the  mean  time  the  fires  of  southern  invasion  having 
been  stamped  out  in  Pennsylvania  broke  out  more  fiercely 
farther  north.  There  was  actual  riot  and  the  presence  of 
concealed  arms  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  sufficient 
cause  for  anxiety  in  Boston  to  warrant  the  taking  of  pre 
cautionary  measures  by  the  Governor  of  the  Common 
wealth.  On  July  1 4th,  three  days  after  the  triumphant 
march  across  country,  bound  south,  the  New  York  Seventh 
Regiment  then  at  Frederick  City  Md.,  was  ordered  to  New 
York  to  report  to  Major-General  Wool  at  the  St.  Nicholas 
Hotel,  for  the  purpose  of  suppressing  the  riot.  The  situa 
tion  was  so  critical  that  the  regiment  was  transported  via 
Amboy,  an  intimation  having  been  received  that  the  rails 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  683 

would  be  taken  up  at  or  near  Newark.  There  was  a  grow 
ing  discontent  in  the  North  with  the  methods  of  the  leaders 
at  Washington  and  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Army,  and 
this  feeling  was  reflected  in  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Army 
to  an  alarming  extent.  It  was  reported  that  5000  men 
deserted  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  between  May  and  August, 
1863.  Other  offenses,  such  as  insubordination,  sleeping  on 
post,  robberies  and  murders  of  comrades,  officers,  and  civil 
ians  were  tried  before  courts-martial,  which  were  ordered 
to  convene  in  every  Division.  The  sentences  for  desertion 
when  reviewed  by  the  President  were  in  most  cases  com 
muted  from  orders  for  execution  to  hard  labor  for  six 
months  or  two  years,  forfeiture  of  three  months'  pay,  or 
making  good  the  time  lost  by  desertion.  On  July  i6th  the 
War  Department  issued  the  following  order : — 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  July  16,   1863. 
General   Orders 

No.   222 

The  reward  of  five  dollars,  with  transportation  and  reasonable  ex 
penses,  for  the  arrest  and  delivery  at  the  nearest  military  post  or  depot, 
of  any  officer  or  private  soldier,  fit  for  duty,  who  may  be  found  absent 
from  his  command  without  just  cause  is  hereby  increased  to  ten  dol 
lars. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Now  let  the  officers  and  men  resume  the  story  of  the 
Battery  :— 

THE  MARCH  BACK. 

July  4,  1,863.  Rainy.  The  Battery  was  ordered  to  the 
rear  to  unhitch  and  rest.  Marched  about  4  p.  m.  July  5th 
across  the  river  to  Littlestown  having  drawn  12  new  horses. 
Abandoned  two  horses.  Arrived  about  ten  o'clock.  Still 


684  HISTORY    OF    THE 

raining.  Serg't  Peacock  wrote  home : — "The  mud  is  awful; 
everything  wet  through  and  no  dry  clothing.  I  hope  the 
next  fight  will  end  the  war." 

When  the  men  hitched  up  on  the  5th,  it  was  supposed 
that  the  object  was  to  find  a  better  camp,  but  we  found 
a  worse  one.  Remained  in  camp  at  Littlestown  all  day 
and  night.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  we  were  turned 
out  at  3  o'clock  and  left  at  5  a.  m.  Marched  toward 
Frederick,  Md.,  by  way  of  Taneytown,  and  camped  for  the 
night  about  3  miles  south  of  Woodboro.  Passed  through 
Littlestown,  Taneytown,  Woodboro,  etc.,  and  about  ten 
o'clock  turned  off  the  road  into  a  field  and  went  into  park 
at  five  yards  intervals.  Unhitched  and  unharnessed  and 
fed  with  hay,  watered,  made  coffee,  and  turned  in  for  the 
night.  Raining  harcL 

July  8,  1863.  Morning.  Raining  tremendously.  We 
had  roll  and  water  call,  then  looked  out  for  ourselves.  At 
10  a.  m.  orders  came  to  hitch  up,  which  after  some  growling 
we  did  in  all  the  rain,  and  left  for  Frederick  City,  reaching 
our  old  camping  ground  of  June  27th  about  noon.  Pitched 
our  tents  and  intended  stopping  there  for  some  time. 

ONE  OF  THE  WOUNDED. 

From  Corporal  Chase's  Diary: — "July  8,  1863.  My  arm 
doing  very  well.  Boiled  meat  and  broth  for  dinner;  beef 
tea  instead  of  coffee  or  tea  for  supper.  Weather  cool  and 
comfortable. 

July  9.  Packed  up,  and  all  those  who  were  able  walked 
to  Gettysburg  to  await  transportation.  Arrived  at  Get 
tysburg  about  10  a.  m.  Saw  about  100  rebel  prison 
ers.  Received  refreshments  from  the  Christian  Commis 
sion.  The  people  are  all  very  kind,  and  welcomed  us 
heartily.  Left  Gettysburg  at  5  p.  m.  A  very  long  train 
of  cars  loaded  to  their  utmost  with  every  form  of  mutilated 
humanity.  Left  on  the  Hanover  Branch  of  the  Northern 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  685 

Central  R.  R.,  passed  through  Little  Oxford,  Hanover,  and 
Rock  Glen.  Weather  very  warm  p.  m.  About  thirteen  car 
loads  of  wounded  soldiers  in  the  train.  Many  citizens 
aboard  who  had  been  up  to  see  the  field! 

July  10,  1863.  On  the  railroad  all  last  night,  no  sleep. 
Arrived  in  Baltimore  just  at  sunrise.  Cars  halted  in  the 
street  for  about  three  hours,  and  were  pulled  by  horses 
through  Central  Avenue.  We  finally  halted  and  had  a 
plentiful  supply  of  refreshments, — bread,  meat,  coffee, 
lemonade,  etc.,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  Vol.  Citizens  Hos 
pital,  near  Union  dock,  West's  building,  where  we  had  our 
wounds  dressed.  Left  the  hospital  about  i  p.  m.,  and  took 
cars  for  Philadelphia.  Left  Baltimore  about  3  p.  m.  Fell  in 
with  the  5th  Del.  Reg't.  at  Havre  de  Grace.  Heartily  wel 
comed  and  very  kindly  treated  by  the  people  on  the  route. 
Refreshments  quite  abundant,  and  even  the  little  boys  as  busy 
as  beavers  filling  our  canteens.  The  people  of  Wilmington 
Del.,  gave  us  a  very  enthusiastic  welcome;  coming  out  liber 
ally  with  refreshments  and  kind  words  and  deeds.  Train 
drove  at  a  furious  rate,  and  reached  Philadelphia  at  half- 
past  ten  p.  m.  Went  into  the  Citizens  Vol.  Hospital  just 
in  front  of  the  depot,  and  were  provided  with  a  good 
supper  and  a  comfortable  bed.  Quite  a  pleasant  ride  today. 
Weather  warm  but  not  uncomfortable. 

July  n,  1863.  A  comfortable  night's  rest  last  night, 
a  good  breakfast  of  soup,  flour  bread,  butter,  and  coffee 
this  morning.  Left  the  Citizens  Volunteer  Hospital  about 
i  p.  m.,  and  went  to  the  U.  S.  A.  General  Hospital, — 'Sum 
mit'  house, — on  the  Darby  road.  Took  bed  14  in  the  ist 
Ward.  Took  a  bath,  changed  all  my  'sojer'  clothes  for  the 
ghostly  garb  of  an  invalid.  'Ward  One'  intended  for  87 
beds,  but  'business'  is  so  'driving'  that  about  100  were 
crowded  in.  The  whole  number  of  patients  in  the  entire 
hospital  650  tonight,  one  hundred  more  than  the  hospital  is 
intended  to  accommodate.  Weather  very  warm. 


686  HISTORY    OF    THE 

July  12,  1863.  Sunday.  'Brushed  up,'  and  obtained  a 
'pass'  until  9  p.  m.  Left  after  dinner  and  took  a  walk  around 
'the  suburbs,'  and  returned  just  at  tea  time.  A  comfortable 
night's  rest  on  a  comfortable  bed  last  night.  Weather  to 
day  warm.  My  wound  doing  very  well. 

July  13.  In  quarters  all  day.  Wrote  three  letters. 
Weather  cool,  cloudy,  and  comfortable. 

July  14.  Obtained  a  'pass'  and  went  to  the  city  a.  m. 
with  W.  H.  Shrove  of  the  I2th  U.  S.  I.  and  Morris  Clark 
4Oth  New  York.,  Went  through  the  city  from  the  Schuyl- 
kill  to  the  Delaware,  and  passed  through  some  of  the  prin 
cipal  streets.  The  people  treated  us  like  heroes,  and  our 
trip  was  a  pleasant  one.  Returned  to  Summit  House  about 

5  P-  m- 

News  of  a  great  riot  in  New  York  City. 

July  15,  1863.  News  this,  morning  of  the  fall  of  Port 
Hudson.  Remained  in  quarters  all  day. 

July  1 6.  Took  a  walk  about  two  miles  on  the  Darby 
road  p.  m.  All  the  patients  allowed  a  'pass'  until  5  p.  m. 
same  as  yesterday. 

July  20,  1863.  Obtained  a  'pass'  and  went  to  the  city 
about  10  a.  m.,  returned  about  half  past  5  p.  m.  Visited 
Independence  Hall,  and  was  very  much  interested  in  the 
antiquities  there.  Bought  a  blouse  for  $3.25  and  a  cap  for 
$1.12.  Weather  very  fine. 

July  2 1  st.  In  quarters  all  day.  Sent  a  recommendation 
for  a  furlough.  22d.  Received  a  furlough  for  15  days. 

July  23.  Went  to  the  New  England  Association  Rooms 
and  obtained  transportation  to  New  York.  Left  Phila 
delphia  at  ii  a.  m.  and  arrived  in  New  York  at  2  p.  m. 
Procured  transportation  to  Boston  by  the  Stonington  line 
from  U.  S.  Quartermaster.  Left  New  York  in  the  steamer 
'Commonwealth'  at  5  p.  m.  A  very  smooth  passage 
through  the  sound.  Berth  164. 

July  24,  1863.     Arrived  in  Roxbury  at  6  a.  m." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  687 

Corporal  Chase  was  sent  from  Philadelphia  to  the  con 
valescent  camp  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  later  was  placed 
on  detached  duty  there  when  it  was  made  a  camp  of  distri 
bution,  and  remained  on  duty  there  until  discharged  at  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  December  14,  1864. 

THE  CAMP  AT  FREDERICK  CITY. 

July  9,  1863.  Ordered  to  hitch  up  this  morning  at  7 
a.  m.  Got  into  column.  Marched  at  12  o'clock  through 
Frederick  City  on  to  Boonsboro'  and  a  mile  beyond  where 
we  found  ourselves  outside  the  picket  lines;  came  back  and 
went  into  park  half  a  mile  this  side,  at  the  foot  of  South 
Mountain  Pass.  It  being  7  o'clock  in  the  evening  we 
watered,  fed  with  hay  and  turned  in.  Most  of  the  Army 
was  in  our  vicinity. 

On  the  loth  the  Battery  was  ordered  to  join  the  Artillery 
Brigade  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  commanded  by  Captain  Augus 
tus  P.  Martin. 

Turned  out  at  daylight,  fed  the  horses  and  hitched  up. 
Marched  at  8  a.  m.  and  overtook  the  Corps  at  Delaware 
Mills  on  the  Williamsport  road.  Came  up  and  went  into 
line  at  2  p.  m.  Parked  just  across  Antietam  Creek.  Third 
Mass.  Battery  in  position  58  yards  in  our  front.  No  firing 
occurred  here  during  the  day,  but  firing  was  heard  about 
1 1  on  our  right.  Marched  to  Roxbury  Mills  at  4  p.  m. 

July  n,  1863,  the  Fifth  Corps  formed  line  of  battle  and 
advanced  in  line  across  the  fields  about  a  mile  (see  p.  682 
"In  Battle  Array"),  and  threw  out  skirmishers,  but  finding 
no  Rebs  made  short  advances  and  long  halts  during  the 
day.  When  the  Fifth  Corps  formed  in  line  and  we  left 
park  at  8  a.  m.,  we  took  position  on  the  right  of  our  old 
position,  about  one  mile,  on  a  line  with  the  Third  Mass. 
Battery.  Not  having  fired  a  gun  we  left  here  about  3  p.  m., 
and  advanced  with  the  Corps  3^  miles.  We  then  took 
another  position,  unharnessed,  fed  with  clover  and  turned 
in.  The  morning  of  July  I2th  was  misty.  We  left  park 


688  HISTORY    OF    THE 

about  ii  o'clock  a.  m.,  advanced  about  a  mile,  were  then 
moved  by  the  left  flank  a  mile  or  two,  and  halted  in  a 
large  field.  It  rained  in  torrents  for  an  hour  while  we 
stopped.  While  in  the  field  we  took  on  some  grain.  Soon 
after  started  again,  and  went  into  park  for  the  night. 
Unharnessed,  then  went  foraging  for  the  horses.  We  are 
all  badly  fatigued,  with  our  marches  and  battles.  Since 
the  1 3th  of  June,  (1863)  we  had  marched  two  hundred 
miles,  much  of  the  way  over  bad  mountain  roads,  and  have 
had  rainy  weather  nearly  one-third  of  the  time. 

July  13,  1863.  The  Rebs  are  reported  to  be  evacuating, 
but  we  are  not  doing  anything  to  find  out.  Turned  out 
this  morning  at  2  o'clock.  No  breakfast  for  the  men. 
Captain  awfully  angry.  Left  and  took  position  at  day 
light  a  little  farther  to>  the  right  in  an  open  lot,  rather  ex 
posed.  Hon.  Henry  Wilson  came  along.  No  firing  oc 
curred  during  the  day.  One  wounded  horse  abandoned. 
At  night  we  unharnessed,  watered,  cleaned  and  fed;  then 
turned  in.  Commenced  raining  about  8^  p.  m. ;  continued 
to  do  so  at  intervals  through  the  night.  The  next  day  at 
noon  we  advanced  to  near  Falling  Water,  i^  miles  of 
Downsville  within  the  enemy's  lines  and  drew  up  into  line. 
Finding  no  enemy  went  into  park  and  made  ourselves  com 
fortable  for  the  night.  General  Lee  had  crossed  the  river 
early  that  morning. 

July  1 5th  we  turned  out  at  half  past  three  a.  m.  and  left 
at  4.  Marched  all  day,  through  Keedysville,  crossed  South 
Mountain  by  the  Middletown  pike,  returning  over  the  same 
road  we  travelled  the  day  before.  Passed  through  Deacons- 
ville  and  over  the  mountains  into  Middletown  valley,  and 
about  5  o'clock  went  into  park  near  Burkittsville.  Watered 
and  went  after  hay,  then  fed  and  cleaned  off.  After  a  while 
we  eat  supper  and  turned  in  for  the  night.  A  very  hard 
day's  work.  Abandoned  six  horses. 

July  1 6.     Aroused  about  half  past  three  and  got  started 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  689 

about  five,  then  marched  about  5^  miles  through  Middle- 
town  and  Burkittsville  to  one  mile  from  Berlin,  Md.,  and 
within  about  four  miles  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Here  we  made 
camp,  pitched  tents,  etc.  Horses  pretty  well  played  out. 
Officers  and  men  pretty  tired. 

Harnessed  up  about  4  o'clock  p.  m.  on  Friday,  July  i7th. 
Left  park,  crossed  the  Potomac  with  the  Fifth  Corps,  and 
encamped  a  mile  or  so  from  the  river  at  Lovettsville.  River 
high.  Seventy-three  pontoons  in  the  bridge.  The  entire 
Army  crossed  in  three  columns,  which  from  the  high 
ground  on  either  side  presented  an  imposing  array.  Halted 
for  the  night  at  Lovettsville. 

July  1 8th  we  turned  out  at  2\  a.  m.  and  left  soon  after. 
Marched  about  9  miles,  through  Bowlersville,  and  went  into 
camp  at  n  a.  m.  near  Wheatland,  and  pitched  our  tents. 
Twenty-five  horses  were  brought  up  by  a  squad  of  men  left 
behind  at  Berlin,  which  made  a  welcome  addition  to  our 
number.  Some  of  the  teams  had  to  be  cut  down  to  four 
horses  at  this  time,  and  the  sergeants  were  dismounted. 
We  were  marching  very  rapidly.  Fifteen  miles  a  day  was 
called  good  marching,  but  during  this  campaign  we  had 
marched  fifty  miles  in  forty-three  hours. 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

HD.  QRS.  BATTERY  E, 

MASS.  ART'Y, 

July  1 8,  1863. 

In  compliance  with  circular  of  July  i6th  from  Inspector 
Gen'l's  Office  A.  P.,  I  respectfully  report: — 

Present  July  i6th,  4  officers,  99  men. 

Lost,  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  i  officer  wounded,  4  men 
killed,  1 6  wounded,  horses  killed  40,  wounded  and  since 
died  and  abandoned  9. 

My  Ordnance  requisition  in  possession  of  Lieut.  Follett 


690  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Ord.  Off.  gives  all  the  ordnance  required  absolutely  neces 
sary,  4  sets  Lead  Harness. 

On  hand,  101  serviceable  art'y  horses,  12  quartermaster 
horses,  3  four  horse  wagons,  13  unserviceable  art'y  horses, 
mostly  wounded. 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS, 

Capt.  Battery  E. 

Mass.  Art'y. 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN   PHILLIPS. 

HD.  QUARTERS  BATTERY  E, 

MASS.  ART'Y., 

July  1 8,   1863. 
LIEUT.  P.  F.  NASON,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Lieutenant. 

In  compliance  with  circular  of  July  i/th  Hd.  Qrs.  A.  P., 
I  respectfully  report  my  men  in  good  physical  condition, 
there  being  only  one  case  of  sickness,  and  that  slight. 

I  have  101  good  serviceable  artillery  horses,  and  am  in 
good  condition  for  a  march. 

I  am  very  Respectfully 

Your  ob't.  serv't, 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS,  Capt., 

Battery  E,  Mass.  Art'y. 


Sunday,  July  19,  1863.  Turned  out  at  3  o'clock  a.  m., 
hitched  up  and  started  about  6.  Marched  with  the  Fifth 
Corps  through  and  4  miles  beyond  Unionville,  and  went 
into  camp  at  ten  o'clock  near  Purcellsville.  Turned  in 
about  8  p.  m.  Corporal  Shackley  recorded  his  opinion  on 
this  day  that — "It  was  a  great  mistake  that  we  did  not 
attack  the  Rebs  on  Monday  (July  6),  for  I  believe  we 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  691 

should  have  destroyed  Lee's  army.  But  perhaps  it  is  all  for 
the  best,  though  it  is  hard  to  think  so." 

July  20.  Marched  at  sunrise,  passed  Watson's  Mills, 
Valley  Mills,  Uniontown,  Greenville  Mills,  and  parked  near 
Rectortown  on  a  hill. 

July  21.  Received  10  men  from  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S. 
Artillery.  The  next  day  inspection  was  ordered  for  2.30 
p.  m.,  and  harnesses  and  carriages  were  washed,  but  at 
12  m.  we  had  orders  to  pack  up,  and  in  50  minutes  we  were 
on  the  road.  Marched  to  near  Rectortown  over  good  roads. 
Blackberries  very  thick.  Went  into  camp  for  the  night. 
Some  of  the  men  had  fried  confiscated  sheep  for  supper. 

RETURNS  OF  BATTERY  E,  MASS.  ART'Y,  JULY 

22,  1863. 

Number  of  men  on  the  rolls 117 

"      "    present 86 

required  to  fill  the  Battery 30 

Number  of  men  temporarily  attached  from  loth 

N.  Y.  Ind'p't  Battery    17 

present 14 

Number  of  men  temporarily  attached  from  vari 
ous  regiments   10 

present 10 

CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS,  Capt. 

Battery  E,  Mass.  Art'y. 


THE  FIGHT  AT  MANASSAS  GAP. 

July  23,  1863,  we  left  Rectortown  with  the  Fifth  Corps 
at  5  a.  m.,  passed  through  Piedmont  and  by  a  station  on 
the  Manassas  railroad  and  went  into  camp  at  3  o'clock  in 
Manassas  Gap  for  the  night.  The  roads  were  rocky  and 
very  bad.  Wagons  were  left  behind.  The  Third  Corps 


692  HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  ahead  of  us.  There  was  some  fighting  in  the  distance, 
and  we  stood  watching  the  infantry  manoeuvre  with  the 
enemy.  In  about  an  hour  we  moved  ahead  about  200 
yards,  unharnessed  and  lay  down  under  the  open  canopy 
of  heaven  and  went  to  sleep.  Two  horses  were  abandoned. 

The  next  day  we  advanced  about  one  mile  into  the  Gap, 
and  went  into  line  with  the  expectation  of  fighting,  but 
after  some  hours'  delay,  returned  to  our  last  halting  place 
for  the  night.  Saw  seven  dead  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  25th  we  left  the  Gap  at  4  a.  m.,  turned  to  the 
right,  passed  over  the  mountains  and  went  back  to  a  place 
called  Orleans,  on  the. way  to  Warrenton  via  Farrelsville 
and  Barbour's  Cross  Roads.  Here  we  encamped  again  for 
the  night  having  made  about  1 5  miles.  A  caisson  in  Lieut. 
Rittenhouse's  Battery  blew  up  ahead  of  us.  (This  was  Bat 
tery  D,  5th  U.  S.) 

July  26th.  Marched  through  Orleans  to  within  three 
miles  of  Warrenton,  and  went  into  camp  to  stop  all  night. 
During  the  week  we  had  passed  over  many  miles  of  road 
bordered  by  blackberry  bushes,  loaded  with  most  delicious 
berries,  which  were  better  than  medicine  for  the  men. 
Abandoned  two  horses. 

July  27.  Called  up  at  3.30  a.  m.  The  men  made  coffee, 
fried  steak,  eat  breakfast  and  then  marched  about  5  miles 
through  Warrenton  to  about  three  miles  beyond,  and 
camped.  Abandoned  2  horses,  turned  in  eight.  Here  we 
received  many  supplies  which  we  much  needed.  (In  July, 
1863,  Monocacy  Junction,  Md.  was  made  the  grand  depot 
for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. ) 

July  28th.  Routed  out  again  about  the  usual  hour.  Had 
fried  fresh  pork  for  breakfast  and  went  blackberrying.  Re 
mained  in  camp  in  a  large  field  surrounded  by  the  5  bat 
teries  of  the  Art'y  Brigade  until  Aug.  3d.  Weather  very 
hot.  Received  25  horses  July  30.  The  men  had  stewed 
beans  for  dinner.  About  this  time  a  subscription  was  made 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  693 

and  some  brass  musical  instruments  were  procured,  and  a 
few  of  the  men  practised  under  the  leadership  of  Bugler 
James  Winters.  Lack  of  facilities,  however,  prevented  the 
attainment  of  any  important  results.  It  was  on  July  3ist 
that  the  brass  instruments  for  the  Band  came  to  the  Battery. 
On  that  day  Lieut.  Scott,  absent  on  leave  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
made  the  following  entry  in  his  diary : — 

"Friday,  July  31,  1863.  Lieut.  Lull  discharged  to  receive 
a  captain's  commission  in  Heavy  Artillery. 

Officers  of  Battery   (Fifth  Mass.) 

Phillips,  Captain. 

Scott  Lieut,   ist  Senior. 

Blake       "       "     Junior. 

Spear       "      2d  Senior. 

Appleton "       "     Junior." 

LIEUT.   FREDERICK  A.   LULL. 

Lieut.  Frederick  A.  Lull  became  captain  of  Company  K, 
Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  which  had  just  been  re 
cruited,  July  31,  1863,  and  on  December  15,  1863,  Serg't. 
Otis  B.  Smith,  having  been  discharged  for  promotion,  was 
commissioned  First  Lieutenant  in  the  same  company,  serv 
ing  at  various  points  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

Captain  Lull  died  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  March  22,  1893, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Cambridge  Cemetery. 


There  was  a  Battery  inspection  August  2,  1863,  in  the 
forenoon.  On  Sunday  the  3d,  we,  with  the  Artillery 
Brigade  hitched  up  and  moved  camp  a  little  to  the  left  of 
our  old  position.  Weather  very  hot.  All  busy  fitting  up 
camp,  building  arbors  and  stables,  preparing  for  a  long 
stay,  but  at  night  marching  orders  came,  and  we  marched 
till  one  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  went  into  camp,  but 
moved  it  later  in  the  day  to  a  place  selected  for  us  by 


694  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Captain  A.  P.  Martin  about  4  miles  from  Bealton,  which 
we  laid  out  in  good  style,  putting  up  an  arbor  over  the 
street  between  the  tents.  Soft  bread  for  supper. 

August  7,  1863,  there  was  a  heavy  rain  and  our  arbor 
fell  in  about  half  past  six  o'clock  p.  m.  and  smashed  in  all 
the  tents  on  the  lower  side.  Private  John  E.  Dyer  being  in 
one  it  came  near  smashing  him.  Three  beams  fell  on  him. 

August  8,  1863,  we  were  turned  out  in  the  morning  by 
the  welcome  sound  of  pack  up  and  hitch  up.  Without  any 
hurry  we  broke  camp  at  7  a.  m.,  and  left  at  the  head  of  the 
line  of  batteries.  Marched  to  Beverly  Ford  to  guard  the 
crossing  of  the  Rappahannock  River  where  the  2d  Division 
had  been  for  three  days.  We  took  position  on  the  banks 
of  the  river;  four  of  the  pieces,  the  Right  and  Centre  sec 
tions,  in  breastworks. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
THE    BATTLE    OF    RAPPAHAXXOCK    STATION. 

BY  WAY  OF 
THE  FIGHT  AT  BRISTOE,  X'OVEMBER  7,  1863. 

''For  we  shall  still  find  Hope  shining,  be  it  for  fond  invitation,  be 
it  for  anger  and  menace;  as  a  mild,  heavenly  light  it  shone;  as  a  red 
conflagration  it  shines;  .  .  .  and  goes  not  out  at  all,  since  Desperation 
itself  is  a  kind  of  Hope." 

—THOMAS  CARLYLE. 

Thus  the  opposing  armies  gradually  settled  down  in  their 
various  positions  assuming  an  attitude  of  mutual  watchful 
ness.  All  along  the  line  of  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
Railroad,  and  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  lay 
the  Union  army,  the  Fifth  Corps  in  a  position  to  control 
Beverly  Ford.  Their  opponents  were  stationed  at  Kelly's 
Ford  on  the  Rappahannock;  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Stephensburg  and  Culpeper,  with  a  large  force  at  Madison 
Court  House  and  at  Gordonsville  the  junction  of  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  and  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad;  a  Divi 
sion  of  cavalry  at  Chancellorsville;  an  infantry  Brigade 
and  a  Battery  of  artillery  at  Fredericksburg. 

There  was  discontent,  discouragement,  and  dissatisfaction 
in  both  armies,  and  disagreement,  disparagement,  doubt  and 
recrimination  among  the  chiefs  in  the  councils  on  both  sides. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  having  been  informed 
that  a  portion  of  the  rebel  army  had  been  detached  and  sent 
to  Tennessee,  urged  upon  General  Halleck  an  immediate 
move  upon  Lee's  forces  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

695 


696  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Notes  and  Letters  of  Captain  Charles  A.  Phillips,  Lieuts. 
Henry  D.  Scott,  Peleg  W.  Blake  and  Nathan  Appleton, 
Sergt.  William  H.  Peacock,  Corp'l  Jonas  Shackley,  Private? 
John  E.  Dyer  and  Louis  E.  Pattison. 


August  9,  1863,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock  at 
Beverly  Ford.  The  horses  of  the  Battery  were  grazing  for 
three  quarters  of  an  hour  in  the  morning  and  the  men  eat 
soft  tack  and  apple  sauce  for  supper.  The  pontoon  bridge, 
which  was  laid  the  previous  day  for  a  Brigade  of  the  Second 
Division  of  the  First  Corps  to  cross  the  river,  was  taken  up, 
the  Brigade  having  returned.  The  enemy's  cavalry  pickets 
were  in  the  woods  on  the  other  side. 

August  loth,  in  the  morning  there  was  a  short  drill  on 
the  manual  of  the  piece.  Four  of  the  guns  were  in  earth 
works  erected  two  months  previous,  but  the  other  two  were 
unprotected.  From  the  hill  on  which  the  Battery  was  en 
camped,  about  half  a  mile  below  the  head  of  the  Rappahan 
nock  River  they  could  see  for  a  mile  beyond  the  river's 
bank,  and  catch  a  glimpse  occasionally  of  the  enemy's  cavalry 
pickets  in  the  edge  of  the  woods.  They  were  on  one  of 
General  Pope's  battlegrounds,  and  there  were  no  trees  to 
shade  the  camp.  The  heat  through  the  day  was  intense,  but 
the  nights  were  cool,  and  there  was  a  heavy  dew  which  did 
not  disappear  before  7  o'clock  a.  m.  Flies  and  mosquitoes 
were  not  as  thick  as  at  Harrison's  Landing,  but  numberless 
grasshoppers  and  crickets  hopped  about  cheerfully  by  day/ 
and  crept  over  the  sleepers  by  night. 

August  1 2th  it  rained,  and  Dyer  went  down  to  Ben. 
West's  wagon  to  sleep,  as  the  water  ran  under  his  tent  in  a 
steady  stream. 

August  1 6th  and  I7th,  1863,  the  Battery  was  inspected 
by  Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin  and  staff  in  an  adjoining 
field,  after  which  they  drilled  some  in  his  presence.  There 
was  a  fine  breeze  at  i  p.  m. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  697 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.   BLAKE. 

"BEVERLY  FORD,  RAPPAHANNOCK  RIVER, 

Aug.  1 6,  1863. 

Pickets  are  being  thrown  across  the  river  today.  The 
Second  Army  Corps  has  started  for  Washington.  .  .  .  We 
are  under  marching  orders.  Three  days'  rations  cooked,  to 
be  kept  on  hand.  It  is  very  hot  weather  here,  but  I  manage 
to  keep  quite  comfortable  by  keeping  in  the  shade  and  doing 
nothing  but  sleeping  and  smoking. 

How  do  the  drafted  like  their  new  occupation?  Have 
they  all  got  substitutes?  There  were  three  hundred  con 
scripts  came  into  our  Corps  last  week.  Out  of  the  three 
hundred,  two  hundred  and  ninety-nine  were  substitutes. 
One  drafted  man!  There  is  not  much  raised  in  this  coun 
try,  and  it  is  very  rough  on  an  army  that  has  to  depend  on 
what  they  can  forage,  when  there  is  nothing  to  forage." 


We  had  Battery  drill  now  every  day.  In  a  letter  by  Cap 
tain  Phillips,  dated  August  20,  1863,  speaking  of  the  in 
spection  of  the  1 7th,  he  said: — 

"While  I  was  waiting  for  Captain  Martin,  Gen.  Sykes 
rode  by  and  put  me  through  an  informal  inspection.  1 
think  however,  that  we  can  stand  being  looked  at,  and  I 
am  willing  to  stand  a  comparison  with  any  other  battery 
in  the  army. 

I  am  happy  to  state  that  there  is  a  cornfield  close  by,  and 
we  can  have  an  occasional  meal  of  green  corn  as  well  as 
you. 

We  have  a  table  to  eat  on,  and  when  this  is  set  off  by  our 
table  cloth,  cups  and  saucers,  we  really  look  quite  civilized. 

Blackberries  are  among  the  things  that  were.  Our  great 
luxury  nowadays  is  a  swim  in  the  Rappahannock,  albeit  it 
is  outside  the  picket  lines." 


698  HISTORY    OF    THE 

LETTER  OF  SERG'T.   PEACOCK. 

CAMP  AT  BEVERLY  FORD,  VA. 

Aug.  20,  1863. 

"We  had  a  hard  time  of  it  on  our  march  from  Gettysburg 
to  Warrenton;  over  50  horses  dead  on  the  road,  mostly 
from  exhaustion,  and  from  the  time  we  left  Falmouth,  June 
1 3th  to  our  arrival  at  this  place,  we  lost  over  one  hundred 
horses,  7  men  killed,  and  15  wounded,  with  many  left  sick 
at  hospitals,  and  on  the  road.  Our  Battery  here  is  behind 
breastworks,  guarding  the  Ford,  but  we  are  under  marching 
orders,  and  expect  to  move  at  any  moment.  It  is  reported 
the  enemy  is  falling  back." 


Aug.  21,  1863,  William  F.  Nye  came  to  camp  with  a  few 
stores,  and  Lieut.  F.  A.  Lull  left,  to  be  captain  of  another 
battery.  24th,  Joseph  Alton  came  back  from  the  Hospital. 
27th,  Three  of  the  old  men  and  one  recruit  arrived  at  the 
Battery.  28th  was  the  anniversary  of  2d  Bull  Run.  29th, 
Five  deserters  were  shot,  and  the  Fifth  Corps  was  paraded 
to  witness  the  execution.  [They  were  said  to  have  deserted 
from  the  n8th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  but  Lieut.-Col. 
William  H.  Powell,  historian  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  is  authority 
for  saying  that  although  assigned  to  it  they  had  never  joined 
any  regiment,  so  that  that  organization  should  not  have  the 
obloquy  forever  attached  to  it.  It  was  said  that  one  of  them 
had  enlisted  12  times.]  On  the  same  day  three  hundred 
conscripts  arrived  from  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  it  was 
thought,  the  weather  being  good  for  marching,  that  the 
army  was  waiting  for  the  required  number  of  conscripts  to 
arrive. 

August  31,  1863,  Second  Lieutenant  Nathan  Appleton 
arrived  from  Boston  in  the  evening,  and  joined  the  Battery. 
Dyer's  Diary  mentions  him  as  "a  new  lieutenant." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  699 

LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  LETTER  HOME. 

"CAMP  BY  BEVERLY  FORD, 

Sept.  i,  1863. 
Tuesday  Morning. 

Here  I  am,  at  last,  actually  a  soldier  in  camp.  I  hoped  to 
get  here  by  last  Saturday,  but  my  horses  only  got  in  Wash 
ington  then,  so  that  I  waited  until  Monday  to  start  for  the 
front.  The  time  was  passed  in  Washington  quite  pleas 
antly.  I  met  one  or  two  classmates,  saw  the  Abercrombies, 
dined  one  day  with  Pelham  Curtis  at  the  Engineer  Brigade, 
loafed  around  town,  etc. 

Early  yesterday  morning  I  left  Washington  with  horses, 
man,  and  baggage,  en  route  for  camp.  Such  confusion  as  a 
government  railroad  is!  I  got  down  as  far  as  Warrenton 
Junction  all  right,  having  bade  good  bye  to  Locklyn,  who 
brought  the  horses  on  from  Boston,  at  Alexandria,  and  there 
I  was  told  that  I  could  not  get  my  horses  on  any  farther.  I 
sent  my  trunk  on  to  Bealton.  Joe,  my  colored  servant,  and 
myself  mounted  our  steeds  and  proceeded  to  find  our  way 
to  camp. 

The  country  around  showed  the  devastations  of  war. 
Dead  horses  and  mules,  the  remains  of  burnt  cars,  broken 
wagons,  &c.  &c.,  occasionally  meeting  the  view.  We  fol 
lowed  up  the  railroad  as  far  as  Bealton,  and  there  struck  out 
for  the  camp  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  We  rode  along 
until  finally  I  came  up  to  the  Head  Quarters  of  General 
George  Sykes  commanding  the  Fifth  Corps,  who  directed 
me  to  the  Battery.  I  found  it  without  difficulty,  and  ap 
peared  there  just  before  sundown,  as  the  officers  were  sitting 
down  to  tea.  I  soon  made  myself  at  home.  My  first  night 
was  passed  on  the  ground  in  the  Captain's  tent,  with  a  goodly 
array  of  blankets,  coats,  etc.,  both  above  and  below  me.  I 
awoke  feeling  perfectly  well,  no  chills,  no  rheumatism,  or 
anything  disagreeable.  I  had  to  put  my  section  (two  guns, 


700  HISTORY    OF    THE 

since  1873  called  a  "platoon")  through  the  manual  of  the 
piece  this  morning,  which  you  can  imagine  I  did  in  style. 

Afternoon:  Rode  over  and  saw  George  Barnard  (captain 
in  the  i8th  Mass.  Regt.  on  Gen.  Charles  Griffin's  staff)  this 
morning.  Saw  General  Barnes,  Colonel  Hayes,  Captain 
Martin  and  other  birds. 

Our  Battery  is  situated  right  on  the  Rappahannock  River 
a  little  above  Beverly  Ford,  and  where  the  river  is  divided 
into  two  branches.  The  country  all  about  is  beautiful,  and 
the  weather,  thus  far,  delightful;  warm  and  sunny  during 
the  day,  but  cold  and  almost  frosty  in  the  night.  It  is  get 
ting  autumnal  very  fast.  The  whole  army  is  in  very  quiet 
and  comfortable  quarters,  and  looks  as  if  it  might  remain 
so  for  some  time,  though  we  are  now  under  orders  to  be  in 
readiness  for  any  movement.  The  Confeds.  are  somewhere 
over  the  river.  You  had  better  send  any  little  things  that 
you  may  want  to,  by  mail.  Letters  and  any  kind  of  news 
papers  are  acceptable.  I  should  like  a  Boston  paper  once  a 
week  at  least. 

I  wish  you  would  send  me  a  pair  of  wash  leather  or  com 
mon  thin  buckskin  gloves,  not  gauntlets.  I  ought  to  have 
bought  a  pair. 

September  3,  1863.  Officer  of  the  day  for  the  first  time. 
Got  through  tolerably  well." 

NOTES  OF  CAPT.  NATHAN  APPLETON. 

MARCH  12,  1901. 

"When  I  joined  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery  I  was 
twenty  and  a  half  years  old,  which  seems  to  us  now  very 
like  a  boy.  I  was  just  out  of  Harvard,  as  my  good  mother 
said  I  could  not  join  the  army  until  I  had  completed  my  col 
legiate  education.  I  tried  not  to  put  on  any  airs,  but  simply 
to  do  my  duty  as  a  good  boy,  and  I  think  I  then  was  a  very 
good  one. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  701 

As  I  look  back  now  after  nearly  thirty-eight  years  of  an 
extremely  varied  life  in  many  parts  of  the  world,  I  can  think 
of  nothing  that  gives  me  a  greater  thrill  and  tingle  of  youth 
than  the  recollection  of  a  battery  drill  when  I  was  a  chief  of 
section. 

The  Battery  had  six  pieces  and  six  caissons,  each  with 
six  horses.  I  can  see  the  guidon  rushing  over  the  field  to 
take  his  proper  place  as  the  order  was  given !  I  can  hear  the 
clarion  notes  of  the  buglers,  and  the  commands  of  the  cap 
tain,  Charles  Appleton  Phillips,  than  whom  there  was  no 
braver,  or  more  intrepid  artillery  officer  or  soldier  in  the 
army. 

When  the  Battery  was  in  line  and  limbered,  the  orders 
might  be  'Forward,  march !' — 'Halt !' — 'Action  Front !' 
when  the  pieces  would  be  unlimbered,  and  go  through  the 
drill  of  the  piece.  After  that  they  would  be  limbered  either 
to  the  front  or  rear  for  some  other  manoeuvres.  A  favorite 
one  was  'Countermarch,  march  F  The  order  from  the  Cap 
tain  would  be  repeated  with  sabre  in  the  air,  by  the  chief  of 
section.  There  were  a  good  many  evolutions  of  changing 
front  which  Captain  Phillips  liked  to  execute. 

I  had  two  good  horses,  one  of  them  exceptionally  hand 
some  and  spirited,  but  with  a  light  mouth  and  easy  to  han 
dle.  There  was  no  assemblage  of  lookers  on,  as  about  fif 
teen  years  later,  when  I  was  captain  of  the  famous  Battery 
A  of  the  Militia  of  Massachusetts  I  had  on  Boston  Common 
and  at  the  camp  at  Framingham,  of  fair  ladies  and  apprecia 
tive  urchins,  but  in  Virginia  we  felt  and  knew  we  were  there 
for  a  purpose,  and  we  seemed  to  have  the  whole  country  for 
our  field  of  manoeuvres,  that  is  to  say  from  the  great  rivers 
on  the  east,  to  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  Alleghanies,  and  so 
down  south  to  Richmond  which  was  always  our  objective 
point." 


Sept.  2,  1863.     Wm.  F.  Nye  arrived  in  the  afternoon  with 


702  HISTORY    OF    THE 

a  load  of  sutlers'  stores, — apples,  potatoes,  butter,  ale,  etc. 
Conscripts  continued  to  come,  and  the  number  was  estimated 
at  2000,  designed  to  fill  out  the  Regular  Infantry  then  in 
New  York,  where  they  were  sent  to  quell  the  riot. 

Sept.  3.  Captain  Phillips  wrote  home  with  relation  to 
Lieut.  Appleton : — "he  is  gradually  breaking  in.  I  am  very 
well  pleased  with  him,  and  think  he  will  make  a  good  officer. 
Captain  Martin  is  trying  to  get  permission  to  have  some  tar 
get  shooting.  I  went  out  with  him  yesterday  to  measure  off 
the  ground." 

LETTER  HOME  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"September  4,  1863, 

I  write  you  on  some  paper  which  I  bought  the  other  day 
at  Alexandria.  I  got  it  for  the  sake  of  a  map  of  the  country 
which  came  with  it,  the  whole  done  up  in  a  sort  of  combina 
tion  portfolio  arrangement. 

I  am  getting  now  quite  acclimated,  and  feel  more  at  home 
in  my  work.  At  first  I  felt  very  awkward  and  green.  The 
men  are  all  very  well  drilled,  and  well-disposed  fellows  gen 
erally.  We  have  Battery  drill  every  other  day,  and  then  1 
have  to  take  charge  of  the  Centre  section.  Drill  at  the  man 
ual  of  the  piece  every  day,  and  occasional  drills  in  harnessing 
the  horses.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  pleasant  variety  in  the 
duties  of  a  Battery;  attending  stable  calls,  taking  the  horses 
to  the  river  to  be  watered  &c.  When  I  am  officer  of  the  day 
I  get  up  at  five, — other  days  at  six.  We  live  sumptuously. 
Nice  meat  and  vegetables  for  dinner,  with  a  good  pudding. 
We  have  three  dogs  belonging  to  the  Battery,  one  funny  lit 
tle  fellow  named  'Dixie,'  captured  in  a  house  in  Chancel- 
lorsville.  The  horses,  also,  are  well.  Tolko'  is  much  ad 
mired.  They  are  rapidly  getting  used  to  bivouacking  out 
in  the  open  air.  I  rode  over  this  morning  and  saw  Inman 
Barnard,  (For  many  years  the  right  hand  man  of  James 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  703 

Gordon  Bennett  in  Paris,)  who  has  come  out  to  stay  with 
his  brother,  Captain  George  M.  Barnard  Jr. 

Went  to  the  camp  of  the  i8th  Mass,  and  saw  Weston 
(George  Fiske  Weston,  Harvard  class  of  1860,  died  of 
wounds  received  at  Rappahannock  Station)  and  also  Colonel 
Sherwin  of  the  22d.  Plenty  of  good  fellows  all  around  us. 
They  are  trying  to  get  a  permit  for  all  the  batteries  to  have 
some  target  practice.  My  friend  Stephen  H.  Phillips,  who 
was  in  Washington  the  other  day,  came  out  yesterday  even 
ing  to  pay  his  brother  a  visit.  He  is  here  now, — going 
home  tomorrow.  He  said  that  he  came  along  from  Alexan 
dria  in  the  cars  with  Colonel  Theodore  Lyman  who  was 
going  out  to  take  his  place  on  General  Meade's  staff.  A 
good  paper  to  send  me  is  the  'Gazette/  as  it  has  the  week's 
ne\vs,  including  that  of  society  in  Boston.  As  for  any 
news,  we  hear  little  of  it  here,  and  don't  care  much,  though 
we  get  plenty  of  Philadelphia  and  Washington  papers." 


September  4th.     Nye  started  for  Washington. 

September  5th  a  party  of  officers  including  those  at  Di 
vision  Head  Quarters,  who  came  to  return  the  call  of  the 
day  before,  rode  over  to  Sulphur  Springs.  They  found  that 
the  Hotel  had  been  burned  by  the  rebels,  but  they  drank  the 
water  and  had  a  most  delightful  ride.  Captain  Phillips  and 
his  brother  were  of  the  party,  also  Lieuts.  Blake  and  Apple- 
ton.  There  was  no  drill  that  day.  The  ammunition  was 
overhauled  and  harnesses  cleaned. 

APPLETON'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  RIDE. 

"We  went  over  to  one  o<f  the  WThite  Sulphur  Springs  in 
Fauquier  county,  which  you  can  see  on  the  map  is  about  mid 
way  on  a  straight  line  from  Rappahannock  Station  to  War- 
renton.  It  must  have  been  a  great  resort  for  the  young 
F.  F.  V.s,  male  and  female,  a  few  years  ago.  The  ruins  of  a 


704.  HISTORY    OF    THE 

very  large  Hotel  are  there;  burnt  by  the  rebs  about  a  year 
ago.  Tall  pillars  are  still  standing,  with  saloons,  pavilions, 
outhouses,  fountains  &c.  in  great  profusion.  The  water  was 
decidedly  sulphurous.  General  Birney  was  there  with  a 
good  many  troops.  On  the  way  there  we  stopped  a  few 
moments  at  the  camp  of  the  i6th  Mass,  and  saw  some  of  the 
officers;  among  them  Lieut.  Col.  Waldo  Merriam  then  in 
command.  (Killed  May  12,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania. )  On 
the  way  home  we  fell  in  with  a  Brigade  review,  and  noticed 
the  tattered  flags  of  two  Massachusetts  regiments.  It  was 
a  delightful  afternoon, — cutting  across  the  fields  and  roads 
of  old  Virginia, — sojers  on  all  sides  till  you  can't  rest. 
Please  enclose  in  your  next  letter  a  few  labels  for  me  to  sew 
on  things.  I  keep  getting  blankets,  and  so  I  want  a  few 
more  labels.  I  am  officer  of  the  day,  and  have  to  go  with  the 
horses  to  be  watered  in  a  few  moments;  attend  feed  call; 
stable  call  at  five,  guard  mounting  later, — which  is  a  sort  of 
dress  parade, — and  then  my  duties  are  over  for  another  two 
days.  There  is  a  funny  darkey  a  few  yards  from  camp, 
who  lives  in  a  log  hut.  His  'Missis'  is  about  three  miles 
away,  one  of  the  Virginia  Carters,  and  he  is  quite  independ 
ent,  cultivating  a  little  patch  of  ground.  His  daughter  does 
washing  for  us.  (This  shows  that  the  Virginia  Carters 
who  have  been  immortalized  since  the  war  by  the  popular 
story  'Colonel  Carter  of  Cartersville,'  by  F.  Hopkinson 
Smith  were  then  a  reality. — T,  George  Fairfax  Caarter  of 
Caarters  Hall,  Caartersville,  Virginia,  Late  Colonel  C.  S. 
A.'  etc.  etc.) 

I  send  you  a  piece  of  real  Confederate  money,  a  two  dollar 
bill,  which  I  got  from  him  the  other  day." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  BEVERLY  FORD, 

Sunday,   Sept.  6,   1863. 
I  should  think  foreign  nations  by  this  time  would  begin 


FIFTH    MASS.    BATTERY.  705 

to  appreciate  the  improvements  we  have  been  making  in  ar 
tillery.  It  was  an  unprecedented  thing  when  we  breached 
Fort  Pulaski  at  1650  yards,  but  now  we  have  breached  Sum- 
ter  at  twice  that  distance,  and  thrown  shell  five  miles.  There 
is  very  little  doubt  that  in  Ordnance,  both  rifled  and  smooth 
bore,  we  are  ahead  of  the  world.  I  want  to  see  a  further 
trial  of  the  15  inch  guns.  There  is  a  great  cry  now  for  put 
ting  rifled  100  and  200  pdrs.  in  their  places.  I  am  not  at  ail 
inclined  to  fall  in  with  this;  for  long  ranges  and  for  breach 
ing  stone  walls  a  rifled  shot  is  undoubtedly  the  best,  but  the 
motion  of  a  vessel  in  a  sea  way  is  sufficient  to  prevent  accu 
racy  at  long  ranges.  A  vessel  must  force  the  fighting  at 
short  range,  where  the  greater  weight  and  velocity  of  the 
round  ball  gives  it  an  advantage.  The  proper  place  for  iron 
clads  is  against  other  iron  clads,  not  against  stone  walls. 
For  this  purpose  I  think  it  is  the  battering  power  we  want, 
not  the  punching  power,  English  ideas  to  the  contrary  not 
withstanding.  The  fifteen  inch  shot  has  only  been  tried 
once  against  an  iron  clad — the  'Atalanta' — and  three  shots 
spoiled  her,  while  the  heaviest  rifled  shots  from  Fort  Sum- 
ter  have  not  seriously  damaged  our  monitors.  Indeed  some 
of  the  accounts  mention  the  1 1  inch  smooth  bores  from  the 
'Keokuk'  as  the  most  formidable  guns  the  rebels  had  in  Fort 
Sumter." 

Appleton's  Letter  of  September  6th : — "We  have  just  had 
our  Sunday  morning  inspection,  which  is  quite  a  big  affair. 
Officers,  men,  horses,  guns,  and  everything,  are  all  cleaned 
up  on  Saturday,  and  on  Sunday  morning  in  full  rig  are  in 
spected  by  the  Captain,  or  sometimes  by  the  Brigade  com 
mander.'1 

In  a  list  of  things  wanted  sent  to  him  by  Lieut.  Appleton 
may  be  found  the  following  besides  wearing  apparel  viz. 
"A  photograph  album,  a  mirror  about  8  inches,  stand  up  at 
45°,  a  riding  whip,  boot  jack,  mucilage  or  glue,  hanging 
watch-case,  pocket  calendar,  cigar  case,  'Old  Farmer's  Al- 


706  HISTORY    OF    THE 

manac,'  camp  chair,  chocolate,  dressing  case,  buffalo  robe." 
Appleton's  Diary  continued :  "September  7th  we  went  off 
about  four  miles  to  try  target  practice  with  Rittenhouse's 
Battery  of  Regulars.  I  was  introduced  to  Captain  William 
Jay.  Called  at  the  picket  line  on  Weston  and  Captain  Dal 
las.  We  found  by  this  day's  practice  that  the  table  of  firing 
was  not  correct.  A  Corps  review  was  going  on  when  we 
were  firing." 


At  the  target  shooting  on  September  7th  we  fired  6  rounds 
from  each  piece  at  ranges  from  800  to  2600  yards. 

On  the  8th,  we  had  drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  in  the 
forenoon,  and  in  the  afternoon  Martin's  Battery  in  command 
of  Lieut.  Walcott  and  Captain  Gibbs'  Battery  (ist  Ohio 
Light  Battery  L)  went  target  shooting,  and  some  of  us 
looked  on.  The  tents  arrived. 

MORE  TARGET  PRACTICE. 

Sept.  9th  we  went  over  again  and  fired  five  rounds.  Made 
some  good  shots.  This  time  Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y.  Lieut. 
Clark,  commanding,  was  with  us.  Clog  dancing  and  sing 
ing  at  Head  Quarters  in  the  evening.  Joe  Clarke,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Battery,  was  a  great  clog-dancer.  This  day  Wm. 
F.  Nye  arrived  with  peaches  and  other  stuff,  so  did  our 
licensed  Battery  sutler. 

On  a  fly  leaf  of  Appleton's  Diary  it  is  stated  that  in  the 
target  practice  at  Beverly  Ford  September  7th  and  9th, 
1863,  3  inch  guns  were  used  with  Schenkle  case  shot,  com 
bination  fuze,  and  in  a  letter  dated  September  I4th,  Captain 
Phillips  thus  describes  the  targets : — "We  have  been  out  tar 
get  shooting  this  last  week,  being  allowed  ten  shots  to  each 
gun.  Our  targfets  were  posted  at  distances  of  850,  1266, 
1400,  1600,  1700,  and  2600  yards.  The  target  at  850  yds, 
was  a  little  log  house,  which  was  pretty  well  knocked  to 
pieces  before  we  got  through  with  it.  The  target  at  1400 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  707 

yds.  was  hit  twice  by  bullets  from  the  shrapnell,  and  is 
claimed  by  Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y.  and  by  us.  The  target  at 
1700  yds.  was  hit  once  by  us.  These  targets  were  pieces  of 
cloth  about  4  feet  square,  held  up  by  two  stakes.  When  we 
fired  at  the  1700  yd.  target  one  stake  had  fallen  down,  and 
the  mark  was  a  good  deal  smaller  than  a  man.  We  call  it 
pretty  good  shooting  to  hit  that  a  mile  off.  I  believe  we  did 
the  best  shooting,  and  the  regular  battery  the  poorest.  So 
much  for  regulars  vs.  volunteers." 

FROM  APPLETON'S  LETTERS  OF  SEPT.  9TH 

AND    I2TH. 

"I  intended  to  begin  this  epistle  last  evening  after  'Taps,' 
but  we  had  lots  of  clog-dancing,  singing,  &c.  in  camp,  and 
the  evening  vanished.  The  darkey  part  of  the  establish 
ment  consists  of  Joe,  Henry,  Christopher,  and  my  Joe.  The 
latter  is  in  his  glory  here,  and  is  a  great  favorite.  He  can 
be  seen  going  through  the  camp  with  a  big  meal  bag  over 
his  shoulders,  crying  out,  'How  are  you  oats?' — He  has 
already  attained  the  soubriquet  of  'Vicksburg'  and  'Port 
Hudson/  to  which  he  rejoins,  'How  are  you,  Richmond?' 
(The  joke  was  that  Joe  Hunter  whom  Lieut.  Appleton 
picked  up  as  a  servant  in  Boston,  had  just  returned  with 
some  officer  from  the  victorious  campaigns  of  Vicksburg 
and  Port  Hudson.)  I  have  had  both  of  my  horses  out 
under  fire,  and  they  stand  it  perfectly.  The  little  beggar 
would  put  his  nose  right  on  the  gun,  and  the  magnificent 
Folko  merely  gives  a  slight  start.  One  of  the  dogs  con 
nected  with  the  Battery  is  named  'Trusty.'  He  came  out 
from  Massachusetts  with  them.  (See  p.  83)  .  .  .  Septem 
ber  1 2th,  1863,  the  day  was  very  hot  and  in  the  afternoon 
there  was  a  heavy  thunder  shower.  It  rained  in  torrents. 
The  men  were  out  all  day,  mowing  grass  for  the  horses, 


708  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  got  wet  through.  When  they  reached  the  camp  they 
received  a  ration  of  whiskey.  There  was  danger  of  fever 
and  ague  in  that  locality.  Two  officers  of  the  32d  Mass. 
Reg't.  dined  with  us.  It  was  reported  that  8000  of  our 
cavalry  were  at  Rappahannock  Station,  and  would  cross 
the  river  at  once,  and  late  in  the  evening  we  received  an 
order  which  said  that  the  Corps  must  be  immediately  in 
readiness  to  move  to  support  the  cavalry,  if  necessary." 

In  a  letter  written  on  the  I2th  and  I3th  Lieut.  Appleton 
says  of  the  officers  etc.  of  the  Battery: — "The  Captain, 
Phillips,  is  a  fine  fellow,  plucky,  good  natured,  bright  and 
gentlemanly.  The  ist  Lieut.  Blake  is  a  funny  wag,  my  tent 
mate  Lieut.  Spear  is  a  very  pleasant  companion,  young, 
neat,  bright,  energetic,  and  in  all  respects  a  perfectly  good 
fellow."  Of  the  rain  he  says,  "It  is  delicious  to  lie  half 
asleep,  and  hear  the  rain  come  patter,  patter,  against  the 
tent,  and  occasionally  feel  a  big  drop  tumble  on  your  face. 
They  have  got  up  at  Division  Head  Quarters,  about  a  mile 
from  our  camp,  a  race  course,  where  they  have  frequent 
trials  of  speed  in  the  Brigades  and  Divisions  &c.  to  find  the 
fastest  horse  in  the  Corps.  We  had  a  pair  of  parallel  bars 
erected  in  camp  for  exercising.  We  have  not  yet  had  any 
grand  review.  We  received  with  joy  the  good  news  from 
Rosecranz  and  Burnside.  Things  are  looking  well  all 
around.  A  good  war  picture  struck  me  the  other  day, 
which  I  think  no  artist  has  as  yet  attempted,  viz.,  the  tri- 
daily  performance  of  watering  horses.  Imagine  the  horses 
standing  three  or  four  feet  deep  in  the  Rappahannock,  some 
quietly  drinking,  others  splashing  about,  the  men  on  their 
backs  in  all  kinds  of  costumes. 

The  banks  of  the  river  where  we  are,  are  very  prettily 
overhung  with  trees.  The  line  of  pickets  extends  along  this 
side."  Of  his  duties  he  writes,  "I  am  learning  things  very 
fast.  A  week  of  practice  is  worth  ten  years  of  theory." 


FIFTH    MASS.    BATTERY.  709 

THE  INVALID  CORPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  Sept.  12,  1863. 
General  Orders 

No.  307 

The  following  named  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  hav 
ing  been  duly  examined  and  declared  unfit  for  further  field  service,  but 
fit  for  duty  in  the  Invalid  Corps,  are  hereby  transferred  from  their 
respective  regiments,  and  companies,  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  to  take  ef 
fect  September  i,  1863,  and  from  and  after  that  date  will  be  dropped 
from  their  regimental  rolls.  Commanding  officers  of  companies  to  which 
these  men  have  heretofore  belonged,  will  at  once  furnish  the  Provost 
Marshal  General  at  Washington  a  descriptive  list,  clothing  account, 
and  complete  military  history  in  each  case.  .  .  . 

Drew  John   J.   Private   Company   E,   5th   Mass.    Battery. 


LETTER  OF  SERG'T.  W.  H.  PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  BEVERLY  FORD,  VA. 

Sept.  13,  1863. 

A  Division  or  more  of  our  troops  are  over  the  river 
today  on  a  reconnoissance,  and  we  are  under  orders  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  any  moment.  Firing  is  going  on  only 
about  three  miles  off  as  I  write  this.  It  may  not  amount 
to  anything,  however.  We  see  Rebels  over  the  river  every 
day.  One,  a  few  days  ago,  drove  his  horse  down  to  the 
river,  and  came  over  the  ford  by  our  picket  line  as  cool  as 
could  be.  Some  of  our  Battery  boys  were  in  swimming  at 
the  time,  when  he  drove  up  to  a  lieutenant  of  the  picket,  and 
says: — 'How  are  you,  Lieutenant?  Want  to  exchange 
papers?  Got  a  cup  of  coffee  for  a  fellow?' 

They  gave  him  all  he  wanted,  and  he  put  spurs  to  his 
horse,  and  rode  back  to  the  rebel  camp  about  four  miles 
away.  He  said  they  would  fight  if  only  two  men  were  left 
to  do  so. 

We  have  considerable  trouble  with  some  of  the  conscripts, 


710  HISTORY    OF    THE 

but  we  can  soon  govern  them.  Many  of  them  are  hard 
cases,  and  do  not  take  kindly  to  army  discipline.  An  infan 
try  camp  near  us,  has  a  long  pole  put  up  about  seven  feet 
or  more  high,  that  is  kept  full  of  conscripts  from  morning 
to  night,  tied  up  by  their  thumbs  for  punishment." 

DIARY  OF  CORPORAL  SHACKLEY. 

"The  reconnoissance  of  8000  cavalry  went  on  to  Culpeper, 
the  First  Corps  being  with  them  to  support.  Heavy  firing 
was  heard  on  the  I3th  and  I4th.  On  the  I5th  orders  came 
at  4  p.  m.,  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  mo 
ment's  notice,  and  news  came  later  that  the  advance  had 
captured  three  cannon. 

September  16,  1863,  we  turned  out  at  3  a.  m.,  fed,  cleaned, 
watered,  ate  breakfast.  'Boots  and  Saddles'  was  then 
sounded.  Marched  at  5  a.  m.,  crossed  on  a  pontoon  bridge 
just  below  Beverly  Ford,  and  marched  through  Brandy 
Station  towards  Culpeper  Court  House,  the  road  running 
parallel  to  the  railroad,  and  close  to  it  most  of  the  way. 
We  camped  for  the  night  within  a  mile  of  Culpeper  at  3  p.  m. 
in  sight  of  the  town.  Turned  in  at  8  p.  m.  The  Artillery 
Reserve  camp  was  within  a  mile  of  us.  Major  Freeman 
McGilvery  had  been  made  a  full  colonel.  Marched  at  day 
light  the  morning  of  the  I7th,  passing  through  the  town, 
and  came  into  position  2\  miles  south  of  Culpeper.  Anni 
versary  of  the  Battle  of  Antietam." 

FROM    LIEUT.    APPLETON'S    LETTER    HOME. 

Written  at  the  camping  ground  "Somewhere  between  Cul 
peper  and  Cedar  Mountain,  Va. 

It  was  a  hot  and  dusty  march,  and  I  was  very  glad  to  roll 
myself  up  in  my  blanket  and  turn  in  for  the  night  (of  the 
1 6th,  the  first  day's  march)  under  a  good  tent,  however. 
You  have  no  idea  of  the  way  the  infantry  straggle  on  a 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  711 

march.  All  along  the  road  you  could  see  them  in  all  stages 
of  exhaustion,  but  they  almost  always  manage  to  crawl  up 
to  their  camps  by  night.  We  would  keep  falling  in  with 
dead  horses,  which  had  been  killed  in  the  cavalry  skirmish 
of  last  Sunday.  The  next  morning  we  started  off  again 
early  to  march  farther  on,  first  going  right  through  Culpeper. 
It  was  fun  going  through  a  Virginia  town,  and  seeing  the 
people,  and  the  deserted  or  closely  shut  up  houses.  There 
was  a  real  southern  Hotel  there,  Court  House,  etc.,  and 
everything  was  crowded  with  our  soldiers,  now  and  then 
carrying  off  with  them  some  rebel  prisoners.  As  we  were 
going  by  a  large  house  I  saw  a  figure  standing  there  who  I 
thought  must  be  Theodore  Lyman,  but  when  I  was  going 
by  him  he  looked  so  strange  that  I  did  not  know  him,  nor  he 
me.  When  I  had  passed  we  halted  and  he  came  up  and  asked 
me  if  I  was  not  myself,  and  I  told  him  I  were,  whereupon  we 
conversed.  On  the  I7th  I  also  met  Colonel  (Francis  A.) 
Walker.  A  little  before  noon  we  formed  'in  Battery,'  and 
the  other  troops  in  line  of  battle  quite  near,  and  in  plain 
view  of  Cedar  Mountain  on  one  of  the  2d  Mass.  Regt's  old 
battlegrounds,  to  await  the  coming  of  the  enemy,  who  I 
guess  are  nowhere  near  us,  as  some  of  our  troops  were  then 
encamped  on  the  mountain  itself.  We  have  not  a  very 
pleasant  location  for  a  camp :  muddy  ground,  tall  grass, 
weeds  &c.  &c." 

On  the  1 8th  September  still  in  position,  the  men  went 
after  hay  outside  the  pickets.  Raced  horses  all  the  way. 

From  Appleton's  Letter:  Saturday,  the  iQth: — "Alas, 
you  should  see  my  pretty  boots  now,  after  two  weeks'  ser 
vice  ! — muddy,  disfigured  and  scratched  with  brambles :  how 
changed  from  those  boots  with  which,  elate  with  hope,  and 
radiant  with  expectation,  I  left  my  home !  Last  night  was 
cold,  and  today  is  bleak:  my  hand  being  numbed  accounts 
for  my  scrubious  chirography.  I  am  going  to  try  a  gallop 
over  the  country.  Yesterday  we  went  foraging  to  the  barn 


712  HISTORY    OF    THE 

attached  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Strother,  some  prominent 
rebel  character.  The  house  had  been  ransacked.  I  went 
through  it  and  grabbed  up  a  handful  of  papers  to  see  what 
they  might  be.  One  was  a  leaf  from  a  manuscript  book 
called  'Commonplace  Book,'  which  had  remarks  on  all  sub 
jects,  theology,  geography,  &c." 

Later : — "Went  out  on  a  ride  today  to  get  warm  and 
found  I  was  near  the  camp  of  the  ist  Mass.  Cavalry.  Saw 
all  the  fellows.  Charles  A.  Longfellow  (Son  of  the  poet 
Longfellow  who  married  Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton's  half- 
sister.  He  was  thus  his  half-nephew,  a  year  and  some 
months  younger  than  he)  came  over  and  dined  with  us. 
They  were  in  a  big  scrimmage  the  other  day  when  they  were 
driving  off  the  Rebs.  They  had  then,  when  I  found  them, 
just  come  in  from  the  front,  having  been  relieved  by  others." 

September  19,  1863,  still  holding  the  same  position,  the 
men  went  after  cornstalks  in  the  afternoon.  The  cavalry 
all  came  in.  Wagoner  G.  H.  Johnson  in  the  Hospital  and 
George  Shaw. 

"Sept.  20.  (Appleton's  Diary.)  Borrowed  'Modern 
Painters'  of  Dr.  Howard.  Tried  to  find  Sunday  service 
but  didn't.  (Dr.  Howard  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  at 
that  time  surgeon  of  the  Artillery  Brigade,  afterwards 
famous  for  inventing  a  system  for  restoring  life  from 
urowning.)  A  great  deal  of  clearing  up  to  be  overseered 
by  me.  Inspection  on  the  2ist  by  Captain  A.  P.  Martin. 

September  22d.  Boxing  gloves  arrived  and  there  was 
sparring  in  camp.  Nine  spare  wheels  arrived.  Visit  from 
Colonel  McGilvery,  who  accompanied  by  Captain  Phillips 
rode  over  to  the  battlefield  of  Cedar  Mountain,  where  the  2d 
Mass.  Infantry  lost  so  heavily.  The  Colonel  was  in  the 
fight.  They  rode  all  over  the  battlefield,  but  the  traces  of 
fighting  were  about  all  gone  except  the  marks  of  shot  on 
the  houses  and  trees. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  713 

The  regulars  came  back  from  New  York  on  the  22d.  The 
Army  was  nowr  reinforced  by  conscripts." 

LETTER  OF  LT.  APPLETON. 

"September  24,  1863.  The  camp  is  being  changed  into 
a  gymnasium.  We  got  orders  this  afternoon  to  get  eleven 
days'  rations  ready.  If  we  are  going  to  do  anything,  now 
is  the  time,  when  the  Confeds  are  perhaps  somewhat  weak 
ened,  having  sent  away  some  to  oppose  Rosecranz  and 
Burnside.  Our  army  is  in  splendid  shape.  We  must  num 
ber  now  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  men.  The  weather 
is  fine  and  the  roads  in  bully  condition.  The  cavalry  are  all 
round  making  reconnoissances.  The  arrival  of  the  mail  is  a 
great  event  in  camp,  and  it  is  truly  terrible  to  find  nothing 
for  yourself.  It  is  quite  extraordinary  that  the  mails  arrive 
as  regularly  as  they  do.  We  get  one  everv  day.  I  had 
occasion  to  do  some  sewing  the  other  day,  and  I  found  that 
it  would  be  almost  as  easy  for  a  camel,  as  for  the  thread, 
so  kindly  presented  to>  me,  to  go  through  the  eyes  of  the 
needles  also  given  to  me.  Please  send  me  some  larger 
needles  and  some  smaller  thread,  and  then  I  shall  be  sure 
to  be  all  right.  Send  some  red  thread  or  silk.  Put  thetr 
in  a  letter.  You  ask  me  about  the  bed  tick,  &c.  It  works 
to  a  charm.  I  sleep  on,  first,  a  stretcher  from  an  ambulance, 
which  has  four  legs,  and  makes  a  splendid  bed.  On  this  I 
put  my  rubber  blanket,  then  the  tick,  filled  by  Joe  with — 
I  don't  know  what ;  then  my  uncut  grey  blankets,  into  which 
I  crawl;  then  my  overcoat;  and  then  a  red  artillery  blanket. 
We  have  got  the  bottom  of  our  tent  filled  with  hemlock 
boughs,  which  are  clean,  smell  nice,  and  remind  me  that 
Christmas  is  coming. 

We  make  tables  out  of  barrel  heads  and  boxes.  The 
washstand  is  outside!  Sabres,  boots,  spurs,  glasses,  hats, 
brushes,  &c.  &c.  are  hanging  up  or  lying  around  in  endless 
confusion. 


714  HISTORY    OF    THE 

You  would  be  amused  at  the  attachment  my  two  horses 
have  for  each  other.  The  little  feller  follows  Folko  all  over 
the  country,  and  they  are  eternally  neighing  when  they  are 
separated.  They  begin  to  think  it  is  getting  cold  and  I  shall 
soon  have  to  blanket  them.  The  little  un'  (afterwards 
called  'Klein'  German  for  'little')  is  the  prettier,  but  Folko 
is  pleasanter  to  ride  with  others,  as  he  is  not  so  hard- 
mouthed.  They  both  look  very  sleek.  The  Captain  has 
me  recite  lessons  to  him  in  artillery  tactics,  which  is  a  good 
thing,  as  you  have  to  know  a  good  deal  to  go  through  a 
battery  drill  without  any  mistakes." 

By  the  return  of  Lieut.  Scott  on  the  25th,  Lieut.  Apple- 
ton  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  Centre  section,  and 
returned  to  his  regular  place  as  chief  of  the  line  of  caissons, 
and  when  in  line  he  was  just  four  yards  in  rear  of  the 
centre  of  the  Battery.  In  battle  he  would  be  in  charge  of 
the  caissons,  ammunition,  horses,  etc. 

Sept.  26th.  Washburn  and  Fitzsimmons  arrived  at  the 
Battery  from  the  Hospital. 

By  General  Orders  No.  320,  Sept.  26,  1863,  John  Pilling 
was  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  the  order  to  take 
effect  September  30,  1863. 

"September  27th.  (Appleton  Notes.)  We  still  remain 
encamped  in  the  same  place.  Two  Corps  have  left  to  assist 
Rosecranz,  some  have  gone  down  the  Rappahannock ;  one, 
the  Second,  is  in  advance  of  us,  and  what  the  rest  are  to  do  I 
don't  know.  Our  food  is  very  light  and  irregular,  though  in 
the  main  healthful.  We  generally  have  fresh  meat.  Canned 
food  can  be  always  bought  of  the  sutler.  We  eat  in  camp 
off  crockery.  We  carry  a  stove,  mess  kit,  &c.,  in  a  battery 
cart,  a  vehicle  which  only  two  batteries  in  the  service  pos 
sess,  and  which  always  travels  with  the  Battery,  not  in  the 
rear  with  the  baggage  wagons.  In  this  the  officers  manage 
to  stow  away  a  good  many  miscellaneous  articles  handy  on 
a  march.  I  find  my  knit  jacket  of  very  great  use.  My 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  715 

little  artillery  jacket,  also,  is  just  what  I  wanted.  You  need 
to  have  been  in  service  yourself  before  you  can  tell  all  the 
trifling  accessories  to  comfort. 

September  28,  1863,  at  10  a.  m.  'Boots  and  saddles'  was 
sounded  for  review.  The  Brigade  was  reviewed  by  General 
Meade  with  his  staff,  a  surgeon  oi  the  British  army  sent 
here  by  the  Queen,  and  General  Cortes  of  Spain.  The  sutler 
Harvey  arrived  at  the  Battery.  Lieutenants  Spear  and 
Appleton  took  a  ride  through  and  beyond  Culpeper  to  the 
Artillery  Reserve.  Dined  with  Captain  Bigelow,  saw  Phil 
Mason  and  Lieut.  George  F.  Barstow. 

Sept.  29,  1863.  Battery  drill  on  bad  ground.  Lieut. 
Appleton  took  the  line  of  caissons. 

Oct.  ist.  Lt.  Appleton  had  the  fatigue  party  put  up  an 
evergreen  chebang  in  front  of  the  tents,  and  make  two 
corduroy  bridges." 

Dyer  with  Alpheus  Haskins  for  a  partner  played  euchre 
in  the  afternoon  and  came  off  victorious.  His  diary  does 
not  state  who  the  vanquished  parties  were. 

The  three  officers'  tents  faced  each  other  forming  three 
sides  of  a  square,  and  they  messed  three  times  a  day  together. 
Lieut.  Appleton  wrote  Oct.  i,  1863:  "I  have  charge  of  the 
officers'  mess  this  month,  which  is  pretty  good  fun,  as  I 
have  to  travel  around  the  country  to  get  grub,  visiting  sut 
lers,  commissaries,  &c.  I  generally  try  to  do  some  studying 
tactics,  riding  or  writing  letters  in  the  morning.  We  dine 
between  12  and  i.  At  four  the  horses  are  watered,  fed,  and 
groomed.  About  5  or  5.30  roll  call  and  guard  mounting: 
then  tea,  after  which  we  sit  around  the  fire  and  smoke. 
'Tattoo'  about  7.45,  and  'Taps'  half  an  hour  later.  I  retire 
about  eight." 

October  ^.th.  Sunday  there  was  Battery  inspection  by 
Captain  Phillips.  Lieuts.  Scott  and  Appleton  went  to  hear 
Chaplain  Clark  of  the  83d  Pennsylvania  Reg't.  preach. 

October  5th  they  pitched  camp  over  again,  reversed  tents 


716  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  laid  out  a  street.  Sixth  Corps  passing  towards  the 
Rapidan. 

"There  is  a  short  description  of  the  guns  which  our  Bat 
tery  uses,"  writes  Appleton,  "on  the  12/j.th  page  of  Gib 
bon's  Artillerist's  Manual.  We  use  the  Schenkle  projectile 
almost  entirely." 

October  7th  the  army  trains  were  moving  to  the  rear. 

October  8th  the  sick  were  ordered  to  the  rear,  which 
looked  like  a  move.  Lieut.  Scott  in  his  notes  of  the  day 
says : — "Battery  drill  was  kept  up  every  day  until  the  9th 
of  October,  when  the  Battery  was  ordered  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  short  notice.  I  had  not  met  Lieut.  Appleton  pre 
vious  to  joining  the  Battery,  but  he  was  received  by  the  men 
of  the  Battery  cordially." 

Lieut.  Scott  was  pleased  to  be  once  more  with  his  old 
comrades.  The  entries  in  his  diary  of  the  loth  and  nth  of 
October  are  as  follows : — 

"October  10,  1863.  At  2  a.  m  received  orders  to  march. 
Hitched  up  at  3,  and  moved  out  on  the  road  to  Raccoon 
Ford  9  a.  m.  Halted  near  the  Rapidan  12  m.  Stood  in 
harness  all  day.  At  6  p.  m.  back  to  camp.  Orders  to  move 
in  the  morning  towards  the  Rappahannock,  the  enemy  was 
making  a  flank  movement  towards  Washington  to  get  in  the 
rear  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

THE  FIGHT  AT  BRISTOE. 

October  n,  1863.  Broke  camp  and  marched  for  Beverly 
Ford.  Passed  through  Culpeper  and  Brandy  Station,  and 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  River,  and  camped  at  the  Ford, 
old  camp,  at  7  p.  m.  Enemy's  cavalry  engaging  our  cavalry 
at  every  point." 

Lieut.  Appleton  tells  the  story  of  the  loth,  nth,  I2th, 
1 3th  and  I4th  in  the  following  words;  commencing  under 
date  of  the  nth: — "I  am  sitting,  doing  nothing,  on  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  717 

ground,  waiting  for  the  enemy  to  approach  if  they  wish  to 
give  us  battle.  On  Saturday  at  quarter  past  two  in  the 
morning  an  order  came  for  us  to  move  at  two.  This  being 
impossible  we  did  the  best  we  could  and  got  off  at  about 
four  or  five  a.  m.  The  Corps  went  off  on  a  little  picnic.  We 
marched  about  four  miles  towards  Raccoon  Ford,  halted, 
passed  the  day,  and  returned  to  our  camp  at  evening.  It  was 
very  strategic.  Sunday  morning  (nth  Oct.  yesterday)  we 
started  off  at  daylight  on  the  skedaddle  to  the  rear.  Went 
through  Culpeper,  and  then  on  about  six  or  seven  miles  and 
halted.  A  lot  of  cavalry  passed  by,  some  wounded,  riderless 
horses,  &c.,  they  were  Buford's  men,  and  had  been  skirmish 
ing  with  the  Rebs  all  day,  and  I  guess  had  rather  a  hard 
time  of  it.  They  said  the  Rebs  were  beyond  Culpeper  and 
on  the  march  after  us.  We  soon  proceeded,  crossed  the 
Rappahannock,  and  went  into  our  old  camping  ground  at 
Beverly  Ford.  Got  up  this  morning  at  four,  marched  at 
daylight  again  over  the  river,  and  formed  in  position  where 
we  now  are,  half  past  eleven.  It  looks  as  if  we  wanted  to 
have  a  battle,  but  whether  the  Rebs  will  come  out  or  not 
is  doubtful.  General  Sykes  and  staff  are  now  a  little  ways 
off  in  front  of  us.  We  have  got  a  very  good  position  and  a 
large  force,  and  ought  to  make  some  show.  Our  troops  are 
concealed  in  woods.  We  see  the  Reb  cavalry  in  squads  three 
miles  off  or  so,  but  not  a  gun  do  we  hear.  .  .  .  Tuesday 
Afternoon  (Oct.  13)  camp  near  Bristoe.  The  only  fight  we 
had  yesterday  was  a  very  pretty  cavalry  engagement  which 
began  late  in  the  afternoon  and  which  we  saw  perfectly  well. 
We  drove  the  Rebs  away,  and  then  the  whole  force,  infantry 
and  artillery,  followed  up  to  a  short  distance  of  Culpeper, 
got  there  at  dusk  and  retired.  We  left  Culpeper  this  morn 
ing  at  two  and  marched  until  five  this  afternoon,  and  we  are 
now  near  Bristoe.  I  enclose  you  a  specimen  of  the  counter 
sign  as  wre  get  it.  The  whole  army  is  supposed  to  have  the 
same  one,  and  it  is  sent  round  to  the  different  Divisions, 


718  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Brigades,  &c.,  always  done  up  in  triangular  form  and 
sealed.  ( See  p.  797. )  Our  supper  will  soon  be  ready.  I  go 
to  look  at  the  horses.  Oct.  i4th.  Off  again  at  daylight. 
Took  posish  near  Manassas.  The  Second  Corps  licked  the 
Rebs.  Barnes'  Battery  engaged.  We  went  after  them  and 
then  made  an  about,  and  marched  until  two  towards  Centre- 
ville.  Slept  out  in  the  air.  Occasional  falls  of  rain.  Hard 
day  and  very  tired." 

Captain  Phillips  says  of  the  I4th,  letter  dated  Camp  near 
Fairfax,  Thursday  Oct.  15,  1863:— 

"Just  as  we  were  starting  out  after  crossing  Broad  Run  on 
Wednesday,  the  Rebels  commenced  to  shell  our  rear.  One 
Division  and  one  battery  remained  behind,  and  the  rest  of 
the  Corps  pushed  on  to  Manassas  Junction,  where,  we 
formed  line  of  battle  fronting  the  Bull  Run  mountains.  I 
was  sent  into  a  redoubt  where  I  felt  quite  secure.  The  firing 
in  our  rear  was  quite  steady,  the  Second  Corps  being 
engaged/' 

From  Corporal  Shackley's  Diary.  "Oct.  loth.  Broke 
camp  and  marched  to  Mitchell's  station  and  at  4  p.  m.  re 
turned  to  camp.  .  .  .  Oct.  I2th.  Recrossed  the  River  and 
took  position  on  a  hill  to  watch  the  enemy.  About  noon 
took  position  in  a  valley  out  of  sight  of  the  Rebs.  Firing 
began  about  4  p.  m.,  and  we  advanced  to  Brandy  Station, 
the  Rebs  retiring-  as  we  advanced.  A  smart  cavalry  fight 
took  place  on  the  plains  towards  Culpeper  which  being  in 
plain  sight  was  quite  exciting. 

Oct.  1 3th.  At  2.30  a.  m.  marched  to  and  recrossed  the 
river,  and  fed  our  horses.  At  7  a.  m.  marched  by  way  of 
Warrenton  Junction,  and  camped  near  Catlett's  Station. 

Oct.  1 4th.  Marched  towards  Centreville.  About  noon 
the  enemy  attacked  our  rear  guard, — Second  Corps, — and 
were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  4  guns  and  450  men.  The 
Battery  countermarched  to  near  Bristoe  station,  about  5 
miles,  then  countermarched  again,  and  marched  to  near  Cen- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  719 

treville,  where  we  arrived  about  2  a.  m.  of  Oct.  I5th,  having 
made  full  sixty  miles,  fought  a  small  battle,  and  crossed  a 
large  river  within  two  days. 

October  15,  1863.  Marched  through  Centreville  and 
went  into  park  near  Fairfax  C.  H.,  and  fed  our  horses  for 
the  first  time  since  Tuesday  the  I3th." 

LIEUT.  SCOTT'S  ACCOUNT. 

"Oct.  12,  1863,  crossed  the  River  to  its  South  bank  and 
took  a  high  position  overlooking  the  plain  south.  Remained 
in  position  on  the  heights  until  4  p.  m.  After  a  severe 
cavalry  charge  the  Battery  with  the  Fifth  Corps  in  line  of 
battle,  moved  south  to  Brandy  Station  and  halted  at  9  p.  m. 

Oct.  13.  Moved  out  at  2  a.  m  midnight  darkness,  chilled 
through  to  suffering  in  the  frosty  air:  crossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock  on  pontoons  at  the  Ford  and  camped  for  the  night 
at  Bristoe's  at  5  p.  m.  The  railroad  bridge  at  Rappahannock 
was  blown  up. 

Hill's  Rebel  Corps  passing  our  Right  and  rebel  cavalry 
following  our  Rear. 

Oct.  1 4th.  Moved  out  on  the  road  towards  Manassas 
Junction,  and  crossed  Broad  Run  at  12  noon.  The  enemy 
came  on  our  flank  shelling  our  Rear.  Attacking  the  Second 
Corps  they  were  repulsed  with  some  loss  of  guns  and  prison 
ers  captured  by  the  Second  Corps.  The  Fifth  Battery  was 
not  engaged,  but  after  being  tangled  up  in  the  dense  growth^ 
of  woods,  retired  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  with  the  loss  of 
a  pole  to  a  caisson,  and  one  horse.  Night  pitchy  dark. 
Passed  through  Manassas,  crossed  Blackburn's  Ford, — 
Bull  Run, — and  camped  at  2  a.  m. 

Oct.  1 5th.  9  a.  m  moved  through  Centreville,  camping- 
near  Fairfax  Court  House  at  2  p.  m.  Raining.  Every  one 
cold  and  wet.  Enemy  moving  rapidly  for  our  flank  and 
rear.  Fifth  Corps  at  Germantown.  Sutlers  ordered  to  the 


720  HISTORY    OF    THE 

rear — to  Alexandria.  News  of  Curtin's  election  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  30,000  majority.  Vallandigham  in  Ohio  defeated." 

Private  John  E.  Dyer's  Notes  of  Oct.  loth :  "The  enemy 
made  a  feint  on  our  Left  and  attacked  our  Right. 

Oct.  1 3th.  .  .  .  After  a  march  of  25  miles  we  went  into 
camp  at  5  p.  m  pretty  tired. 

Oct.  1 5th.  .  .  .  Half  a  ration  of  whiskey  and  2  days'  ra 
tions  of  hard  tack  issued  tonight." 

BY    WAY    OF    THE    FIGHT    AT    BRISTOE. 

General  Meade  issued  an  order  at  11.25  p.  m.  Sept.  15, 
1863,  for  a  forward  movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  to  commence  at  5  a.  m.  of  the  i6th.  The  cavalry  were 
to  picket  the  front  and  guard  the  flank  of  the  Army.  The 
Fifth  Corps  was  directed  to  occupy  the  ridge  in  front  of 
the  village  of  Culpeper,  and  there  it  remained  till  the  I3th 
of  October.  On  the  24th  of  September  the  Eleventh  and 
Twelfth  Corps  were  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac  and  sent  west,  and  the  enemy  becoming  aware  of  the 
fact  immediately  threw  a  heavy  force  upon  the  Union 
cavalry,  in  order  to  turn  its  flank  and  get  in  the  rear  of  the 
Army,  which  design  we  frustrated  by  the  retrograde  move 
ment  of  General  Meade,  made  with  such  celerity  as  to  reach 
Centreville  in  advance  of  the  enemy  but  not  without  serious 
trouble  through  a  determined  attack  of  the  Confederates 
at  Bristoe,  and  the  most  severe  hardships  endured  by  the 
troops. 

October  16,  1863,  reveille  was  sounded  at  7  o'clock.  At 
5  p.  m.  "Boots  and  Saddles."  At  6  p.  m.  the  Battery  moved 
out  into  the  road  and  waited  for  the  Division  to  march 
past,  then  it  took  its  place  in  the  column  and  marched  back 
to  within  two  miles  of  Centreville.  Rain  until  9  p.  m. 
The  Battery  went  into  park  at  ten.  Two  more  batteries 
were  attached  to  the  Corps.  The  night  was  very  dark.  One 
of  the  officers'  tents  blew  over.  On  the  i/th  the  Battery 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY  721 

changed  camp  to  a  more  suitable  one  a  mile  nearer  Centre- 
ville  in  a  beautiful  glade.  The  pontoon  train*  moved 
through  Centreville.  Camped  with  the  Brigade. 

NOTES    OF    LIEUT.    APPLETON. 

"The  enemy  was  manoeuvring  for  position  and  covering 
their  movements.  On  the  i8th  Reveille  at  3  a.  m.  Two 
batteries  moved  out  with  the  infantry  at  sunrise  waiting 
orders.  Marched  at  10  a.  m.  to  near  Fairfax  Court  House 
close  by  our  former  camp.  Awful  mud  hole  on  the  march. 
Camped,  in  the  fork  between  the  Warrenton  turnpike  and 
the  Chantilly  road,  at  2  p.  m.  Some  cannonading  heard 
towards  Bull  Run. 

On  the  i Qth  of  October  we  were  ordered  to  march  for 
Centreville  at  6  a.  m.  with  the  Fifth  Corps.  Passed 
through  Centreville  at  9  a.  m.  Raining  hard.  Marched 
towards  Manassas  2  miles,  then  towards  Bull  Run.  All 
the  army  on  the  move.  Crossed  Bull  Run  on  pontoons  at 
noon  and  bivouacked  on  Bull  Run  battlefield  of  1862  at 
3  p.  m.  The  rebels  were  said  to  be  moving  south  having 
failed  to  get  between  us  and  Washington.  The  Sixth 
Corps  and  train  was  moving  towards  Gainesville  where  we 
found  them  at  daybreak  of  the  2Oth."  Scott  calls  it  "a  race 
for  position,  but  they  could  not  be  brought  to  a  decisive 
battle."  Appleton  says  it  was  moonlight  that  night — "an 
impressive  evening.  Passed  by  old  Reb.  huts  of  1861." 

LIEUT.    APPLETON'S    LETTER. 

"HALT  NEAR  GAINESVILLE, 

Oct.   19,   1863. 

For  the  last  ten  days  we  have  been  marching  and  counter 
marching,  skirmishing,  bivouacking,  knocking  about  by 
day  and  night,  in  fact,  I  have  not  slept  twice  in  the  same 
place.  Truly  the  tactics  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  are 
extraordinary.  Last  night  we  encamped  on  the  battlefield 


722  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Bull  Run  No.  2,  and  there  were  plenty  of  skeletons  and 
skulls  around.  Our  men  buried  many  of  them  yesterday 
afternoon.  This  morning  we  started  off  at  three.  (Orders 
were  that  the  Corps  should  be  at  Gainesville  by  daylight.) 
I  have  had  a  taste  of  real  military  life  lately,  and  it  cer 
tainly  has  its  discomforts.  My  idea  of  our  last  week's 
manoeuvre  is  this: — The  Rebs  tried  to  get  into  Centreville 
heights  before  us,  but  we  were  just  too  quick  for  them.  It 
would  be  folly  to  attack  us  there  and  that  Lee  knew,  and  so 
they  are  skedaddling,  with  us  after  them.  We  pass  a  big 
part  of  every  day  in  the  saddle.  Perhaps  we  shall  push 
after  them  well  over  the  Rappahannock.  General  Meade 
and  staff  passed  by  us  an  hour  ago,  and  General  Pleasanton 
a  little  later,  with  an  immense  force  of  cavalry.  I  have 
looked  in  vain  for  the  ist  Mass,  cavalry.  I  tell  you,  I  have 
seen  some  splendid  sights  lately.  Forty  thousand  men 
marching  in  solid  columns!  Our  approach  to  Culpeper 
after  the  cavalry  skirmish,  was  magnificent.  The  poor 
infantry  had  a  terrible  time  on  the  night  marches,  plodding 
through  the  deep  mud,  crossing  streams,  &c.  I  have  not 
got  a  letter  for  ten  days,  as  the  mails  are  very  irregular  on 
occasions  when  the  army  is  in  motion.  I  want  more  money, 
as  I  am  running  the  mess,  and  have  to  get  grub  when  and 
wherever  I  can.  It  is  hard  to  keep  well  supplied  on  the 
march,  as  our  family  consists  of  five  officers,  five  darkies, 
and  one  or  two  cooks  detailed  from  the  Battery.  I  have 
only  slept  out  in  the  air  with  no  covering  once,  that  was 
when  we  marched  solid,  with  an  occasional  halt,  from  day- 
light  one  morning  until  two  or  three  the  next,  and  then 
we  were  off  again  by  ten.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  keep 
the  calendar  straight,  as  all  the  days  are  just  alike.  We 
have  come  off  decidedly  best  in  the  late  manoeuvring,  and 
taken  many  prisoners.  If  the  Rebs  stand  this  side  of  the 
Rappahannock  we  shall  have  a  fight  in  which  we  ought 
certainly  to  whip  them. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  723 

I  have  been  reading  'Quits'  lately,  which  I  borrowed 
of  Guthrie,  a  young  lieutenant  in  an  Ohio  battery  in  our 
Brigade.  I  am  now  reading  'Tom  Burke  of  Ours/  by 
Charles  Lever,  which  is  military  and  good.  I  read  on  the 
march,  as  all  the  time  in  camp  you  need  to  eat  and  sleep. 
I  don't  know  when  you  will  get  this  letter.  I  take  a  chance 
man  going  by  to  take  it." 

FROM  DIARY  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"At  noon  of  October  2Oth  we  marched,  following  the 
Sixth  Corps  which  advanced  early  in  the  morning  when  we 
were  turned  out  but  stood  in  harness  till  noon.  Then  we 
marched  to  New  Baltimore  arriving  at  5  p.  m.  The  rail 
road  from  Bristoe  south  had  been  torn  up  and  now  was 
being  repaired.  The  army  were  all  moving  to  this  point, 
following  the  enemy,  then  at  New  Baltimore,  closely,  and 
there  was  a  cavalry  fight  near  this  place.  We  were  without 
rations  or  forage.  An  order  was  read  on  this  day  to  have 
roll  calls  at  12  m.  and  3  p.  m.  At  New  Baltimore  we  re 
ceived  our  mails  with  letters  and  lots  of  papers. 

October  21,  1863,  we  remained  in  camp  all  day,  the  first 
time  since  the  loth.  We  were  then  at  New  Baltimore,  ten 
miles  from  Warrenton.  The  entire  Brigade  were  encamped 
there  near  a  rebel  family.  Rebs  recrossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock.  On  the  22d  our  other  tents  were  put  up  and  the 
camp  fixed  up.  Stores  were  received  from  Gainesville. 
The  men  had  fresh  meat  for  dinner.  Captain  Huntington 
dined  and  passed  the  afternoon  with  the  Battery." 


LETTER  OF  SERG'T.  W.  H.  PEACOCK. 

''CAMP  NEAR  NEW  BALTIMORE,  VA. 

Oct.  22,  1863. 
We  have  been  on  one  continual  march  for  over  a  month, 


724  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  I  have  had  no  chance  to  write,  or  do  anything  else  but 
look  after  shoeless  and  dead  horses,  disabled  artillery  car 
riages,  etc.  I  tell  you,  we  have  work  enough  to  do  after 
halting  from  a  day's  march.  Horses,  harnesses,  ammuni 
tion  to  repack,  wheels  to  grease,  and  forty  other  things  to 
do,  so  by  the  time  we  are  through,  it  is  time  to  drop  down. 
This  move  was  a  very  singular  one.  Lee  would  chase  us 
25  miles  or  so,  then  our  Army  turns  around  and  chases 
him  back,  like  boys  playing  'tag.'  We  came  over  the  Bull 
Run  battleground  a  few  days  ago,  and  I  tell  you  it  was  a 
sad  sight,  to  see  our  poor  fellows  only  partially  buried,  and 
many  not  buried  at  all.  At  the  place  where  we  halted  you 
could  not  move  without  seeing  a  skull,  arm,  or  leg  of  some 
Union  soldier,  as  we  could  tell  by  the  blue  clothing  they  had 
on.  A  major  of  our  Army,  lay  near  where  we  were,  not 
having  been  buried  at  all.  Probably  he  had  not  been  dis 
covered  before.  Enclosed  I  send  you  some  green,  that  I  got 
near  two  of  the  bodies  o*f  our  men,  that  were  mostly  out  of 
the  ground,  and  the  spot  where  McDowell's  Corps  broke, 
and  so  many  of  our  men  were  killed.  I  also  send  a  clover 
leaf  from  a  large  Fort  built  by  the  Rebels  at  Manassas,  in 
1 86 1.  My  hands  are  so  stiff,  and  the  pen  so  poor,  that  I 
can  hardly  write." 

LETTER    OF    LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"CAMP  NEAR  NEW  BALTIMORE, 

Friday,  Oct.  23,  1863. 

I  saw  in  yesterday's  (Washington)  'Chronicle'  that 
General  Meade  was  ordered  by  the  War  Department  to 
pursue  right  after  the  Rebs.  I  guess  by  this  time  they  are 
well  across  the  two  Raps.  Our  army  is  so  infernally  cau 
tious  we  can  never  do  anything.  Taking  Richmond  this 
way  is  played  out.  Either  break  up  the  Army  o<f  the  Poto 
mac  or  else  try  the  Peninsula,  which  letter  having  been 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  725 

Mac's  plan  must  of  course  be  kept  down !  I  am  pleased  to 
see  the  result  of  the  elections,  and  I  guess  they  will  be  a 
heavy  blow  to  the  Confeds  and  the  Copperheads.  I  hope 
if  we  are  to  go  into  winter  quarters  it  will  be  round  Wash 
ington,  where  the  living  is  better,  and  you  have  a  chance  of 
an  occasional  run  up  to  Washington  and  a  good  dinner. 
You  may  laugh  at  one's  wanting  a  good  dinner,  in  fact,  at 
home  people  have  a  sort  of  notion  that  all  a  soldier  has  to  do 
is  to  look  grand  and  fight  battles,  march  onward,  &c.,  &c., 
but,  out  here,  it  much  more  consists  of  the  little  minutiae  of 
camp  life, — eating,  sleeping,  keeping  clean,  having  your 
eye  everlastingly  on  the  men,  and  being  bothered  by  a  hun 
dred  annoyances.  But  in  return,  you  drink  in  the  splendid 
October  air  described  by  Theodore  Winthrop !  Oh  yes,  at 
the  sweet  hour  of  two  in  the  morning,  when  everything  is 
chilly  and  damp,  and  you  have  two  minutes  to  swallow  a  cup 
of  boiling  coffee !  A  night  move  of  the  Army  is  a  splendid 
sight!  The  whole  plain  as  far  as  you  can  see,  illuminated 
with  ten  thousand  camp  fires, — the  shouts  of  the  men,  the 
braying  of  the  mules.  How  Brigades  and  Divisions  ever 
find  their  way  is  a  marvel,  but  still  they  always  do.  I  hardly 
know  wrhether  you  have  been  able  to  make  out  my  last 
letters.  I  was  sitting  in  our  ambulance  by  the  side  of  the 
road  writing  my  last,  when  some  one  said  that  the  mail  car 
rier  was  passing  by.  So  without  reading  or  even  finishing 
it,  I  bounced  it  into  an  envelope,  and  sent  it  off.  Wherever 
we  go  we  see  dead  cavalry  horses  lying  along  the  roads.  I 
am  sorry  to  hear  you  say  that  poor  Gus  Barker  died.  (A 
captain  in  the  5th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  shot  by  guerillas  near 
Kelly's  Ford.  Harvard,  class  of  1863.)  Are  there  to  be 
none  of  '63  warriors  left  to  chat  together  over  their  adven 
tures  ?  It  seems  strange  how  we  worry  and  fuss  over  horses 
at  home,  always  afraid  that  they  are  getting  cold,  or  sick, 
or  something,  while  here  they  seem  to  be  perfectly  well  and 
not  under  the  slightest  cover.  I  have  blanketed  my  big  one 


726  HISTORY    OF    THE 

twice  since  I  have  been  out  here,  and  that  was  at  first,  before 
he  had  got  at  all  used  to  things.  The  little  one  is  rather 
tough.  I  can't  write  well  when  the  wind  is  blowing  my 
paper  about.  Dinner,  consisting  of  salt  fish-balls,  pork,  and 
ham  scraps,  and  a  pudding  ingeniously  made  of  hard  tack 
and  raisins,  is  almost  ready,  and  I  am  going  to  halt. 

The  same  day :  Lieut.  Spear  and  I  took  a  ride  towards 
New  Baltimore.  Nothing  interesting  going  on." 

From  Appleton's  Diary:  "Oct.  23,  1863.  Camp  near 
New  Baltimore.  Our  little  campaign  of  two  weeks  seems 
about  over,  and  we  have  again  settled  down  to  the  com 
forts  (?)  of  a  camp.  Many  think  we  are  to  settle  down  into 
winter  quarters  near  Washington  or  Warrenton.  I  hate  to 
think  we  are  to  try  to  do  nothing  more.  On  this  day  we 
pitched  our  tents  in  line,  and  on  the  24th  were  ordered  at 
3^  p.  m.,  to  march  about  sunset  in  a  cold  northeast  rain 
storm.  'Boots  and  saddles'  at  5  p.  m.  Marched  with  the 
Corps  to  Auburn  near  Cedar  Run,  between  Warrenton  and 
the  Junction,  and  went  into  park  at  8  p.  m.,  with  orders  to 
move  at  a  moment's  notice.  (Auburn  is  the  name  of  a  post 
office  near  the  estate  of  the  McCormicks,  world  famous 
manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements.)  Here  General 
Judson  Kilpatrick  in  command  of  the  Union  cavalry,  was 
surprised  by  the  confederate  cavalry  general  Stuart,  while 
Kilpatrick  was  in  bivouac  in  a  hollow ;  the  situation  and  the 
state  of  the  atmosphere,  a  dense  fog,  aiding  the  attacking 
party,  who  had  also  a  light  battery  with  them,  but  Kilpatrick 
not  only  escaped  from  the  snare  but  showed  fight  and  beat 
off  the  enemy." 


The  next  day  was  Sunday  the  25th.  The  batteries  of  the 
Corps  changed  ground  and  pitched  camp  over.  Went  into 
position  facing  south.  Very  cold.  The  trains  remain  be 
hind.  Rations  were  not  all  up. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  727 

THE    MASS.    IOTH    BATTERY    NEAR    BY. 

From  Scott's  Notes:  "The  loth  Battery  was  attacked  on 
the  march  with  the  Sixth  Corps.  Serg't.  Woodfin  of  the 
loth  Battery  was  struck  from  his  horse  by  a  ball  passing 
through  his  neck  from  a  rebel  carbine.  Afterwards  he  was 
First  Lieutenant  of  the  i6th  Mass.  Battery." 

This  was  while  Scott  commanded  it.  Colonel  Philip  T. 
Woodfin  was  Governor  of  the  Southern  Branch,  National 
Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers,  at  Hampton,  Va., 
28  years,  and  died  there  August  24,  1901.  The  bullet  that 
struck  him  October  13,  1863,  and  lodged  in  the  back  of  his 
neck,  Captain  Scott  took  from  his  shoulder  July  4,  1864. 

October  26,  1863.  Reveille  at  usual  camp  hour.  Cold 
and  wet.  Lieut.  Appleton  mentions  the  building  of  "a  large 
semi-circular  fireplace  in  front  of  our  tent."  The  men  had 
nothing  but  hard  bread  to  eat  in  the  morning,  but  in  the 
afternoon  the  wagons  came  up.  Some  cannonading  was 
heard  towards  the  Rappahannock,  and  orders  were  received 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  short  notice. 

Private  Dyer  records  that  on  the  night  of  Oct.  26-27, 
was  seen  the  first  ice  of  the  season.  He  was  on  guard  that 
night.  Where  Corporal  Shackley  was,  ice  was  half  an  inch 
in  thickness.  On  the  2/th  firing  was  heard  at  the  south 
towards  the  Rappahannock. 

LIEUT.    APPLETON'S    LETTER    HOME. 

"CAMP  AT  AUBURN  NEAR  CEDAR  RUN, 

Oct.  28,  1863. 

Rode  over  to  Army  H'd  Q'rs  and  called  on  Theodore 
Lyman.  Burt  (the  cook)  brought  us  some  good  grub  from 
Gainesville,  2  turkeys.  Cargill  (Lieut,  in  the  Third  Mass. 
Battery)  called  on  us  from  Boston.  By  the  way,  how  well 
the  Virginians  named  their  streams  here,  every  one  is  a 
'run.'  Last  Saturday  they  interrupted  the  quiet  of  a  rainy 


728  HISTORY    OF    THE 

afternoon  by  an  order  for  an  immediate  start,  so  off  we 
went  for  about  five  miles  and  then  squatted  down  again. 
Colonel  Theodore  Lyman  said  that  Meade's  plan  was  to  try 
to  make  them  give  us  battle,  but  they  didn't  see  it,  as  each 
side  wanted  to  get  choice  of  ground.  The  railroad  has  been 
badly  injured,  and  it  will  take  some  time  for  us  to  put  it  in 
running  order,  though  we  are  working  at  it  pretty  steadily. 
The  roads  are  good  now  but  won't  be  long.  The  horses  out 
here  have  a  playful  way  in  the  night  of  gnawing  off  each 
others'  tails,  which  they  use  as  a  substitute  for  hay.  My 
big  one  had  a  little  piece  bitten  out  of  his  last  night,  but  Joe 
takes  care  to  put  them  well  off  from  the  picket  rope.  I 
guess  you  will  see  some  good  pictures  of  our  late  movements 
in  Harper's.  I  often  see  their  artist  sitting  by  the  side  of 
the  road,  sketching  us  as  we  are  going  over  some  stream. 
One  thing  the  Army  sadly  needs  is  some  good  bands  of 
music :  even  an  unappreciative  ear  enjoys  it  out  here.  The 
other  day  when  we  were  trying  to  get  our  forge  through  a 
big  mud  hole,  and  two  horses  tumbled  down  in  it,  in  suc 
cession,  a  band  was  playing  beautifully  near  by,  and  it 
seemed  to  me  that  it  had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  getting  us 
through  safely.  If  I  were  a  general  I  would  use  a  good 
deal  of  money  on  drilling  a  superb  band.  (After  the  first 
year  Brigade  and  Division  bands  were  all  that  were  al 
lowed.  ) 

I  see  you  are  to  have  more  fun  in  Boston  in  the  drafting 
and  recruiting  biz.  Tell  John  A.  A.  (Governor  Andrew) 
that  cavalry  is  what  we  want  now  to  finish  up  the  work." 

FROM  LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  DIARY. 

"On  the  28th  one  day's  ration  of  soft  bread  and  fresh  meat 
was  issued  to  the  men  at  night.  On  the  2Qth  our  fireplace 
tumbled  down,  but  we  should  have  been  obliged  to  leave 
it,  anyway,  as  we  had  orders  to  march  at  7  a.  m.  of  the  3<Dth 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  729 

for  Three  Mile  Station  on  the  Warrenton  Branch  railroad, 
3  miles  from  Warrenton  Junction.  The  whole  Corps 
hitched  up  and  broke  camp.  Marched  at  9  a.  m.  Marched 
past  Three  Mile  Station  and  came  into  position  about  n 
a.  m.,  about  two  miles  from  Warrenton  Junction,  near  the 
railroad.  The  railroad  to  Rappahannock  and  bridge  were 
being  repaired.  The  hilly  roads  over  which  we  marched 
were  very  bad.  Cars  had  passed  up  the  Branch  the  previous 
evening.  The  railroad  was  repaired  to  the  Junction.  The 
corral  was  moved  from  Gainesville  to  the  vicinity  of  War 
renton  Junction,  and  the  general  headquarters  were  moved." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN   PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  NEAR  THREE  MILE  STATION, 

Oct.  31,   1863. 

We  certainly  have  not  gained  anything  in  the  last  three 
weeks.  Then  we  were  at  Culpeper,  now  we  are  at  Warren 
ton  Junction;  then  the  railroad  was  in  good  order  to  the 
Rapidan,  now  it  runs  as  far  as  Warrenton,  and  the  track 
beyond  that  is  destroyed.  They  can't  get  in  our  rear  unless 
we  get  in  theirs;  they  cannot  cut  our  communications  unless 
we  cut  theirs." 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"CAMP  AT  THREE  MILE  STATION, 

NEAR  WARRENTON  JUNCTION, 

Nov.  i,  1863. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  remember  what  day  of  the  week 
it  is  out  here,  they  are  all  so  much  alike,  but  outward  circum 
stances  need  not  interfere  with  one's  own  ideas  of  a  Sabbath. 
Don't  judge  by  my  writing  that  I  am  getting  weary  of 
things.  Grumbling  on  paper  is  assuredly  one  of  the  privi 
leges  as  well  as  the  pleasures  of  our  life  in  the  'bush,'  as 
Joe  calls  it.  Last  night  was  very  cold  and  windy,  and  I 


730  HISTORY    OF    THE 

found  it  difficult  to  keep  comfortable.  You  wake  up  with 
a  chill,  and  find  yourself  high  and  dry  with  all  your  blankets 
kicked  off  and  then  to  rearrange  them  in  the  dark  is  fraught 
with  difficulties.  I  don't  know  what  to  make  of  this  last 
call  for  300,000  more  volunteers.  It  looks  either  as  if  the 
Administration  expected  the  fighting  to  last  some  time 
or  that  they  desired  plenty  of  men  in  reserve.  If  we 
could  fight  the  Rebs  now,  how  we  should  lick  'em!  But 
they  have  smashed  the  railroad  and  run  off.  I  hope  they 
will  have  no  more  humbug  about  the  matter  of  drafting  and 
recruiting,  exempting,  &c.  The  labors  here  are  not  so  ter 
ribly  severe,  but  that  a  man  of  average  strength  and  health 
can  get  along  very  well  Send  out  that  book  of  mine  which 
I  had  at  Lynn  this  summer,  entitled  'Youatt  on  the  Horse.' 
It  will  be  of  great  use  and  instruction  out  here.  For  my 
servant  Joe,  two  horses  and  myself  I  need  8  blankets,  and 
the  Quartermasters  are  so  slow  that  it  takes  an  everlasting 
time  to  get  any." 


The  drill  was  kept  up  on  the  pieces,  but  the  horses  were 
without  forage  most  of  the  time.  Nov.  2d  the  men  were 
digging  holes  for  picket  posts.  Pontoons  had  been  brought 
the  day  before  to  Warrenton  Junction.  No  forage  was  to 
be  had  for  the  horses.  The  Third  Corps  was  said  to  be 
moving  to  the  front.  On  the  3d,  forage  was  obtained  for 
the  horses  and  it  was  very  warm  and  pleasant. 

NOTES    OF   JOHN    E.    DYER. 

"Nov.  5,  1863,  good  news  was  received  from  the  Massa 
chusetts  and  New  York  elections.  The  men  had  boiled 
pork  and  stewed  dried  apples  for  dinner,  and  the  Artillery 
Reserve  passed  by  our  position  towards  Catlett's  Station. 
Orders  were  issued  for  eleven  days'  rations.  Drill  on  the 
pieces.  The  sutler  Gorham  arrived  in  the  evening  of  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  731 

6th  and  sold  out.  We  had  drill  on  the  piece  and  orders  to 
march  at  6  a.  m.  the  next  morning,  the  7th.  Trains  of 
cars  were  on  fire  on  the  .railroad. 

NOV.  7,   1863.       THE    BATTLE. 

In  the  morning  at  4  a.  m.  we  were  awakened  by  the  joyful 
sound  of  the  bugle,  hitched  up  at  6  a.  m.^  moved  out  on  the 
road  at  7^,  left  the  camp  at  Three  Mile  Station  and 
marched  with  the  Fifth  Corps  to  the  Rappahannock  River, 
where  the  enemy  was  said  to  be  posted,  passing  through 
Bealton.  Near  Rappahannock  Station  we  halted,  remain 
ing  there  all  noon  time,  and  skirmishers  were  thrown  out, 
the  Fifth  Corps  being  deployed  to  the  left  of  the  railroad, 
which  had  been  destroyed  and  the  rails  carried  off  by  the 
Rebs. 

About  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  firing  was  heard  in  front 
at  Kelly's  Ford,  where  were  the  First,  Second,  and  Third 
Corps,  and  we  were  ordered  forward  at  4  p.  m. 


The  rebels  had  thrown  up  earthworks,  which  they  held,  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  river,  their  guns  sweeping  the  low 
ground  in  front  of  them,  over  which  our  attack  must  be 
made.  The  work  was  garrisoned  by  Hays'  Brigade  of 
Early's  Division,  Ewell's  Corps,  and  Hoke's  Brigade  of 
the  same  Division  was  sent  to  reinforce  them. 

On  our  side,  General  David  A.  Russell  was  in  com 
mand  of<  Wright's  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and 
made  the  assault  as  night  was  coming-  on,  the  5th 
Wisconsin  and  6th  Maine  in  advance,  supported  by  our 
artillery  fire  and  the  skirmishers  of  the  I2ist  New  York  and 
2Oth  Maine. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  went  into  position  on  the  left 
of  the  railroad,  900  yards  below  the  rebel  earthworks, 
near  the  bridge.  Corporal  Shackley  noted  in  his  Diary  the 


732  HISTORY    OF    THE 

fact  that  "Captain  A.  P.  Martin  came  to  us,  and  was  pleased 
to  say  'You  are  making  some  fine  shots,  boys !' ' 

The  5th  Battery  fired  112  rounds,  shelling  the  earthworks 
till  dark,  when  the  infantry  charged  the  Station,  captured  the 
fort,  with  8  pieces  of  artillery,  caissons  and  horses,  2  Bri 
gades  and  7  flags.  There  were  no  casualties  in  the  Battery. 
The  Union  loss  in  the  engagement  was  370  killed,  wounded 
and  missing. 

The  Battery  parked  at  night  with  the  Fifth  Corps  back 
from  the  river,  and  on  its  south  side,  about  a  mile  from  the 
field. 

Nov.  8th,  they  w.ere  aroused  at  4  a.  m.,  ate  breakfast,  and 
marched  at  daylight  for  Kelly's  Ford,  where  they  arrived  at 
10  a.  m.  At  12  they  crossed  the  river  on  pontoons  and 
marched  about  5  miles  beyond,  as  far  as  Stephensburg, 
where  they  camped  for  the  night  near  Mountain  Creek. 
The  Army  was  across  the  river. 

Private  Dyer  wrote:  "After  rallying  on  a  rail  fence  we 
unhitched,  and  getting  supper  we  turned  in  for  the  night." 
The  First  and  Second  Corps  were  ahead  and  they  heard 
some  cannonading  towards  the  Rapidan. 

Lieut.  Appleton  observes  that  "General  Meade  passed  us 
and  was  enthusiastically  cheered." 

Nov.  Qth,  Reveille  at  4^  o'clock  at  Stephensburg. 
There  was  a  snow  squall  from  the  westward  during  the 
day,  the  first  of  the  season.  No  orders  at  8  o'clock.  The 
wagon  trains  had  not  come  up.  "Pindar  and  train  lost," 
writes  Appleton,  "and  ice  made  f  of  an  inch  in  thickness. 
Snow  was  seen  on  the  Blue  Ridge.  The  First  and  Second 
Corps  were  at  Brandy  Station.  No  firing  this  day.  The 
Rebs  had  made  preparations  here  for  winter  quarters." 

"Order  in  the  evening  (Scott's  Diary)  to  picket  Mountain 
Creek,  north  bank,  on  the  morrow." 

This  creek  passes  Culpeper.     Private  Dyer  was  on  guard 


• 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  733 

that  night,  which  was  "a  bitter  cold  night,"  with  Corporal 
Proctor. 

This  photograph  which  was  taken  by  Gorman  and  Jordan, 
army  photographers  in  January,  1864,  is  highly  prized  by 
Captain  Appleton,  who  then  purchased  it.  The  following 
is  from  his  Diary :— "The  Army  was  advancing,  after  its 
withdrawal  back  to  Bull  Run.  This  picture  shows  the  rail 
road  (Orange  and  Alexandria  R.  R.)  bridge  across  the  river, 
the  ridge,  and  the  open  lowland.  The  railroad  from  War- 
renton  Junction  to  the  Rappahannock  had  been  repaired. 
The  rebels  had  possession  of  the  ridge,  and  the  open  lowland 
lay  between  them  and  our  forces.  Our  Battery  went  into 
position  alongside  of  Griffin's  Battery  D,  5th  Regt.  U.  S 
Artillery,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Rittenhouse.  We  fired  at 
the  earthworks  afterwards  captured  at  the  bayonet  by  the 
Sixth  Corps.  We  are  now7  (Nov.  9,  1863)  a  good  ways  off 
from  any  railroad  connection.  Pontoons  have  been  sent 
to  Fredericksburg." 

FROM  LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  LETTER  OF  THE 
SAME  DATE. 

"CAMP  BETWEEN  THE  RAPIDAN  AND  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK, 
SIX    MILES   BEYOND   KELLY^S    FORD. 

We  are  just  in  the  beginning  of  what  will  be  a  brilliant 
campaign.  I  hope  soon  to  write  from  Richmond.  Well, 
I  have  been  under  fire,  and  don't  like  it.  It  isn't  pleasant 
to  have  shells  come  whizzing  through  the  woods  and  see 
men  carried  of!  on  stretchers.  One  piece  of  shell  went 
between  Barnard  and  myself  as  we  were  talking  by  the 
roadside.  (This  was  Captain  George  M.  Barnard,  Jr., 
known  as  'Rappahannock  George,'  the  officer  who  mustered 
him  in  at  Beverly  Ford. )  I  guess  we  have  got  the  Rebs  in  a 
tight  place.  We  hear  heavy  firing  every  day.  Our  affair  the 
other  day  was  brilliant  but  short.  I  was  in  the  woods  with 


TS4  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  caissons,  and  as  the  Rebs  fired  very  high  the  shells  fell 
just  around  where  I  was.  No  man  in  the  Battery  was  hit, 
in  fact,  I  guess  I  was  the  nearest  to  it  of  any  one.  I  only 
hope  we  shall  move  on  soon,  and  try  something  more.  Gill- 
more  still  hammers  at  Charleston.  Cargill  and  Carroll 
(Lieut.  Carroll,  brother  of  the  wife  of  General  Griffin  and 
the  Misses  Carroll  of  Washington,  a  lieutenant  in  Griffin's 
Battery)  called,  and  the  latter  dined.  Men's  ^s  (quar 
ters)  fixed  up.  Pleasant  game  of  whist  in  the  evening  with 
Dr.  Bell.  Perhaps  you  have  seen  in  the  papers  something 
about  an  'unknown  battery  by  the.  side  of  Griffin's,  which 
did  good  execution.'  That  was  the  Fifth  Massachusetts. 
By  the  by,  the  Army  is  a  splendid  school  for  the  control  of 
one's  angry  spirits.  Do  what  you  are  told  and  ask  no 
questions.  How  you  sometimes  fret  under  the  restraint, 
like  Folko  on  a  slow  march !" 

INVALID   CORPS. 

Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  to  take  effect  on  November 
15,  1863,  under  General  Orders  No.  365  War  Department: 

O'Connell,  Daniel,  Private  Co.  E,  ist  Massachusetts 
Artillery. 

McKeren,  William,  Private  5th  Massachusetts  Battery. 


LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

Extract  relative  to  the  action  of  the  Battery  at  the 
Battle  of  Rappahannock  Station  taken  from  his  letter  of 
Nov.  15,  1863: — "Although  our  Battery  was  engaged  as 
much  as  any  one  we  have  been  eliminated  out  of  all  the  re 
ports,  and  shall  have  to  fall  back  on  our  reserve  stock  of 
glory.  My  own  impression  is  that  we  did  pretty- good 
shooting.  I  enclose  an  extract  from  the  Philadelphia  In 
quirer,  which  will  show  what  other  people  thought  of-  it. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  735 

'On  the  extreme  right/  says  the  Inquirer  correspondent,  'was 
Captain  Waterman's  Battery  ist  R.  I.  Artillery,  next  to  and 
near  it  that  of  Captain  Martin,  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.  Artil 
lery;  Taft's  Battery  of  Reserve  Artillery,  a  little  to  the  right 
of  the  centre  and  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  at  a  distance  of 
some  twelve  hundred  yards  from  the  rebel  forts,  a  battery 
belonging  to  the  Fifth  Corps,  which  I  regret  not  to  be  able 
to  name,  particularly  as  it  is  said  to  have  worked  with  ex 
cellent  effect.' 

There  were  in  reality  two  batteries  of  the  Fifth  Corps 
engaged:  Rittenhouse's  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.,  and  mine, 
though  as  we  were  side  by  side,  the  general  impression  was 
that  there  was  only  one.  The  battery  referred  to  in  the 
extract  as  'Captain  Martin's  Battery  D,  U.  S.  Art'y'  was 
Lieut.  Martin's  Battery  something  else  U.  S.  Art'y,  belong 
ing  to  the  6th  Corps." 

"Nov.  10,  1863.  (Diary  of  Lieut.  Scott.)  Hitched  up 
and  moved  into  quarters  vacated  by  the  Rebel  Dole's  Bri 
gade,  34  houses.  These  were  well  built,  writh  fireplaces,  and 
the  Battery  was  made  very  comfortable,  with  plenty  of  wood 
to  burn.  The  Rebs  had  made  extensive  preparations  for  a 
winter's  stay  here,  but  now  have  retired  beyond  the  Rapidan. 
Thirty-four  houses  were  taken  by  our  Battery.  Four  bat 
teries,  200  between  them.  Ice  made  J  of  an  inch.  Blue 
Ridge  covered  with  snow." 

In  relation  to  these  comfortable  quarters  Private  Dyer 
said  it  was  "the  first  time  the  Rebs  ever  left  anything  for  our 
benefit.  Much  obliged  to  them  for  skedaddling." 

NOTES  OF  LOUIS  E.  PATTISON. 
Nov.  2,  1901. 

"Action  at  Rappahannock  Station,  Nov.  7,  1863:  Our 
Battery  crossed  to  the  left  of  the  railroad  going  through  a 
piece  of  woods  at  a  trot,  over  rocks  and  stumps,  and  went 


736  HISTORY    OF    THE 

into  Battery  on  the  edge  of  the  woods;  opening  fire  on  one 
of  the  works. 

Our  guns  fired  very  slowly,  the  officers  watching  the 
effect  of  the  sEots,  in  order  at  the  proper  moment  to  cease 
firing,  when  our  infantry  reached  the  forts,  which  they  did 
very  soon,  I  should  say  in  fifteen  to  thirty  minutes,  going 
right  into  them.  They  captured  over  1,000  prisoners,  8 
colors,  all  the  guns,  and  2,000  small  arms.  Their  loss  is 
officially  given  as  419.  Confederate  loss,  1,674.  I  do  not 
remember  that  the  Battery  had  any  loss,  killed  or  wounded. 

It  was  a  very  pretty  little  action,  requiring  quick  move 
ments  and  good  judgment.  We  afterwards  went  into 
winter  quarters  on  the  right  of  the  railroad,  near  the  forts, 
during  the  winter  of  '63  and  '64,  and  cut  the  woods  referred 
to  above,  for  fuel  and  houses  for  quarters." 

These  quarters  were  about  a  mile  distant  from  the  camp 
on  Mountain  Creek.  They  had  been  finished  only  about  ten 
days  previous  and  occupied  by  the  44th  Georgia  Regiment  of 
Dole's  Brigade. 

On  the  nth  of  November  the  men  cleared  up  camp  and 
the  cooks  commenced  cooking  for  the  Battery.  They  found 
the  "Rebs'  "  or  "Johnnies'  >  quarters  quite  comfortable, 
though  some  of  the  quarters  were  not  quite  finished.  Our 
troops  again  occupied  Culpeper.  The  railroad  and  bridge 
were  repaired  and  the  road  from  Warrenton  to  Bealton  was 
being  pushed  through.  General  Meade  was  at  Brandy 
Station. 

Appleton  in  his  account  of  the  day  says : — "The  Rebs  evi 
dently  expected  to  pass  the  winter  here,  and  pitched  in  in 
fine  style,  until  so  agreeably  interrupted  by  us  last  Saturday. 
I  can  well  imagine  how  angry  they  must  be  when  they  know 
that  the  Yankees  are  quietly  enjoying  their  elegant  houses. 
The  splendid  campaign,  which  I  thought  just  beginning, 
seems  to  have  quite  fizzled  out.  All  the  Corps  are,  I  be 
lieve,  quietly  lying  around.  Nov.  12.  Sat  around  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  737 

camp  and  chatted.     It  looks  as  if  we  were  to  stay  here. 


Orders  were  given  to  the  men  to  cover  their  houses  with 
shelter  tents,  and  take  tarpaulins  for  harnesses.  They  made 
harness  racks  on  the  I3th,  and  fixed  up  tents.  On  the  I4th 
they  had  fried  liver  for  dinner  and  played  euchre  in  the 
evening.  Lieuts.  Appleton  and  Blake  with  Lieut.  Cargill 
went  over  the  river  to  the  ist  Division.  Appleton  writes  : — 
"Rained  like  thunder  in  the  evening,  and  the  house  leaked 
muchly.  My  bed  fell  down  about  the  middle  of  the  night." 

"Nov.  15,  1863.  (Scott.)  Ordered  to  be  ready  at  a 
moment's  notice.  Brisk  cannonading  towards  the  Rapidan. 
Railroad  nearly  completed  to  the  Rappahannock.  Drew  1 1 
new  horses." 

"Nov.  1 6.  (Appleton.)  We  put  on  our  pretty  clothes 
and  were  inspected  and  drilled  at  3  p.  m.  by  Captain  Martin 
and  staff.  First  time  since  Culpeper." 


The  inspection  consumed  one  hour  and  a  half,  and  the 
Battery  went  through  manoeuvres  on  changing  front.  The 
cars  were  running  to  Culpeper  on  the  i/th,  and  the  men 
began  building  houses  for  the  officers. 

Corporal  Shackley  remarks  Nov.  :8th  :  "The  winter  cloth 
ing  which  was  sent  to  the  storehouse  about  June  10,  1863, 
was  returned  today." 

Acting  Adjutant  Holman  S.  Melcher  of  the  2Oth  Maine 
Regiment,  remembers  the  Battery  during  the  winter  of  '63- 
'64  "from  their  very  nice  cantonment,  and  the  sound  of  their 
bugle  calls." 

From  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Hon.  Henry  K.  Oliver, 
Treasurer  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  by  Cap 
tain  Augustus  P.  Martin,  commanding  the  Artillery  Bri 
gade,  dated  at  the  Head  Quarters  of  the  Artillery  Brigade, 


738  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Fifth  Army  Corps,  Camp  near  Kelly's  Ford,  Va.,  Nov.  18, 
1863,  in  relation  to  the  services  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
and  its  captain  on  several  battlefields : — 

"He"  (Captain  Phillips)  "has  proved  himself  to  be  one  of  the 
bravest,  coolest  and  most  reliable  officers  on  the  field,  and  one  of  the 
most  prompt,  energetic,  faithful  and  competent  officers  in  camp,  within 
my  knowledge.  His  services  and  that  of  his  battery  at  Fredericksburg 
and  Rappahannock  Station  were  of  the  most  valuable  character,  and 
have  received  the  highest  commendation  and  praise  of  his  superior 
officers.  He  was  not  under  my  command  at  Gettysburg,  but  I  have 
read  the  portions  of  the  official  report  of  his  commanding  officer  relat 
ing  to  the  services  of  himself  and  battery,  which  was  commendable  in 
the  highest  degree  (see  p.  667,  McGilvery's  Report)  and  was  not  sur 
passed  by  any  battery  upon  that  field." 

FROM  LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  DIARY. 

"The  ist  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  came  up  from  the 
Rappahannock,  where  they  had  been  on  picket  between 
Kelly's  Ford  and  Bealton.  Two  splendid  boxes  bearing  the 
express  niarks  of  Boston  filled  with  jolly  grub  from  home 
arrived  safely,  and  is  being  appreciated  by  the  mess.  We 
had  singing  and  a  serenade  in  the  evening.  Nov.  19,  super 
intended  the  working  on  the  houses.  2Oth,  we  are  still 
ensconced  on  our  'Georgia  Plantation.'  My  log  house  has 
a  tent  fly  for  a  roof,  chimney  at  the  end." 

The  contents  of  the  boxes  were  intended  for  Thanksgiving 
dinner  but  were  devoured  on  arrival  from  fear  they  would 
have  orders  to  move  as  proved  to  be  the  case. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"Nov.  20,  1863.  Rode  over  to  the  camp  of  the  2Oth  Mass. 
Regiment  Infantry,  and  dined  with  John  Perry  (John  Gar 
diner  Perry,  assistant  surgeon  of  the  2Oth),  and  Rittenhouse 
supped  with  me  in  my  shanty.  One  pleasant  feature  of  our 
life  in  Virginia  is  its  delicious  uncertainty.  You  sit  wearily 
in  your  camp  doing  nothing  one  day,  and  the  next  morning 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  739 

you  are  whistled  up  at  two  to  start  on  a  big  march  and 
perhaps  fight.  You  know  that  you  may  any  day  be  detailed 
to  go  to  Washington  on  some  court  martial,  or  to  Boston  on 
recruiting  service,  and  exchange  the  toils  of  camp  for  the 
gayeties  of  a  metropolis.  The  prospect  of  some  possible 
change  for  the  better  or  for  worse  is  always  before  you." 

LETTER  FROM  HON.  HENRY  K.  OLIVER,  TREASURER  OF 

THE  STATE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS,  TO  CAPTAIN 

AUGUSTUS  P.  MARTIN. 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

STATE  TREASURER'S  OFFICE, 

BOSTON  Nov.  23,  1863. 

CAPTAIN  A.  P.  MARTIN,  Commander  of  Artillery  Brigade,  5th  Army 
Corps.     CAMP  NEAR  KELLY'S  FORD,  VA. 

Captain. 

Permit  me  to  thank  you  in  the  most  earnest  manner  for  your  very 
acceptable  letter  respecting  my  friend  Captain  C.  A.  Phillips.  Your 
thorough  commendation  of  him  has  afforded  me  the  highest  gratifica 
tion,  and  will  deeply  affect  his  family  and  many  friends  in  Massachu 
setts.  I  have  taken  the'  liberty  of  showing  your  letter  to  Gov.  Andrew, 
who  was  highly  gratified  at  the  good  name  acquired  by  an  officer  of 
his  appointing.  With  your  leave  I  will  also  send  the  letter  to  Hon. 
Mr.  Phillips  (Stephen  H.)  and  the  Capt.'s  family  at  Salem. 
With  many  thanks  I  am  truly  yours, 

H.  K.  OLIVER. 

Can  a  copy  be  had  of  that  part  of  the  Official  Report  of  Captain 
Phillips'  commanding  officer,  relating  to  the  service  of  himself  and 
Battery  at  Gettysburg.  Gov.  Andrew  would  like  to  see  it. 

H.  K.  O. 
(See  p.  667.) 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  ARTILLERY  FIRE  AT  MINE  RUN. 
NOVEMBER  27-30,  1863. 

"We  must  forget  all  feelings  save  the  one; 

We  must  resign  all  passions  save  our  purpose ; 

We  must  behold  no  object  save  our  country, 

And  only  look  on  death  as  beautiful. 

So  that  the  sacrifice  ascend  to  Heaven 

And  draw  down  freedom  on  her  evermore." 

(Quoted  by  His  Excellency  John  A.  Andrew,  at  the 
close  of  his  address  to  the  two  branches  of  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts  in  extra  session, 
November  n,  1863.) 

The  campaign  of  Mine  Run  though  planned  by  General 
Meade  for  an  offensive  movement  to  surprise  Lee  in  winter 
quarters,  and  turn  his  flank  by  making  a  rapid  advance  to 
Orange  Court  House,  seizing  by  the  way  the  Plank 
Road  and  the  turnpike,  actually  resulted  in  two  fights; 
one  in  which  cavalry  under  Gregg  was  engaged  and 
was  delivered  by  the  Fifth  Corps  on  November  27, 
1863,  and  an  assault  by  the  artillery,  which  was  t3 
have  been  supported  by  infantry,  had  the  plans  of  the 
leader  been  carried  out.  The  infantry,  however,  failed 
to  bear,  its  part  in  the  attack,  General  Gouverneur  K. 
Warren  by  later  and  closer  observation  of  the  strength 
and  position  of  the  rebels  having  formed  the  opinion,  which 
was  approved,  on  investigation,  by  General  Meade,  that  there 
was  no  possibility  of  a  successful  result.  General  Warren's 
command  at  that  time  was  composed  of  portions  of  the 
Second  and  Third  Corps  and  comprised  nearly  one  half  of 
the  infantry  of  the  Army. 


740 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY,  741 

The  crossing-  of  the  Rapidan  was  made  in  three  columns. 
It  was  to  be  done  so  quickly  as  to  compel  the  enemy  to 
give  battle  on  a  ground  and  at  a  time  of  our  own  choosing, 
and  to  be  so  suddenly  called  upon  to  defend  themselves  as 
to  leave  them  no  time  to  concentrate  their  forces.  But  it 
would  seem,  in  the  light  of  subsequent  developments,  that  in 
the  nature  of  the  case  we  had  to  be  too  long  about  it  to 
make  this  undertaking  much  of  a  surprise. 

It  was  on  the  26th  that  the  Third  Corps  followed  by  the 
Sixth  Corps  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Jacob's  Mills,  and  the 
Second  Corps  at  Germanna  Ford,  both  aiming  for  Robert 
son's  Tavern  to  effect  a  junction  of  their  forces.  The  Fifth 
Corps,  followed  by  two  Divisions  of  the  First  Corps,  crossed 
at  Culpeper  Ford,  its  objective  point  being  Parker's  Store 
on  the  way  to  Robertson's  Tavern  and,  if  possible,  to  make 
that  point,  where  it  was  proposed  to  concentrate  the  Army. 

The  Second  Corps,  commanded  by  General  G.  K.  War 
ren,  reached  the  Tavern  about  10  a.  m.  of  the  2/th  and 
halted,  waiting  for  the  Third  Corps  under  command  of 
General  Thomas  French. 

The  Fifth  Corps  under  General  George  Sykes,  after  wait 
ing  for  the  Second  and  Third  Corps  to  cross  the  river, 
arrived  at  Parker's  Store  at  9  a.  m.  of  the  27th  and  found 
the  cavalry  under  General  John  I.  Gregg,  who  had  been  in 
structed  to  cover  the  Left  flank  of  the  Army,  engaged  with 
the  Confederate  cavalry,  and  obliged  to  fight  dismounted  on 
account  of  the  dense  woods. 

The  Fifth  Corps  took  position  at  New  Hope  Church,  and 
relieved  the  cavalry,  driving  away,  and  completely  quieting 
the  rebel  cavalry  and  their  infantry  skirmishers.  Thus  far 
the  programme  had  been  carried  out  according  to  instruc 
tions,  but  the  Fifth  Corps  was  not  permitted  to  advance 
farther  than  the  intersection  of  the  road  from  Raccoon  Ford 
with  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Plank  Road,  as  the  Third 
Corps  had  not  made  its  connection  with  the  Second  Corps. 


742  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  Third  Corps  had  been  having  its  own  little  encounter 
with  the  enemy  at  Raccoon  Ford. 

When  the  pursuit  was  at  last  organized  and  under  way, 
the  Second  Corps  was  ahead,  and  on  November  28th  found 
the  rebels  securely  established  on  the  west  bank  of  Mine 
Run.  In  the  evening  of  that  day  the  Second,  Sixth,  First, 
and  Third  Corps  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  frort  of  the 
enemy,  and  at  4  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the- 29th  the  Fifth 
Corps  came  into  line,  relieving  the  Second  Corps. 

The  bank  along  which  for  miles  the  Confederate  army 
was  massed  and  where  they  had  erected  strong  earthworks, 
was  100  feet  high  at  this  point  sloping  about  1000  yards, 
cleared  ground  to  the  creek  or  run.  At  other  points  the 
bank  was  steep,  rocky,  and  covered  with  wood.  The  stream 
itself  was  narrow,  but  the  approach  to  it  was  swampy  and  in 
places  an  impassable  bog.  The  attempt  to  attack  by  assault 
at  this  point  under  these  disadvantages,  was  not  given 
serious  thought,  and  the  Fifth  Corps  having  taken  the  place 
of  the  Second,  the  latter  was  sent  off  to  try  to  turn  the 
enemy's  Right  flank,  while  the  Sixth  and  Fifth  Corps  at 
tempted  to  turn  his  Left.  Warren's  two  Divisions  of  the 
Third  Corps  were  taken  from  the  Centre  when  the  contem 
plated  attack  was  abandoned  in  favor  of  Warren's  venture, 
which  it  was  determined  should  be  the  main  attack.  The 
batteries  of  the  Centre  and  Right  were  ordered  to  open  fire 
at  8  a.  m.  of  November  3Oth,  and  at  9  o'clock  the  Sixth 
Corps  under  General  John  Sedgwick  was  to  assault  with  his 
columns,  on  the  extreme  Right  of  the  Union  lines. 

With  its  usual  precision  the  artillery  opened  promptly  at 
8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  3Oth  as  ordered,  but  Warren 
had  seen  reason,  as  stated,  to  abandon  his  attack  and  General 
Meade  coinciding  with  General  Warren  in  his  views,  the 
waiting  Sixth  Corps  was  thus  informed  at  8.50,  and  the 
suspension  of  Sedgwick's  assault  was  made  permanent. 
Also  as  a  consequence  General  Warren  relinquished  the  two 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  743 

Divisions  of  the  Third  Corps  which  returned  to  the  Centre, 
and  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  resumed  their  former  posi 
tions.  The  situation  now  resolved  itself  back  into  its  origi 
nal  proportions  and  relations,  except  that  the  artillery  fire 
had  let  the  proverbial  cat  "out  of  the  bag"  by  exposing  our 
position  and  plans,  and  the  Confederates  commenced  in 
earnest  to  reinforce  and  strengthen  their  fortifications,  per 
ceiving  which  General  Meade  withdrew  his  army  and  dis 
posed  his  troops  in  various  well  chosen  positions,  to  guard 
the  railroads,  as  if  anything  so  manifestly  injudicious  as  a 
Mine  Run  campaign  was  farthest  from  his  thoughts.  In  a 
note  on  a  fly  leaf  of  "The  Officers'  Companion,"  Lieut. 
Nathan  Appleton  says  "the  Mine  Run  campaign  showed  the 
disadvantage  of  having  so  many  corps  commanders." 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

Nov.  23,  1863.  Brigade  drill  of  4  batteries  by  Captain 
Martin  from  10  a.  m.  to  ^  past  2  p.  m.  Quite  an  event 
for  the  Artillery  Brigade,  the  first  one  and  very  well  done. 
Captains  Phillips  and  Barnes  acted  as  majors.  Lieut.  Scott 
in  command  of  Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  Lieut.  Appleton  acted 
as  adjutant. 

Orders  to  pack  ready  for  a  march.  Twenty-five  men 
came  to  the  Battery  this  morning,  detached  from  the  in 
fantry.  The  whole  army  set  out  to  move  under  an  order 
which  said  they  were  to  cross  the  Rapidan,  have  a  long 
march,  and  be  ready  for  anything. 

Nov.  24th.  Hitched  up  at  5  a.  m.,  moved  out  on  the  road 
at  -J  past  6,  in  the  midst  of  a  big  rain  storm,  and  marched 
about  four  miles  towards  the  Rapidan— the  going  was  very 
heavy — then  turned  round  and  came  back  again  to  camp; 
arriving  at  9  a.  m.,  feeling  wet  and  cross.  Ordered  to  move 
on  the  26th,  Thanksgiving  Day.  Lieut.  Appleton  in  a  letter 
observes  that  they  were  unwilling  to  repeat  the  experience  of 


744  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Burnside's  celebrated  "mud  march,"  and  so  turned  back. 
His  letter  proceeds  as  follows : — "However  we  were  'under 
orders,'  implying  that  we  shall  start  tomorrow  or  next  day, 
if  the  weather  permits.  I  hope  it  will  keep  dry,  as  I  want 
to  advance  and  let  those  poor  starving  fellows  out  of  Libby 
Prison.  Why  we  have  wasted  the  last  fortnight  I  don't  see. 
Cutting  across  Virginia  fields  is  different  from  driving  a 
buggy  over  macadamized  streets." 

Referring  to  the  Brigade  drill  he  says :  "You  can  imagine 
that  it  was  quite  a  sight  to  see  24  pieces  of  artillery,  24 
caissons,  over  300  horses,  and  their  complement  of  men, 
dashing  over  a  field,  rattling  through  ditches,  and  going 
through  lots  of  complicated  evolutions.  Such  a  sight  on 
Boston  Common  would  draw  quite  a  crowd.  I  took  the 
part  of  an  assistant  adjutant.  We  are  now  much  better 
prepared  (by  the  addition  of  the  25  men)  to  haul  our  guns 
out  of  mud  holes. 

I  read  Mr.  Everett's  speech  at  Gettysburg  (see  p.  673). 
It  was  very  good,  and  the  ceremonies  must  have  been  very 
impressive." 

Nov.  25,  1863.  Drill  on  pieces.  Orders  came  at  night 
to  be  ready  to  move  the  next  morning.  Extra  rations  were 
drawn.  It  was  a  splendid,  moonlight  night,  clear  and 
frosty.  Reveille  at  3^  o'clock,  and  leaving  their  pleasant 
quarters,  which  they  were  to  see  no  more,  they  marched  at 
daybreak  of  the  26tli  with  the  Fifth  Corps  to  Culpeper  or 
Ely's  Ford,  on  the  Rapidan  River,  which  they  reached  at 
eleven  o'clock.  At  the  Ford  there  was  some  firing  by 
Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y.,  Captain  Almont  Barnes,  and  Battery 
L,  ist  Ohio,  Captain  Frank  C.  Gibbs;  also  at  the  Right.  At 
i  p.  m.  the  Battery  crossed  the  river,  marched  across  country 
and  at  4  struck  what  Dyer  calls  "the  renowned  Fredericks- 
burg  Plank  Road,"  marched  to  Wilderness,  not  far  from 
Chancellorsville,  and  bivouacked  at  the  side  of  the  road, 
leaving  the  carriages  in  the  road,  and  hitching  their  horses 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  745 

to  the  trees.  This  was  about  8  p.  m.  Got  supper  and 
turned  in  about  9  o'clock.  During  this  day's  march  General 
Meade  ordered  a  despatch  to  be  read  to  the  troops,  announc 
ing  the  great  victories  of  the  Union  arms  at  Chattanooga 
and  Lookout  Mountain,  under  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 

THE  CROSSING  OF  THE  RAPIDAN. 

From  Lieut.  Appleton's  Notes :  "After  finding  that  we 
could  cross  the  river  with  no  opposition,  we  did  so  at  Ely's 
Ford,  and  soon  the  artillery  was  climbing  the  opposite  bank, 
some  of  the  carriages  being  drawn  by  ten  or  more  horses, 
and  lagging  behind  at  that.  I  lunched  with  the  officers  of 
the  9th  Mass.  Infantry  when  we  stopped  for  a  noondav  halt. 

And  now  General  Sykes  was  in  a  dilemma  to  find  the 
road  and  follow  the  tracks  of  the  infantry.  Here  I  began  to 
act  as  Aide  to  Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin,  who  had  only 
one  staff  officer  with  him,  and  the  business  of  looking  after 
six  batteries  is  extended  and  responsible. 

We  cut  through  the  woods,  and  soon  struck  the  celebrated 
Germanna  Plank  Road  (a  part  of  the  plank  road  leads  from 
Germanna  to  Wilderness)  which  leads  to  Chancellorsville, 
and  for  the  possession  of  which  there  was  at  that  battle  con 
siderable  contest.  We  went  on  slowly,  as  many  little 
bridges  had  to  be  built,  and  at  dusk  the  Corps  bivouacked 
where  they  were,  on  each  side  of  the  road,  the  troops  coming 
up  by  degrees,  and  so  falling  asleep  by  the  roadside." 

Nov.  27,  1863.  At  6  a,  m.  the  Battery  hitched  up  and 
soon  moved  by  a  cross  road  to  the  Plank  Road  leading  to 
Orange  Court  House.  The  advance  skirmished  most  of  the 
way.  The  roads  were  so  muddy  and  rough,  and  frozen  so 
hard,  that  many  wheels  on  the  gun  carriages  and  other 
vehicles  were  broken,  but  they  arrived  after  marching  8  or 
10  miles  near  New  Verdiersville  and  relieved  Gregg's  Divi 
sion  of  cavalry.  Skirmished  with  the  enemy  all  day.  At 
3  o'clock  p.  m.  came  up  with  their  main  body,  and  were 


746  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ordered  into  action  at  New  Hope  Church.  Lieut.  Scott  was 
wounded  in  the  hand  by  a  piece  of  shell.  Fired  until  dark. 
Got  supper  and  turned  in  for  the  night  on  the  field.  Battery 
still  in  position.  Heard  chopping  all  night.  Some  Corps 
ammunition  wagons  in  the  rear  had  been  cut  out  by  the  Rebs 
and  William  Greeley  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  cap 
tured  with  Lieut.  William  H.  Follett  who  had  been  commis 
sioned  to  the  Third  Mass.  Battery,  but  had  never  joined. 
Captain  A.  P.  Martin's  mess  wagon  was  captured. 

"The  Fifth  Army  Corps"  (Scott's  Notes)  "found  the 
enemy  strongly  intrenched  beyond  Mine  Run,  a  treacherous 
stream.  The  Fifth  Corps  occupied  the  Left  of  the  line  of 
battle,  the  Right  reaching  away  to  Robertson's  Tavern. 
The  whole  country  was  almost  a  wilderness.  All  the  Army 
was  up  at  this  point.  On  November  27th,  1863,  the  Fifth 
Mass.  Battery  stood  in  line  of  battle  on  a  rise  of  ground  in 
a  lane,  scrub  and  brush  wood  on  either  side,  and  a  dense 
forest  of  pines  but  a  short  distance  across  an  open  swale. 
Nothing  to  be  seen  in  front.  On  our  right  we  could  see  a 
battery  engaged,  and  shell  were  exploding  all  about  us.  A 
lead  horse  of  the  Battery  was  struck  by  a  piece  of  shell  and 
dropped  on  his  knees,  but  was  not  killed.  An  officer  rode 
up  to  Captain  Phillips  and  asked  why  he  was  not  engaged. 
Phillips  replied  that  he  had  no  orders,  nor  could  he  see  any 
thing  to  fire  at.  The  officer  said :  'Use  your  judgment  as 
an  officer.  Fire  over  the  woods  in  your  front/ 

The  Battery  filed  into  the  brush  on  the  left  of  the  lane,  and 
opened  fire  through  the  woods.  No  enemy  was  to  be  seen, 
and  our  troops  on  the  left  as  far  as  could  be  seen  were  lying 
on  the  ground  face  down,  knapsacks  on  their  backs.  A  lull 
came  in  the  firing,  and  the  men  of  the  Battery  set  to  work 
cutting  down  trees  and  brush,  to  enable  the  cannoneers  to 
get  the  limber  about  in  case  we  had  to  move  out.  While  we 
were  about  this  duty,  a  sharp  fragment  of  a  shell  struck 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  747 

the  forefinger  of  my  left  hand,  and  I  rode  to  a  hospital  in 
the  rear  and  had  it  dressed. 

Returning  to  the  Battery,  I  found  it  had  been  decided  that 
the  Left  was  unassailable,  and  the  artillery  was  ordered  to 
Robertson's  Tavern,  but  remained  in  position  during  the 
night." 

FROM  LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"On  the  27th  off  at  daybreak,  struck  a  dirt  road,  which 
soon  led  to  another  plank  road  parallel  to  the  first,  and  also 
in  the  direction  of  Orange  Court  House.  On,  on,  we 
trudged,  and  soon  we  heard  heavy  cannonading,  which 
every  minute  grew  nearer,  mixed  now  and  then  with  the 
sharp  cracks  of  the  carbine.  We  soon  came  to  the  little 
village  of  Mt.  Hope  Church,  where  the  Corps  rushed  on  at 
'double  quick'  to  relieve  the  shattered  squadrons  of  Gregg, 
and  a  splendid  sight  it  was.  The  cavalry  formed  in  squares 
by  the  road  side,  right  glad  to  be  relieved,  by  the  'Dough 
boys,'  and  our  artillery  rushing  on  to  the  front.  Captain 
Martin  soon  got  the  batteries  in  posish,  and  in  fact  the  only 
righting  our  Corps  did  was  done  by  the  artillery.  I  soon 
heard  that  Charlie  Longfellow  had  been  wounded,  and  stole 
the  first  minute  I  could  get  to  run  off  to  the  hospital,  Mt. 
Hope  Church,  \vhere  I  saw  the  dear  boy,  lying  on  the  pulpit, 
and  surrounded  by  the  officers  of  the  regiment  (First  Mass. 
Cavalry).  He  looked  and  talked  well,  but  I  did  not  have 
but  a  minute  to  stay  with  him,  as  my  biz.  then  was  on  the 
field. 

Well,  the  Rebs  retired.  Sykes  was  perplexed.  The  in 
fantry  in  the  woods,  and  the  sun  set. 

That  night  I  passed  with  Captain  Martin  at  Walcott's 
camp.  One  man  in  the  Ohio  battery  was  killed,  two 
wounded;  also  Lieut.  Scott  of  our  Battery,  wounded  in  the 
hand. 


748  HISTORY    OF    THE 

I  went  again  to  the  hospital  in  the  evening-,  but  Charlie 
had  gone,  as  they  had  taken  off  all  except  the  worst  cases. 
I  assure  you  it  was  not  a  pleasant  sight.  Charlie  and  Bow- 
ditch  (Captain  Henry  Pickering  Bowditch  shot  in  the  right 
forearm)  went  off  together.  Charlie  was  wounded  by  a 
ball  just  under  the  shoulder  blade,  injuring  the  spine,  but 
missing  the  vital  parts." 

Of  Lieut.  William  H.  Follett,  the  ordnance  officer  who 
was  captured  by  rebel  cavalry  between  Parker's  Store  and 
Mt.  Hope  Church,  Lieut.  Appleton  says :  "He  is  a  jolly 
fellow,  a  regular  character,  whose  jokes  are  well  known  and 
laughed  at  all  through  the  Corps.  One  of  his  expressions 
for  the  delights  of  campaigning,  taking  off  the  Irish  brogue, 
was :  'Oh,  that  ever  I  should  lave  me  nice  dacent,  clane, 
fither  bed,  and  come  out  here  and  slape  in  a  bag,  and  be 
wrhistled  out  like  a  dog  in  the  morning  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  night.'  " 

OBSERVATIONS  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

On  the  expedition  across  the  Rapidan  in  a  letter  of  Dec. 
14,  1863: 

"I  do  not  consider  the  movement  a  great  military  success 
on  our  part,  though  I  do  not  know  where  the  trouble  lies.  I 
think  it  was  about  the  coldest  excursion  I  was  ever  on. 
The  nights  were  very  cold  while  we  were  in  position  on 
Mine  Run,  and  I  do  not  wonder  that  some  of  the  skirmishers 
froze  to  death." 

Of  the  Fifth  Corps  Ammunition  train  he  says:  "The 
Corps  had  started  from  Wilderness.  .  .  .  The  Ammu 
nition  Train  was  immediately  in  rear  of  the  Corps  and  the 
ist  Corps  immediately  in  rear  of  the  Train.  While  the 
Train  was  passing  along  the  Dirt  Road  to  cross  from  one 
Plank  Road  to  the  other,  they  were  attacked  by  about  100 
rebel  cavalry.  Some  of  the  teams  were  driven  across  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  749 

Orange  C.  H.  road  into  the  Cart  Path,  but  the  greater  num 
ber  were  set  on  fire  in  the  road  and  blown  up.  The  whole 
thing  was  conducted  very  quietly,  and  they  might  have 
carried  off  the  whole  train  if  the  advance  of  the  ist  Corps 
had  not  driven  them  off.  As  it  was  they  carried  off  Lieut. 
Pond,  Ordn.  Off.  2d  Division,  and  Lieut.  Follett  of  Martin's 
Battery,  Ordnance  Officer  of  the  Artillery  Brigade.  The 
wagons  carried  off  and  destroyed  were,  the  Artillery  Am 
munition  Train,  the  Ammunition  Train  of  the  ist  and  2d 
Divisions,  and  several  Head  Quarters  and  Hospital  Wagons. 
It  was  a  very  cool  operation." 


On  November  28,  1863,  they  got  hitched -up  by  daylight 
in  a  heavy  rain  storm,  and  the  Battery  was  taken  out  of 
line,  and  marched  by  the  right  flank  to  Robertson's  Tavern 
and  parked  for  the  night.  The  rebels  were  in  position  on 
the  west  bank  of  Mine  Run,  and  could  be  distinctly  seen 
from  where  they  were.  They  joined  the  rest  of  the  Army 
which  was  massed  here  and  from  which  they  had  been  cut 
off  the  previous  day.  They  went  into  camp  at  the  Tavern 
at  7  p.  m.  Order  came  to  unhitch  and  unharness  at  9  p.  m. 

THE  INVALID  CORPS. 

(War  Department.)      Nov.  28,   1863. 

Under  General  Orders  No.  38!,  to  take  effect  December  i, 
1863,  transferred, 

Corporal  John  Egan,  Co.  E,  5th  Massachusetts  Artillery. 

VIEWS  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"The  next  morning"  (Nov.  28th)  "saw  a  fatal  mistake. 
Our  Corps  packed  up  and  went — cut  through  the  woods — 
to  Robertson's  Tavern,  and  joined  the  rest  of  the  Army. 
We  should  have  stayed  where  we  were,  and  pitched  into 
the  Rebs.  A  pouring  rainy  morn  and  every  one  feeling 


750  HISTORY    OF    THE 

that  a  big  battle  was  imminent.  We  frittered  away  the  day, 
and  the  next  morning,  Sunday,  the  29th,  we  went  out  a 
mile  to  the  front,  and  took  our  place  in  the  line  of  battle 
behind  some  hastily  thrown  up  earthworks.  The  Second 
Corps  spent  the  day  in  marching  round  to  exactly  the  place 
we  left  yesterday,  viz.,  the  Left  wing.  Thus  a  whole  day 
was  wasted. 

The  two  armies  were  now  face  to  face,  battery  opposite 
battery,  but  still  not  a  gun  was  fired.  The  sun  set.  The 
night  was  bitter  cold.  I  slept  cuddled  up  under  a  tarpaulin 
in  range  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  with  the  strange  feeling 
in  me,  that  probably  by  tomorrow  one  of  the  biggest  battles 
this  continent  had  ever  seen  would  be  fought,  and,  God 
grant,  the  rebellion  finished;  that  of  the  splendid  army 
around  me  by  tomorrow  night  thousands  would  be  killed  or 
wounded." 


"Sunday,  Nov.  29,  1863."  (Dyer's  Notes.)  "Reveille 
at  3^  a.  m.  No  bugles  blown.  Started  at  daybreak  to 
relieve  the  Sixth  Corps.  Marched  about  a  mile.  Went 
into  position  about  1500  yards  from  the  enemy.  In  about 
an  hour  the  Right  and  Left  sections  were  withdrawn  to 
make  room  for  some  32  pounders.  No  firing  occurred  to 
day  except  by  our  skirmishers.  Signs  of  a  big  fight  to 
morrow.  Rebs  showed  a  big  front  today.  Very  cold." 

The  line  of  battle  was  across  the  turnpike  near  Old  Ver- 
diersville.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  Run  were  the 
enemy's  works.  The  guns  which  took  the  place  of  the 
Right  and  Left  sections,  belonged  to  Battery  M,  ist  Conn. 
Artillery. 

Lieut.  Scott  went  into  the  hospital  tent.  His  hand  was 
very  painful,  and  the  night  was  extremely  cold.  The  men 
slept  on  the  ground  without  tents.  The  water  in  the  Run 
was  icy,  and  the  approach  to  the  precipitous  banks  whereon 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  751 

the  enemy  was  intrenched  was  a  treacherous  swamp  to  cross 
which  it  was  said  it  would  take  eight  minutes,  exposed  to  a 
terrible  fire. 

THE  PROMPTNESS  OF  THE  BATTERIES. 

"Nov.  30,  1863"  (Dyer's  Notes),  ''opened  cold  and  blus 
tering  after  a  very  cold  night.  Got  up  at  3  o'clock.  No 
bugles  allowed  to  be  blown.  Hitched  up  and  moved  a  little 
to  the  rear  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy.  The  ball  opened  on 
our  side  at  8  o'clock  a.  m.  and  continued  i-J  hours — Lieut, 
Scott  took  his  section  into  position — but  the  enemy  would 
not  respond.  During  the  day  two  sections  went  to  relieve 
the  heavy  guns  of  Sergt.  Sims,  but  General  Meade  ordered 
us  back  again.  Some  ladies  passed  us  going  to  the  rear  this 
morning.  Orders  came  to  be  ready  to  move  any  time 
during  the  night." 

At  4  p.  m.  of  Nov.  3Oth  parked  in  the  woods  and  kept  up 
a  big  fire.  At  Head  Quarters  a  council  of  war  was  held  and 
a  backward  movement  was  ordered. 

FROM  LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  NOTES. 

"Nov.  30,  1863.  A  cold,  raw,  windy  day.  An  orderly 
came  at  four  with  orders  for  us  to  open  fire  at  eight  a.  m. 
At  8  o'clock  we  opened  fire  with  50  guns.  No  response 
from  the  enemy.  We  ceased.  I  saw  Colonel  Wainwright, 
whose  batteries  were  next  to  us,  and  had  a  chat  with  him. 
A  little  fire  from  the  Rebs  at  noon  which  we  soon  silenced, 
a  little  more  at  dusk,  and  the  day  was  over.  The  red  flags 
floated  gaily  over  the  hospitals  for  in  them  were  no 
wounded!  At  night  the  order  came  for  half  the  artillery 
and  all  the  trains  and  ambulances  to  recross  the  Rapidan. 
We  all  saw  the  meaning,  we  were  to  retire  without  a  fight." 

"Dec.  i,  1863."  (Scott's  Notes.)  "The  morning  was  very 
cold.  Ice  made  i  in.  thick.  A  picket  said  to  have  been 


752  HISTORY    OF    THE 

chilled  to  death  on  the  line.  Phillips  ordered  with  3  bat 
teries  to  join  the  Artillery  Reserve  to  recross  the  Rapidan. 
At  sunrise  we  moved  out  over  fields  frozen  solid  that  the 
day  before  artillery  had  mired  on.  At  noon  with  the  ammu 
nition  and  other  trains  we  forded  the  Rapidan,  waist  deep, 
at  Ely's  Ford,  and  went  into  park  in  a  piece  of  woods. 
Horses  stood  in  harness  all  night.  The  whole  Army  re- 
crossing  the  river.  The  road  was  blocked  with  trains 
moving  back  to  the  rear.  It  would  be  hard  to  describe  the 
situation  that  surrounded  us  in  swamp  and  woods.  With 
the  travel,  the  road,  all  had  to  move  on,  became  liquid  mud. 
We  kept  up  a  fire  all  night  and  froze  one  side  and  burnt 
the  other.  I  had  not  seen  a  more  trying  time  for  the  men 
and  horses."" 

"Dec.  i,  1863."  (Shackley's  Notes.)  "The  Centre  section 
was  ordered  to  join  the  others  (the  Right  and  Left  sections 
ordered  out  of  the  earthworks  near  Mine  Run  to  make  room 
for  Battery  M,  ist  Conn.  Art'y.)  and,  with  two  of  the  Fifth 
Corps  batteries  and  the  Reserve  Artillery  crossed  the  Rapi 
dan  at  Ely's  Ford,  and  went  into  park  about  2  miles  from 
the  river.  Unhitched,  cleaned  our  horses,  then  hitched  up 
and  remained  all  night." 

The  place  where  they  parked  was  near  the  wagons  at 
Richardsville,  and  here  they  waited  to  be  ready  to  march 
with  the  Fifth  Corps  when  it  came  along.  With  them  were 
Gibbs'  and  Barstow's  (Battery  F,  and  K,  3d  U.  S.)  batteries 
and  they  were  ordered  to  report  to  General  Tyler  at  Robert 
son's  Tavern.  The  column  consisted  of  the  Reserve  Artil 
lery,  and  one  half  of  the  Corps  Artillery.  Lieut.  Appleton 
spent  part  of  the  time  in  the  rear  with  four  pieces,  and  part 
with  the  other  two.  He  headquartered  for  the  night  with 
the  Third  Mass,  Battery  in  the  pines.  "Through  the  night," 
he  wrote,  "sometimes  on  foot  to  keep  warm,  sometimes  on 
horseback  and  with  frequent  halts,  we  had  performed  the 
tedious  march." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  753 

Dec.  2d,  about  4  p.  m.,  the  Battery  resumed  the  march, 
moving  along  8  miles  with  the  Artillery  Reserve.  The  road 
was  blocked  up  with  trains,  as  on  the  day  before,  and  almost 
impassable.  Sun  one  hour  high  they  were  ordered  to  report 
back  to  the  Fifth  Corps  at  Stephensburg.  At  9  p.  m.  they 
hauled  out  and  went  into  camp  near  the  Third  Corps.  The 
rear  guard  notified  them  that  they  would  be  left  in  the  rear. 
A  pole  of  one  of  the  caissons  was  broken.  They  waited  for 
the  wagon  trains  to  pass,  for  it  was  impossible  to  keep  in  line 
there  was  so  much  crowding  of  teams  for  right  of  way  in 
the  darkness  and  mud,  and  at  midnight  marched  with  the 
Third  Corps  9  miles  to  Stephensburg,  and  went  into  park 
where  the  Fifth  Corps  was,  i-J  miles  from  Pony  Moun 
tain.  Arrived  at  Stephensburg  at  daylight. 

"All  the  Army"  (Scott's  Notes)  "had  retreated  across 
the  Rapidan,  and  this  was  the  30!  time  the  Fifth  Mass.  Bat 
tery  had  been  with  a  retreating  army  across  these  rivers/' 

At  8  o'clock  of  the  3d  they  fed,  and  got  breakfast,  hitched 
up,  passed  with  the  Fifth  Corps  through  Brandy  Station, 
crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  went  into  camp,  for  the 
night,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  Station,  pretty  well  played 
out.  Turned  in  at  9  p.  m.  They  were  to  guard  the  rail 
road  to  Manassas.  Three  batteries  remained  here;  others 
at  Bristoe  and  Manassas.  Hitched  up  early  in  the  morning 
of  December  4th  and  changed  camp  to  a  more  desirable 
place  for  headquarters,  facing  the  south,  about  a  mile  from 
the  station.  The  First  Corps  was  sent  to  the  comfortable 
quarters  in  the  rebel  log  houses,  and  the  Battery  with  the 
Fifth  Corps  was  ordered  to  guard  the  railroad  from  the 
Rappahannock  to  Manassas  Junction.  The  guns  were  put 
into  the  earthworks  from  which  they  drove  the  rebels  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Rappahannock  River,  at  Rappahannock 
Station. 

Lieut.  Appleton  returned  to  the  Battery  from  serving  on 
Captain  Martin's  staff.  Lieut.  Scott  received  leave  of 


754  HISTORY    OF    THE 

absence  for  20  days,  on  account  of  his  wound,  and  he  did  not 
see  the  Battery  again  until  February  i,  1864,  when  he  found 
them  at  the  Station  on  his  return. 

THE  REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS 

TO 

LIEUT.  P.  F.  NASON,  A.  A.  A.  G. 
Written  at  Camp  near  Rappahannock  Station,   Dec.  4, 


"Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  a  report  of  my  Battery 
during  the  late  movement  of  the  Army  across  the  Rapidan. 

With  the  rest  of  the  Corps  we  left  camp  at  Mountain 
Creek  on  the  26th  of  November,  crossed  the  Rapidan  at 
Culpeper  Ford,  and  marched  to  Wilderness  on  the  Plank 
Road  from  Germanna  Ford. 

The  next  day  we  marched  on  the  Orange  C.  H.  road 
towards  New  Verdiersville.  About  4  p.  m.  I  was  ordered 
into  position  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  received  a  few 
shots  from  the  enemy. 

First  Lieut.  Henry  D.  Scott  was  struck  in  the  (left)  hand 
by  a  piece  of  shell  and  his  hand  seriously  injured. 

On  the  28th  we  marched  to  Robertson's  Tavern  :  on  the 
29th  at  daylight  we  marched  up  the  turnpike  to  the  heights 
near  Mine  Run,  and  I  was  placed  in  position  in  earthworks. 
Four  of  my  guns  were  soon  after  withdrawn  to  make  room 
for  Captain  Pratt's  Battery  (Captain  F.  A.  Pratt,  M,  ist 
Conn.)  of  4^  inch  rifled  guns.  We  remained  here  in  posi 
tion  till  5  a.  m.  December  ist. 

On  the  3Oth,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  Captain 
Martin  to  open  as  soon  as  the  firing  commenced  on  the 
right,  I  fired  a  little,  but  without  receiving  any  fire  in  return. 

On  the  morning  of  Dec.  ist  I  was  ordered  to  report  to 
Brig.  Gen'l.  R.  O.  Tyler  to  go  to  the  rear  with  my  own 
battery,  Battery  L,  ist  Ohio,  Captain  Gibbs,  and  Batteries 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  755 

F  and  K,  3d  U.  S.  Art 'y,  Lieut.  Barstow  commanding.  I 
immediately  joined  the  Art'y  Reserve,  then  on  the  march, 
crossed  the  river  at  Ely's  Ford,  and  camped  at  Richardsville. 
On  the  2d  I  received  orders  from  General  Tyler  to  rejoin 
the  5th  Corps,  which  I  did  at  daylight  the  next  morning. 

During  the  engagements  of  the  2;th  and  3Oth  I  fired  30 
rounds.  With  the  exception  of  Lieut.  Scott  I  have  no  casu 
alties  to  report." 

FROM  LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  LETTER  HOME. 

"We  all  suffered  a  good  deal,  accomplished  nothing,  lost 
nothing,  and  were  sold. 

Well,  here  we  are,   on  a  bleak  and  barren  hill,   doing 
garrison  duty  in  the  little  forts  which  we  took  from  the 
Rebs  at  the  fight  at  Rappahannock  Station,  with  the  pros 
pect  of  a  long  and  cold  winter  before  us.     Lieut.   Spear 
has  been  detailed  as  ordnance  officer  in  place  of  Lieut.  W. 
H.  Follett.     The  2Oth  Maine  Regiment   (Chamberlain's), 
a  jolly  set  of  fellows,  are  close  by  us,  and  I  expect  we  shall 
have  a  sort  of  heavy  English  military  life  'in  the  barracks.' 
The  train  to  Washington  passes  right  under  our  nose,  but 
the  rub  is  to  get  a  ticket,  for  General  Meade  is  superintend 
ent  of  the  railroad,   General   Sykes  ticketmaster,   Captain 
Martin  conductor,  and  Captain  Phillips  brakeman,  and  I  can 
whistle  for  a  seat  all  day.     It  will  be  very  easy  for  any  of 
my  friends  to  visit  me,  as  all  they  have  to  do  is  to  get  out 
just  as  they  are  going  to  cross  the  river,  and  there  we  are. 

There  are  plenty  of  graves  all  around  of  the  poor  fellows 
who  fell  in  the  charge  at  the  fight  here  three  weeks  ago,  and 
in  our  own  camp  we  can  pick  up  the  shells  our  own  Battery 
tossed  at  it  then." 

December  5,  1863,  they  made  preparations  to  stop  awhile, 
but  before  night  had  orders  to  be  ready  to  leave  at  short 
notice. 


756  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Dec.  6,  marched  to  Rappahannock  Station  to  relieve  Bat 
tery  C,  ist  Va,  Art'y.,  Captain  Hill,  in  the  works  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river.  Very  cold  and  blustering.  Put 
two  sections  into  the  earthworks  taken  from  the  enemy  Nov. 
7,  1863. 

LETTER  OF   SERG'T.   W.   H.   PEACOCK. 
"CAMP  NEAR  RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION, 

Dec.  8,  1863. 

Since  I  wrote  last  we  have  been  in  two  fights,  the  first  a 
month  ago  at  this  place,  when  we  were  hotly  engaged  with 
the  Rebels  in  the  Forts  where  our  Battery  is  now  in  position. 
We  were  very  fortunate  in  coming  out  of  the  fight  all  safe, 
although  the  shells  were  bursting  thickly  around  us.  After 
the  fight  we  occupied  the  log  houses,  working  like  every 
thing  for  three  weeks,  cleaning  up  the  grounds,  etc.  Orders 
came  to  move,  and  over  the  Rapidan  we  went.  When  near 
Spottsylvania,  on  the  Plank  Road,  we  engaged  two  Rebel 
batteries  for  about  an  hour,  having  Lieut.  Scott  wounded,— 
the  same  lieutenant  who  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg, — he 
is  now  at  home.  This  was  our  only  loss  in  men;  some 
horses  wounded.  I  think  it  was  lucky  for  us  we  were 
ordered  to  leave  this  place  as  we  did,  for  the  Rebel  sharp 
shooters  were  up  in  the  trees  pegging  away  at  us  so  we 
were  obliged  to  lie  flat  on  the  ground,  or  all  get  shot  in  no 
time.  One  bullet  struck  the  ground  at  my  head,  so  near  that 
I  had  only  to  reach  out  my  hand  and  pick  it  up,  as  I  lay  on 
the  ground.  We  suffered  much  on  this  march  being  wet 
through  and  our  overcoats  frozen  stiff.  At  this  place  we 
are  on  a  hill,  the  Batterv  in  position,  covering  the  R.  R. 
bridge  over  the  river.  It  is  awfully  cold,  and  we  live  in 
nothing  but  the  shelter  tents,  -and  sleep  on  the  frozen 
ground  with  only  one  or  two  blankets  under  us.  The  offi 
cers  tell  us  to  make  no  preparations  for  Quarters  until  we 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  757 

know  for  certain  where  we  shall  winter.  Quite  a  number 
of  our  men  are  sick  from  so  much  exposure.  Mr.  Story  has 
been  quite  sick  for  several  days.  He  sends  his  regards. 
I  have  a  severe  cold;  have  not  slept  warm  a  night  for  a 
month.  Many  of  the  men  sit  round  the  fire  all  night  to 
keep  warm.  I  tell  you  this  soldiering  is  gay  sport!  Pork 
and  hard  bread  until  one's  mouth  is  so  sore  he  can  hardly 
open  it.  The  Boys  talk  all  the  time  about  when  they  are 
ofoing  home,  as  if  it  was  but  a  few  days,  when  it  is  ten 
months.  One-half  of  this  time  will  probably  be  spent  in 
winter  quarters.  We  all  have  much  confidence  in  Gen. 
Meade,  and  consider  him  the  best  officer  that  could  be 
placed  over  us." 

Dec.  8th  orders  came  to  make  themselves  comfortable  for 
the  winter.  Dec.  Qth  the  Third  Virginia  Battery  left  for 
Brandy  Station.  They  began  to  haul  logs.  Moved  their 
tents  up  to  Captain  Hill's  chimneys,  and  commenced  build 
ing  houses.  Orders  were  read  concerning  re-enlistments  of 
the  original  members.  Dec.  loth,  thirty-four  of  the 
men  re-enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 
By  Lieut.  Appleton: — "Dec.  8th.  Perhaps  they  will 
send  some  of  us  out  to  Grant,  as  it  is  ridiculous  folly 
to  keep  this  big  army  here  all  winter  doing  nothing. 
Dec.  nth.  There  are  only  two  lieutenants  with  the  Bat 
tery  now,  so  we  have  to  go  on  duty  every  other  day,  and, 
as  the  days  are  very  short,  we  don't  have  much  time  to  gass 
in  listless  idleness.  Then  the  newspapers  have  to  be  read, 
food  has  to  be  eaten,  and  pipes  smoked.  By  the  by,  talking 
of  newspapers,  how  solidly  satisfactory  are  the  reports  of 
the  President,  Secretary  of  War,  Navy,  &c.,  &c.  They 
make  out  good  stories,  and  we  feel  that  we  can  believe  them. 
'Old  Abe's'  proclamation  is  manly.  What  an  old  brick  he 
is,  after  all!  Our  men  are  getting  quite  interested  in  this 
re-enlisting  business.  Sixteen  of  the  Battery  have  done  so 
already,  and  I  expect  that  more  will. 


758  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Evening :  I  saw  a  lot  of  cavalry  going  by  this  afternoon, 
and  I  rushed  out  to  see  who  they  were,  and  on  hearing  they 
were  Gregg's  I  waited  for  the  ist  Mass,  to  pass.  I  soon 
espied  the  burly  form  of  Ben.  Crowninshield  (Benjamin 
William  Crowninshield,  author  of  a  history  of  the  ist  Mass. 
Cavalry),  who  said  that  what  there  were  left  of  them  were 
going  down  towards  Warrenton  Junction." 

In  a  later  letter  Lieut.  Appleton  describing  the  events  of 
the  day  of  the  cavalry  fight,  thus  briefly  refers  to  some  of 
Captain  Martin's  duties  at  the  moment : — "I  was  riding 
round  after  Captain  Martin  when  everything  was  in  confu 
sion,  and  he  was  busily  engaged  in  taking  care  of  his  six 
batteries,  leaving  the  caissons  behind  in  one  place,  rushing 
up  one  battery  to  the  extreme  front,  popping  two  guns  in 
here,  others  there,  wherever  he  could  find  the  best  shelter, 
keeping  some  well  concealed  in  reserve,  sending  off  some 
with  another  Division,  and  having  about  as  much  mental 
and  physical  work  as  one  man  and  horse  could  stand." 

FURLOUGHS:   CAPT.   PHILLIPS. 

HD.  QRS.  BATTERY  E,  (FIFTH)  MASS. 

(LT.)  ART'Y., 

Dec.  n,  1863. 

CAPT.  P.  F.  NASON,  A.  A.  A.  G. 
Sir. 

I  respectfully  request  that  furloughs  of  forty-five 
(45)  days  be  granted  to  the  following  members  of  Bat 
tery  E  (Fifth)  Mass.  (Lt.)  Art'y,  who  have  re-enlisted 
as  Veteran  Volunteers  under  G.  O.  No.  191,  War  Dept, 
series  of  1863,  and  have  been  duly  mustered  into  the  ser 
vice.  If  they  receive  furloughs  at  the  present  time  I  think 
it  would  induce  many  more  of  the  Battery  to  re-enlist. 

Sergt.  Harrison  O.  Simonds. 
Mason  W.  Page. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  759 

Corp'l.  Elisha  J.  Gibbs. 

"       Patrick  Welch. 
Private  Henry  D.  Crapo. 
Bugler  James  Winters. 
Private  William  H.  Dunham. 
Mortier  Gale. 

"       Albion  K.  P.  Hayden. 

"       John  F.  .Mack. 

"       George  W.  Poole. 

"       Amos  Blanchard. 

Very  respectfully,  &c.,  &c. 

This  paper  was  signed  by  Captain  C.  A.  Phillips,  and  on 
this  day  twelve  men  went  over  with  Lieut.  Appleton  to 
Corps  Head  Quarters  and  re-enlisted.  The  Battery  busy 
drawing  logs.  Dec.  12,  Serg't  Otis  B.  Smith  went  home. 
Lieut.  Appleton  went  over  to  Head  Quarters  with  seven 
more  men. 

INVALID    CORPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Dec.  12,  1863. 

Under  General  Orders  No.  394,  transferred,  to  take  effect 
December  15,  1863. 

Smith,  Benjamin  F.,  Private,  Co.  E,  5th  Massachusetts 
Artillery. 


December  13,  1863,  Sunday,  was  the  anniversary  of  the 
Battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Two  boxes  came  to  Lieut.  Ap 
pleton  from  Boston,  one  with  clothes.  He  went  to  hear  the 
chaplain  of  the  2Oth  preach  a  good  sermon.  Of  the  camp 
Captain  Phillips  wrote  Dec.  14,  1863  : — "I  cannot  say  much 
in  favor  of  the  location,  which  is  one  of  the  most  desolate 
places  around  here.  The  nearest  wood  is  nearly  a  mile  off 
in  a  straight  line,  and  there  is  nothing  to  shelter  us  from  the 


760  HISTORY    OF    THE 

wind  which  blows  pretty  strong  occasionally,  today  for 
instance.  We  have  been  hauling  logs  the  last  week  with 
much  labor  and  difficulty,  and  by  the  end  of  this  week,  if 
we  do  not  move  before,  we  shall  be  comfortably  located  in 
our  log  houses." 

Lieut.  Appleton  rode  Dec.  I4th  with  "Bristow"  over  to 
Army  Head  Quarters,  and  passed  a  pleasant  morning  with 
Bache,  Lyman  &  Co.  "Bristow"  was  a  nickname  Captain 
Martin  had  given  to  Lieut.  Barstow.  On  the  I5th  Lieut. 
Blake  got  ten  days'  leave,  and  went  off  at  1 1  o'clock.  Gibbs 
was  made  a  sergeant,  and  Alpheus  Haskins  a  corporal.  H. 
O.  Simonds  was  appointed  ist  Sergeant.  Dec.  i6th  the 
Captain  got  into  his  new  house,  and  the  whole  establishment 
was  moved  back.  The  Inspector  came.  Dec.  I7th,  Knox 
auctioneered  some  confiscated  sutlers'  goods  at  Captain  Mar 
tin's  Head  Quarters.  They  were  confiscated  for  selling 
liquor. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION, 

Dec.  17,  1863. 

I  am  pretty  busy  just  now,  and  in  fact  have  about  all  the 
practical  management  of  the  Battery,  as  the  Captain  is  not 
very  well  and  spends  most  of  his  time  in  his  log  house; 
Lieut.  Scott  off  with  his  wounded  finger ;  Lieut.  Blake  away 
on  a  ten  days'  leave;  and  Lieut.  Spear  detailed  as  ordnance 
officer  of  the  Brigade,  but  on  the  whole  I  rather  like  it,  for 
it  keeps  all  my  time  pleasantly  occupied." 

Referring  to  Follett's  capture  and  the  ammunition  train, 
he  says : — "It  was  rather  an  interesting  little  episode. 
Lieut.  Follett  was  riding  along  quietly,  with  his  train  of 
ammunition,  a  Division  of  infantry  ahead  of  him  in  the 
road,  and  one  behind  him,  too,  when  some  guerillas  suddenly 
dashed  in  from  the  woods,  ran  out  as  many  wagons  as  they 
could,  set  them  on  fire,  took  off  the  mules,  and  were  awa- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  761 

before  any  troops  approached.  Lieut.  Follett  was  the  only 
man  who  showed  any  fight,  and  he  slashed  away  at  them 
well  with  his  sabre,  but  he  was  easily  overpowered,  and  has 
already  been  heard  of  from  Libbey.  Sykes  did  not  like  the 
adventure  in  the  least,  and  well  he  mightent.  While  I  was 
an  A.  D.  C.  I  saw  a  good  many  of  the  little  straits  which 
envelop  a  general's  career,  and  perhaps  have  grown  a  little 
wiser  from  the  initiation.  They  are  subject  to  mistakes  like 
any  other  men." 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  FIFTH  MASS. 

BATTERY  LT.  ART'Y., 

Dec.  1 8,  1863. 

LIEUT.  J.  E.  SPEAR,  A.  A.  A.  G. 
Sir. 

In  compliance  with  a  telegram  from  Hd.  Qrs.  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following 
report : — 

No.  of  enlisted  men  belonging 

to  the  Batt'y  present  with  the  brigade 89 

No.  who  have  re-enlisted   19 

No.  entitled  to  re-enlist 59 

No.  not  entitled  to  re-enlist 1 1 

No.  who  will  re-enlist 4 

The  above  is  as  near  the  probable  result  as  it  is  possible  to 
arrive.  In  my  opinion  the  number  who  will  re-enlist  will 
much  exceed  that  stated  above.  The  promised  furlough  is 
the  principal  inducement,  and  the  fact  that  the  men  who 
have  already  enlisted — a  week  ago — have  not  yet  obtained 
their  furloughs,  has  rendered  the  men  distrustful  and  doubt 
ing,  and  they  are  unwilling  to  pledge  themselves. 

The  actual  granting  of  furloughs  is  necessary  to  confirm 


762  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  intentions  of  those  who  have  almost  decided  to  re-enlist, 
and  this  class  includes  at  least  half  the  Battery. 
Very  respectfully,  &c.,  &c. 


Dec.  1 8,  1863.  The  day  was  cloudy,  but  the  sky  cleared 
with  a  very  strange  sunset.  Appleton  rode  over  to  Head 
Quarters  and  raced  back  with  the  cars. 

Captain  Phillips  wrote  on  the  iQth  regarding  the  re- 
enlistments  : — 

"General  Meade  is  trying  to  find  out  how  many  will  re- 
enlist  and  go  off  on  furloughs,  and  it  is  said  if  the  number 
is  near  20,000,  he  will  fall  back  to  this  side  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  and  not  attempt  to  hold  his  present  line,  with  an 
army  temporarily  reduced  by  so  large  a  number.  The  gue 
rillas  are  quite  active  in  our  neighborhood,  and  it  is  not  safe 
to  go  outside  the  picket  line,  or  even  inside  of  it  a  great  way 
from  camp.  Major  Edmands,  of  the  32d  Mass,  was  gobbled 
up  the  other  day." 

Of  his  log  house  he  says : — "My  house  was  finished  a  few 
days  ago,  and  is  a  very  good  specimen  of  log  architecture. 
The  logs  of  which  it  is  built  are  all  split  and  the  split  sides 
put  inside,  so  that  the  walls  can  be  finished  off  quite  smooth. 
The  dimensions  inside  are  7  ft.  by  15;  door  in  the  middle  of 
one  of  the  long  sides*,  and  fireplace  opposite.  It  is  not  yet 
supplied  with  a  floor,  and  the  other  decorations  which  will 
make  it  the  abode  of  splendor  and  ease.  The  camp  will  be 
a  very  good  specimen  of  winter  quarters  when  finished." 

During  the  five  months  passed  here  in  winter  quarters, 
Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton  sent  several  communications  on 
matters  connected  with  the  army,  and  especially  the  artil 
lery,  (see  p.  52)  to  officials  and  to  newspapers  and  the 
following  written  in  December  is  the  first  that  ever  appeared 
in  the  daily  press.  It  was  published  in  the  Washington 
Chronicle,  and  had  "Music  for  the  Army"  for  its  theme : — 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  763 

"Sir.  (To  the  Editor)  As  you  seem  always  ready  to 
accept  and  publish  any  letters  from  the  soldiers,  I  wish 
through  your  paper  to  express  a  want  which  is  sadly  felt 
throughout  the  Army.  I  mean  music. 

Since  the  time  when  regimental  bands  were  stopped,  there 
has  been  a  great  dearth  of  this  pleasant  feature  in  military 
life.  Bugles  and  drums,  under  whose  notes  the  soldiers  eat, 
rise,  drill,  and  go  to  bed,  are  not  enough.  The  soul-stirring 
music  of  brass  bands  only  can  supply  the  deficiency.  And 
why  should  we  not  have  them  ?  Consider  their  utility.  In 
the  long,  lazy  days  of  camp  life,  they  are  one  of  the  greatest 
sources  of  pleasure  which  fall  to  the  soldier,  and  not  only  a 
pleasure  but  a  real  good.  For  who  can  deny  the  thrilling 
influence  of  martial  or  sacred  music?  In  the  heat  of  battle 
the  opportune  playing  of  a  band  may  turn  the  fortune  of 
the  day.  In  the  burial  of  the  soldier  they  play  their  part. 
A  regimental  dress  parade  is  tame  without  them.  What  is 
the  objection  to  having  them  again  introduced  to  the  army? 
It  cannot  surely  be  expense,  for  that  is  something  this 
country  laughs  at.  If  it  is  the  trouble  of  transportation, 
then  let  us  at  least  have  them  in  winter  quarters,  and  let  it  be 
arranged  so  that  a  few  can  follow  the  army  on  its  marches, 
and  help  it  win  some  victories.  The  theory  is,  I  believe,  to 
have  a  band  to  each  Brigade,  but  as  in  this  arrangement 
there  is  no  one  to  look  after  the  band,  it  soon  tumbles  to 
pieces.  If  all  the  musical  instruments,  now  scattered  about 
in  the  different  regiments,  were  collected  together  and  sys 
tematized,  there  would  be  music  enough  for  the  army.  Here 
is  a  plan  I  would  suggest :  Let  one  Regiment  from  each 
Brigade  be  selected  to  have  a  band,  and  let  this  distinction 
be  a  mark  of  honor. 

Very  truly  yours, 

THE  MALTESE  CROSS." 


764  HISTORY    OF    THE 

NATIONAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 
BY  LIEUT.  NATHAN  APPLETON. 

"As  I  have  walked  up  and  down  in  front  of  the  stable, 
seeing  that  the  artillery  horses  are  properly  groomed,  I  have 
often  noticed  how  the  national  characteristics  of  the  differ 
ent  men  appeared  in  their  attitudes,  conversation,  songs, 
and  gestures,  as  they  stood  there  at  work. 

Here  is  the  burly  old  Irishman,  fat,  jolly  and  simple,  with 
his  hearty  laugh  and  his  full  brogue,  telling  how  'the  bloody 
baysts'  try  to  kick  him,  and  next  him  the  fair-haired  young 
German,  always  merry  and  half  chanting  some  hymn  of  the 
Fatherland. 

Again,  we  see  a  canny,  rough-faced,  wiry  Scotchman  of 
whom  the  thistle  is  a  fit  emblem,  sturdily  working  away,  or 
aiming  some  dry  repartee  at  his  companion.  John  Bull  the 
genuine  is  there  also,  always  dropping  his  'h'  and  saying 
that  'the  'orses  never  thrive  on  so  few  hoats.'  And  then  a 
light  and  airy  Frenchman,  a  favorite  with  all,  turning  his 
versatility  to  the  best  account,  and  always  seemingly  com 
fortable. 

The  American  himself,  of  course  predominates,  the  true 
and  best  type  of  Anglo-Saxon  blood,  whether  he  be  the 
shrewd  tobacco  loving  Yankee,  or  the  more  cosmopolitan 
westerner;  whether  he  is  an  old  salt,  rolling  in  his  gait  and 
wearing  ear  rings,  and  his  arms  well  tattooed,  whether  he 
has  left  the  whirl  of  the  metropolis  and  daintily  tries  to 
avoid  Virginia  mud,  or  whether,  like  Cincinnatus,  he  is  a 
country  ploughboy;  all  trades  and  professions  have  come 
together, — the  half  developed  boy  and  the  gray  haired 
veteran. 

And  is  it  not  some  great,  some  glorious  object  which  has 
called  together  this  mighty  band? 

'For  Saxon,  or  Dane  or  Norman  we,'  says  Tennyson, 
yes,  and  what  would  he  say  of  us,  the  people  of  the  United 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  765 

States?  A  universal  brotherhood,  a  haven  for  those  of  all 
nations  who  are  smarting  under  oppression  and  wrong. 
They  swarm  in  this  country  from  every  portion  of  the  globe, 
here  to  possess  and  enjoy  those  privileges  which  they  know 
belong  to  them  as  human  beings  and  as  the  children  of 
God." 

The  line  from  Tennyson  is  from  his  poem  on  the  mar 
riage  of  Alexandra  to  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

"Sea    king's    daughter 
from  over  the  sea. 


For  Saxon  or  Dane 

or  Norman  we 
Teuton  or  Celt  or  what 

ever  we  be 
We  are  all  Dane  in 

our  welcome  of  thee, 
Alexandra." 

LETTER  OF  WILLIAM   H.   PEACOCK. 

Serg't  Peacock  wrote  in  a  letter  dated  Dec.  21,  1863: — 
I  got  my  house  up  three  days  ago,  and  I  tell  you,  it  seems 
good  to  get  into  some  comfortable  place,  for  we  have  been 
living  in  thin  shelter  tents,  sleeping  on  the  frozen  ground. 
I  have  a  very  bad  cold  from  so  much  exposure. 

We  guard  the  R.  R.  bridge  at  this  place.  The  Battery  is 
in  two  forts.  The  guerillas  raise  the  devil  with  us  here, 
takiug  men  off  in  sight  of  their  camp,  making  raids  on  the 
trains,  &c.  They  go  in  small  parties  looking  for  victims. 
Some  prisoners  they  send  off:  others  are  stripped  of  all 
their  clothing  and  valuables,  and  let  return  to  their  camps. 
Our  boys  capture  many  of  them." 


"December  22,    1863,    (Private  Dyer.)   there  was  great 
excitement  about  re-enlisting." 

Dec.  23d.     There  was  a  snow  storm    in    the    morning. 


766  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Lieut.  Appleton  moved  into  his  log  house,  and  a  dozen 
veterans  went  on  35  days  furlough.  The  order  came  from 
the  War  Department  that  recruits  in  three  years'  organiza 
tions  in  Massachusetts  be  discharged  with  their  organiza 
tions. 

"In  this  camp"  (Notes  of  Corporal  Shackley)  "the  Bat 
tery  built  log  houses  for  officers,  Orderly  and  Quarter 
master  Sergeants,  Commissary  and  cooks,  and  for  all 
the  men,  nearly  thirty  houses  in  all;  also  a  stockade  for 
the  horses,  enclosing  about  50  yards  square  of  ground 
by  digging  a  trench  nearly  3  ft.  deep,  and  cutting  trees 
about  10  feet  long,  and  splitting  them  in  halves,  and 
standing  them  on  end  close  together  in  the  trench  all 
around  the  enclosure  except  six  or  eight  feet  for  an  en 
trance.  All  the  materials  for  the  houses,  the  stockade, 
and  all  the  fuel  to  warm  the  houses  and  do  all  the  cooking 
during  nearly  five  months,  had  to  be  brought  from  one  mile 
to  three  miles  distance." 

There  were  a  good  many  temporary  changes  in  the  Bat 
tery.  On  the  24th  Lieut.  Appleton  took  some  more  men 
over  to  Captain  Gentry.  Orders  came  to  get  ready  for  a 
raid  of  cavalry. 

On  Christmas  Day  the  second  anniversary  of  the  Bat 
tery's  taking  leave  of  Massachusetts,  Lieut.  Blake  got  back. 
The  men  had  pie  and  cake  for  breakfast  and  supper  and 
roast  chicken  for  dinner.  In  the  evening  17  re-enlisted  men 
went  home  on  a  35  days  furlough,  among  whom  was 
Private  Dyer's  tent  mate  Edwin  J.  Butler.  Dyer  sent  his 
revolver  home  by  Serg't  Morgridge.  Dec.  26,  he  was  de 
tailed  to  act  as  corporal  for  35  days,  while  the  re-enlisted 
men  were  at  home.  He  took  the  last  part  of  the  night. 
Orders  came  to  be  ready  for  inspection  the  next  day,  but 
on  the  27th,  which  was  Sunday,  it  rained  hard.  They  went 
out  on  the  ground,  but  came  back  to  camp  without  having 
been  inspected. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  767 

Dec.  28,  1863,  Lieut.  Scott  in  Newport,  sent  surgeon's 
certificate  to  Adjutant  General  and  to  Captain  Phillips  in 
the  Field.  Sutler's  goods  arrived. 

SUBSTITUTES  IN  DRAFT.— MONEY  PAID. 

WAR   DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 
WASHINGTON,  December  28,   1863. 
General   Orders, 
No.    400. 

Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  money  paid  by 
drafted  persons  under  the  "Act  for  enrolling  and  calling  out  the 
National  Forces,  and  for  other  purposes,"  approved  third  March, 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-three,  shall  be  paid  into  the  Treasury 
of  the  United  States,  and  shall  be  drawn  out  on  requisition,  as 
in  the  case  of  other  public  moneys ;  and  the  money  so  paid  shall 
be  kept  in  the  Treasury  as  a  special  deposit,  applicable  only  to 
the  expenses  of  draft,  and  for  the  procuration  of  substitutes.  For 
these  purposes  it  is  hereby  appropriated. 
Approved  Dec.  23,  1863. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.    D.   TOWNSEND 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


Dec.  29,  1863,  Lieut.  Appleton  left  on  the  8  o'clock  train 
for  Washington  and  Boston,  on  a  ten  days'  leave. 

FROM  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS  TO  CAPTAIN  NASON. 

HD.  QRS.  BATTERY  E, 
(FIFTH)  MASS.  (LT. )  ART'Y, 

Dec.  29,  1863. 

CAPT.  P.  F.  NASON,  A.  A.  A.  G. 
Sir. 

In  compliance  with  circular  of  the  28th  Hd.   Quarters 
A.  P.  I  have  the  honor  to  report, 

No.  of  men  who  have  re-enlisted  in  this  Battery,  30. 
No.  having  less  than  15    months  to    serve,    who    have 
agreed  to  re-enlist,  None. 

I  am  very  respectfully  &c. 


768  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Dec.  30,  1863,  Acting  Corporal  Dyer  went  over  to  Head 
Quarters  with  sick  report  in  the  morning. 

December  3ist,  the  last  day  of  the  year  was  very  stormy, 
but  was  brightened  by  the  sight  of  a  fresh  supply  of  goods 
to  the  sutler  for  New  Years  which  came  in  on  Friday,  and 
opened  very  cold  but  pleasant.  The  Captain's  log  house  had 
by  this  time  a  good  floor  of  pine  boards,  and  he  had  an  easy 
chair  and  a  camp  stool.  The  fireplace,  built  of  stones  and 
mud,  held  quite  a  pile  of  logs,  and  kept  the  temperature  as 
high  as  necessary  for  comfort.  The  men  had  a  New  Years 
Day  dinner  of  stewed  turkey,  and  Lieut.  Spear  dined  with 
Captain  Phillips  on  turkey  which  was  roasted.  The  mud  of 
the  morning  froze  in  the  afternoon. 

January  2,  1864.  Orders  to  prepare  for  inspection. 
Jan'y  3d,  Sunday.  Battery  inspection  in  the  forenoon 
Dyer  had  company  to  dinner — dined  on  bread  toast — 
Andrew  W.  Almy  and  Fred  D.  Alden.  He  received  an  invi 
tation  to  a  roast  turkey  dinner  for  Tuesuay. 

Jan'y  4th,  there  was  drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece 
in  the  morning.  It  began  to  snow  in  the  forenoon  and 
snowed  all  day,  but  the  teams  kept  busy  drawing  logs  for 
the  stable.  At  dark  the  snow  was  three  inches  deep. 
Jan'y  5th  it  had  cleared  off  and  Corporal  Dyer  went  over  to 
the  Doctors  in  charge  of  the  sick  in  the  morning,  came  back 
and  went  over  to  Captain  Martin's  Hd.  Qrs.  to  the  dinner 
with  Andrew  W.  Almy  and  Fred  D.  Alden.  The  next  day 
he  had  some  cake  for  supper  out  of  Corporal  Proctor's  box. 
On  this  day  Lieut.  Appleton  left  Boston  for  camp  with 
Captain  A.  P.  Martin  at  8  o'clock,  and  was  in  camp  at 
3.30  p.  m.  January  7th.  The  air  was  so  cold  the  snow  did 
not  melt  in  the  sun.  Captain  Phillips  had  eaves  put  on  his 
log  house  as  he  found  the  water  leaked  into  the  walls.  It 
commenced  snowing  again  at  5  p.  m.  and  continued  to  snow 
through  the  night.  Dyer  was  Acting  Corporal  of  the 
Guard.  Serg't  Nye  went  on  a  furlough  of  35  days. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  769 

CAPTAIN    MARTIN'S    COMMAND. 
DEFINED  BY  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"Our  Brigade  is  commanded  by  Captain  Martin  of  the 
Third  Mass.  Battery,  and  he  has  as  big  a  staff  and  as  re 
sponsible  a  place  as  any  brigadier : — It  consists  of  the  Third 
Mass.  Lieut.  Aaron  F.  Walcott  12  Ib.  Napoleons. 

Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  3  inch  Ordnance. 

Battery  D,  5th  U.  S. — Griffin's  Battery,  commanded  by 
Hazlett  killed  at  Gettysburg,  now  by  Lieut.  B.  F.  Ritten- 
house,  Parrotts,  3  inch. 

Battery  F  and  K,  3d  U.  S.  four  guns,  12  Ib.  Napoleons, 
commanded  by  Lieut.  George  F.  Barstow. 

Battery  L,  ist  Ohio,  12  Ib.  Napoleons  Captain  Frank  C. 
Gibbs. 

Battery  C.  ist  N.  Y.  4  guns,  3  inch  Ordnance — same  as 
Fifth  Mass. — Captain  Almont  Barnes." 


January  9,  1864,  John  H.  Olin  wounded  at  Gettysburg 
returned  to  the 'Battery. 

January  loth  Sunday,  the  snow  melted  a  very  little. 
Battery  inspection  in  the  forenoon.  Corporal  Proctor  en 
tertained  Acting  Corporal  Dyer  on  roast  turkey  which  came 
in  a  box  from  home.  Jan'y  nth  Dyer  made  two  benches  for 
their  convenience.  Captain  Phillips  attended  a  council  of 
administration  in  the  afternoon,  to  choose  a  Brigade  sutler. 
Mr.  Clarke,  their  sutler,  was  elected.  On  the  i2th  Captain 
Phillips  went  home  on  leave  of  absence  for  10  days,  with 
permission  to  apply  for  extension  of  5  days.  He  left  Rap- 
pahannock  Station  at  n  a.  m.  Dyer  went  over  with  the 
sick  to  the  Doctors.  He  felt  "pretty  bad"  himself,  but  was 
"bound  not  to  give  up." 

Jan'y  13,  1864.  Roll  call  at  the  usual  hour.  It  was  pro 
posed  to  have  a  four  gun  battery  drill  but  Lieut.  Blake  gave 
it  up.  The  next  day  they  had  a  drill  on  the  piece.  On  the 


770  HISTORY    OF    THE 

1 5th  Dyer  reported  at  Captain  Martin's  Hd.  Qrs.  at  9  a.  m. 
with  5  men,  and  Lieut.  Appleton  wrote  the  letter  to  Secre 
tary  Stanton  on  Light  Artillery  in  the  Field  (see  p.  52). 

Jan'y  17,  1864.  Inspection  by  Lieut.  Blake,  Lieut. 
Appleton  called  upon  Captain  Clark  of  the  2Oth  Maine 
after  inspecting  the  bridge.  Lieut.  Rogers  called  and 
narrated  his  adventures.  Jan'y  i8th  the  Battery  had 
orders  to  dig  a  trench  in  front  of  their  houses.  It  rained 
hard  but  a  system  of  drainage  was  laid  out.  About  this 
date  in  a  letter  home,  Lieut.  Appleton  urged  the  sending 
of  conscripts  to  the  Massachusetts  Batteries  immediately. 
He  had  no  doubt  trlere  were  enough  at  Long  Island  in  Bos 
ton  Harbor  to  fill  them  all.  "This  should  be  attended  to," 
he  urged,  "as  it  is  hard  on  the  men  to  have  to  do  guard  duty 
so  often." 

Jan'y  iQth.  Colonel  John  B.  Batchelder  the  Gettysburg 
man  called,  and  dined  with  Lieuts.  Blake  and  Appleton. 
Appleton's  horses  ran  away,  over  to  General  Sykes's  Head 
Quarters.  Dyer  went  over  to  the  Doctor's.  The  hospital 
had  been  moved.  Jan'y  2Oth  the  stockading  of  the  stable 
was  commenced  and  fifty  logs  erected.  Corporal  Proctor 
went  into  the  woods  with  part  of  the  fatigue. 

January  22,  1864,  Lieut.  Scott  returned  to  camp.  At  this 
time  there  were  a  great  many  ladies,  wives  of  the  officers,  at 
the  headquarters.  They  could  be  seen  constantly  riding 
over  the  country.  "Rather  a  rough  life  for  them  at  best," 
was  the  comment.  Lieut.  Appleton's  man  "Joe"  built  a 
nice  little  stable  for  his  two  horses.  Jan'y  23d  was  a  per 
fect  day,  the  first  one  for  a  long  time.  Lieut.  Appleton  rode 
over  and  called  at  the  83d  Penn.,  also  at  the  3d  Brigade 
Head  Quarters,  saw  Colonel  Joseph  Hayes  and  Lieut. 
Rogers.  Very  muddy  under  foot,  but  the  Battery  all  busy 
at  work  on  the  stable.  The  24th  was  Sunday,  and  Lieuts. 
Blake  and  Appleton  rode  up  to  Beverly  Ford  to  the  i8th 
Mass.  Regiment.  In  camp  it  was  decidedly  a  day  of  rest. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  •    771 

Fred.  D.  Alden  dined  with  Corporal  Dyer.  The  44th  Regt. 
N.  Y.  V.  left  for  Alexandria  at  night.  Jan'y  25th  was  very 
warm,  and  the  mud  was  beginning  to  settle.  Quite  a  num 
ber  of  boards  were  left  by  the  44th  of  which  they  made 
good  use  in  the  Battery  quarters. 

Jan'y  26,  1864,  George  B.  Trumbull  and  George  H.  John 
son  returned  to  the  Battery.  The  next  day  Captain  Phillips 
returned  to  camp  in  the  afternoon  and  Colonel  John  B. 
Batchelder  who  was  getting  up  a  plan  of  Gettysburg,  called 
and  stopped  all  night. 

January  28,  1864,  the  first  veterans  returned  from  35 
days'  furlough,  12  re-enlisted  men,  Corporal  Welch  among 
them.  29th  the  second  lot  of  35  days'  furlough  men  came 
back.  3<Dth  three  more  came  back  from  furlough.  Several 
more  re-enlisted.  Orders  came  to  clean  carriages  and  pieces 
for  inspection  next  day.  Jan'y  3ist,  inspection  in  camp  at 
9  a.  m.  by  Captain  Phillips.  Lieut.  Blake  started  on  a 
15  days'  leave. 

Feb.  i,  1864.  Two  more  men  re-enlisted.  Feb.  2d. 
Lieut.  Appleton  came  of  age.  In  the  evening  there  was  a 
tempest,  rain,  thunder  and  lightning.  On  the  3d  the  men 
went  into  the  woods  cutting  corduroy  for  stabling  for  the 
horses.  Colonel  Theodore  Lyman  called  to  see  Lieut. 
Appleton. 

Feb.  4,  1864,  six  recruits  for  the  Battery  arrived.  The 
5th  was  pleasant  and  the  Battery  was  inspected  by  Captain 
Martin  at  2  p.  m.  The  Battery,  and  the  officers'  and  men's 
quarters  were  inspected. 

February  6,  1864,  heard  heavy  firing  all  day  up  to  the 
front,  in  the  direction  of  the  Rapidan,  and  pontoons  went 
out  to  the  front  in  the  morning,  which  looked  as  if  they 
were  making  reconnoissances.  At  night  furloughs  were 
approved  for  1 1  more  veterans.  Firing  of  musketry  audible 
just  at  dusk.  The  roads  were  in  good  condition,  and 
weather  fine  for  small  military  operations. 


772  '  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Feb.  7,  1864,  Sunday.  Lieut.  Appleton  rode  over  to  the 
83d  Pennsylvania,  and  called  upon  the  ladies.  Heard  that 
the  firing  the  day  before  was  a  reconnoissance  over  the  Rapi- 
dan.  Fred.  D.  Alden,  Andrew  Almy  and  James  Allen,  were 
visitors  at  the  camp.  Eleven  more  re-enlisted  men  went  on 
35  days'  furlough.  Feb.  8th  Captain  Phillips  attended  a 
council  of  administration  to  fix  sutlers'  prices.  The  band 
of  the  1 8th  Mass.  Regiment  came  down.  Serenade  in  the 
evening. 

Feb.  9,  1864,  began  drills  of  raw  recruits  on  the  piece. 
The  ladies  of  the  83d  Pennsylvania  called.  On  the  loth  the 
Captain  wrote  of  the  stable : — "The  great  subject  of  interest 
in  camp  is  our  stable,  which  has  been  building  for  about 
four  weeks,  and  is  not  yet  finished.  It  is  made  of  a  stock 
ade  and  floor  of  split  logs,  large  enough  to  accommodate  120 
horses,  and  the  logs  have  to  be  hauled  about  two  miles.  I 
have  borrowed  two  wagons  from  Brigade  Head  Qrs.,  and 
now  have  5  six-mule  wagons  hauling  logs  and  gravel, — to 
cover  up  the  mud, — all  the  time." 

Some  of  the  men  played  euchre  in  the  evening  of  the  loth 
with  acquisitions  from  the  2Oth  Maine.  The  next  day 
Captain  Phillips  attended  another  council  at  Brigade  Head 
Quarters,  and  six  more  recruits  arrived.  Appleton  wrote  in 
his  Diary :  "Dined  at  5,  with  Colonel  Joseph  Hayes,  General 
and  Mrs.  Sykes,  Messrs.  Hayes  and  others,  at  3d  Brigade 
Head  Quarters,  ist  Division,  Fifth  Corps.  Quite  a  little 
party.  Mrs.  Sykes  pretty,  and  a  genuine  example  of  the 
military  lady  of  the  U.  S." 

By  General  Orders  No.  53,  War  Department  Feb.  n, 
1864,  Private  W.  H.  Chamberlain  was  transferred  to  the 
Invalid  Corps,  to  take  effect  Feb.  15,  1864. 

Feb.  1 2th  a  party  from  Brigade  Head  Quarters  called. 
Men  busy  drawing  sand  for  the  streets  and  park.  Dyer 
discouraged  about  his  leg.  On  the  I3th  still  busy  drawing 
sand,  and  Fred.  D.  Alden  supped  with  Dyer.  Lieut.  Apple- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  773 

ton  rode  over  to  Brandy  Station  and  Army  Head  Quarters, 
with  a  party  of  gentlemen  from  Brigade  Head  Quarters,  to 
show  them  the  country.  A  pretty  long  ride,  but  a  perfect 
spring  day. 

LETTER  OF   SERG'T.   WM.   H.    PEACOCK. 

"RAPP'K  STATION,  VA. 

Feb.  13,  1864. 

Thinking  you  would  like  to  see  a  picture  of  the  Hill  and 
River  at  this  point,  I  enclose  one  taken  from  Harpers. 
[This  was  in  Harper's  Weekly,  of  November  28,  1863. — 
'The  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Capture  by  Sedgwick's  Corps 
of  the  Rebel  Works  on  the  Rappahannock  near  the  Rail 
way  Bridge.  Sketched  by  A.  R.  Waud.'  As  cut  from  the 
paper  the  sketch  has  been  well  preserved,  and  is  no\v  in 
possession  of  Sergt.  Peacock  in  Chicago,  Oct.  10,  1902.] 
I  consider  this  a  very  correct  cut.  I  had  a  good  view  of 
our  infantry  as  they  charged  the  rifle  pit,  and  this  looks 
very  much  like  it.  Our  Battery  was  shelling  them  out  of 
the  large  Fort  on  the  hill,  also  the  pontoon  bridge  over  the 
River.  Our  position  was  1000  yards  in  rear  of  the  large 
work,  on  a  flat.  The  infantry  charged  under  cover  of  fire 
of  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.,  and  our  Battery.  It  was  lively 
work.  Our  Battery  now  occupies  the  large  Fort  command 
ing  the  new  R.  R.  bridge,  since  built." 

Feb.  14,  1864,  St.  Valentine's  Day.  Inspection  of  the 
Battery  at  9  a.  m.  by  Captain  Phillips.  On  the  I5th,  the 
men  went  into  the  woods  cutting  stockade  for  stabling. 
1 6th,  Dyer  felt  pretty  sick,  but  thought  he  could  work  it  off, 
and  went  into  the  woods  cutting  wood  all  day.  At  night 
he  felt  worse  instead  of  better.  I7th  the  mercury  was  at 
zero.  Dyer  went  to  the  Doctor's  for  medicine.  i8th  the 
Doctor  ordered  him  to  the  hospital.  I9th  E.  J.  Butler  and 
William  Caswell  called  to  see  Corporal  Proctor  and  Dyer 


774  HISTORY    OF    THE 

at  the  hospital.  Lieut.  Appleton  started  on  a  ten  days' 
"leave."  2ist.  Battery  inspection  in  the  forenoon.  Ed 
ward  Smith  and  William  Gunning  went  over  to  the  hospital 
to  see  Dyer,  and  Robert  King  came  back  with  them  to  get 
some  things  for  him. 

Feb.  22,  1864,  there  was  a  Brigade  drill  of  the  batteries 
viz.,  Barnes',  Barstow's,  Walcott's  and  Phillips',  four  guns 
each.  Of  this  Captain  Phillips  wrote  home: — 

"RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION, 

Feb.  23,  1864. 

I  am  sitting  at  my  desk  with  my  door  wide  open,  and  the 
men  are  playing  ball  out  of  doors'.  Yesterday  we  had  a 
drill  of  four  batteries,  which  lasted  four  hours,  and  was  very 
fatiguing.  I  returned  so  hoarse  that  I  could  hardly  speak, 
as  it  is  rather  difficult  to  give  orders  audibly  when  four  bat 
teries  are  rumbling  over  the  ground.  .  .  .  Everything  is 
very  quiet  here,  and  although  the  roads  are  now  in  very  good 
condition,  quite  dusty,  in  fact,  I  imagine  General  Meade  has 
seen  too  much  of  a  Virginia  winter,  to  be  seduced  into  leav 
ing  comfortable  quarters  by  such  temporary  inducements." 

The  23d  was  pleasant.  Oiled  harness  in  the  Right  sec 
tion.  24th,  Oiled  the  harness  of  the  Centre  section  and 
painted  the  Right  section.  Corporal  Proctor  and  Private 
Dyer  rode  over  from  the  hospital  on  an  errand  for  the  Doc 
tor,  and  found  the  men  busy  painting  carriages  and  oiling 
harness.  The  25th  was  pleasant  and  the  painting  was  con 
tinued. 

Feb.  26,  1864,  the  Battery  was  inspected  by  Captain 
Martin.  Captain  Phillips  afterwards  dined  with  Captain 
Martin.  The  Battery  received  8  recruits  transferred  from 
the  Third  Mass.  Battery. 

Feb.  27th.  Captain  Phillips  and  Captain  Nason,  his 
father,  and  Lieut.  Walcott  rode  to  Culpeper  Court  House. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  775 

The  Sixth  Corps  and  some  other  troops  moved  towards  the 
Rapidan.  The  Battery  received  orders  at  night  to  be  ready 
to  march  early  in  the  morning.  The  men  finished  a  new 
mess  house. 

February  29,   1864.     Lieut.  Appleton  returned  to  camp. 
The  Army  is  all  under  marching  orders. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    WILDERNESS. 
MAY  5  TO  8,  1864. 

"Headlong  motions  may  be  made,  but  let  such  be  repressed; 
inertia  alone  is  at  once'  unpunishable  and  unconquerable.  .  .  . 
Pause  with  Twenty-five  millions  behind  you  may  become  resist 
ance  enough." 

— THOMAS  CARLYLE. 

In  the  period  of  two  months  immediately  preceding  the 
movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  the  Rapidan 
to  the  James,  the  spring  of  1864,  very  important  changes 
were  made.  The  organization  of  the  Army  itself  was  recon 
structed,  and  another  commander  was  appointed,  fresh  from 
western  triumphs  like  McClellan  in  '61,  but  with  successes 
more  phenomenal,  laurels  brighter  and  more  abundant,  and 
more  than  all  anxious  millions  of  American  people,  gradu- 
.  ates  of  a  three  years  course  in  the  study  of  the  art  of  inter 
necine  war,  behind  him,  who  through  their  representatives 
in  Congress  had  restored  the  grade  of  lieutenant  general  for 
the  special  purpose  of  placing  Major  General  Ulysses  S. 
Grant  at  the  head  of  all  the  armies,  with  headquarters  in 
Virginia. 

But  this  time  there  was  to  be  no  farewell  address  from  a 
retiring  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  General 
George  G.  Meade  was  still  to  retain  the  honor  of  the  com 
mand,  and  General  Grant  says  in  his  Memoirs, — "I  tried  to 
make  General  Meade's  position  as  nearly  as  possible  what 
it  would  have  been  if  I  had  been  in  Washington,  or  any 
other  place  away  from  his  command." 

Grant  acknowledges  that  Meade's  position  proved  embar- 

776 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  777 

rassing  to  him  if  not  to  Meade,  and  in  this  instance  the  de 
feat  of  his  purposes  proved  a  triumph  to  American  arms, 
inasmuch  as  the  Army  itself  felt  at  once,  and  from  the  first 
promulgation  of  his  promotion  to  power,  the  direct  mag 
netic  influence  of  his  genius,  which  left  no  room  for  doubt 
that  his  position  could  never  be  in  Washington,  nor  in  any 
place  whatsoever  outside  the  needs  and  requirements  of  that 
Army  whose  enthusiasm  had  been  repressed  and  its  ambi 
tion  checked  for  so  long;  every  battle,  whether  lost  or  won. 
bringing  with  it  its  own  peculiar  concomitant  of  regret. 
Reaching  out  beyond  all  capabilities  known  and  tried,  they 
fastened  upon  Grant  as  the  one  man  in  the  confidence  of  the 
nation,  who  could  be  relied  upon  not  only  to  save  them  from 
defeat  but  to  encourage  them  to  follow  up  their  victories. 

Having  been  previously  nominated  to  the  grade  of  lieu 
tenant  general,  on  the  2d  of  March,  Maj.  Gen'l  U.  S.  Grant 
was  confirmed  in  that  rank  by  the  United  States  Senate,  and 
on  March  loth,  1864,  he  was  assigned  by  Special  Order  of 
President  Lincoln  to  the  command  of  all  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  Head  Quarters  to  be  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  These  were  first  established  at  Culpeper  Court 
House,  while  General  Meade's  were  at  Brandy  Station. 

General  Meade  began  the  changes  in  the  organization  of 
the  Army.  The  First  Corps,  having  been  condensed  into 
two  Divisions,  became  the  2d  and  4th  Divisions  of  the  Fifth 
Corps,  and  so  went  out  of  existence.  General  G.  K.  Warren 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  The  Third 
Corps  was  abolished.  When  the  five  corps  were  consoli 
dated  into  three,  the  Reserve  Division  of  Artillery  was 
broken  up,  and  the  batteries  were  placed  in  the  Second, 
Fifth,  and  Sixth  Corps.  General  Henry  J.  Hunt  still  held 
the  position  of  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  Army.  Major  Gen 
eral  Winfield  S.  Hancock  was  given  the  command  of  the 
Second  Corps,  and  Major  General  John  Sedgwick  that  of 
the  Sixth  Corps.  To  the  Ninth  Corps,  commanded  by 


778  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Major  General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside,  were  assigned  the 
regiments  of  U.  S.  Infantry  ordered  from  New  York  Har 
bor,  the  4th  and  loth  Regiments. 

The  Artillery  Brigade,  composed  of  9  batteries,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Charles  S.  Wainwright,  and  attached 
to  the  Fifth  Corps,  comprised  the  following: — 

Third  Mass.  Battery,  Capt.  A.  P.  Martin. 

Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Capt.  C.  A.  Phillips. 

Battery  D,  1st  N.  Y.  Light,  Capt.  Geo.  B.  Winslow. 

Batteries  E  and  L,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  Lieut.  Geo.  Breck. 

Battery  H,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  Capt.  Charles  E.  Mink. 

Battery  B,  ist  Penn.  Light,  Capt.  James  H.  Cooper. 

Battery  B,  4th  Regulars  Light,  Capt.  James  Stewart. 

Battery  D,  5th  Regulars  Light,  Lieut.  B.  F.  Rittenhonse. 

These  batteries  were  all  from  the  old  First  and  from  the 
Fifth  Corps.  To  them  were  added  the  2d  Battalion  4th 
N.  Y.  Heavy,  commanded  by  Major  Wm.  Arthur. 

The  armament  of  the  8  light  batteries  was  as  follows  :— 

Stewart's,  Mink's,  Winslow's,  and  Martin's,  each  six 
12  pdr.  Napoleons. 

Breck's,  Cooper's,  and  Phillips'  each  six  three-inch  Rod 
man  rifles.  Rittenhouse's  six  10  pdr.  Parrott  rifles. 

In  this  Brigade  the  proportions  of  rifle  batteries  and 
Napoleon  or  12  pdr.  smooth  bores  were  exactly  equal. 

The  number  of  12  pdr.  smooth  bores  had  been  increased, 
the  conditions  not  being  favorable  to  long  range  artillery. 

In  these  eight  batteries  there  were  48  guns,  1,196  men, 
and  4  companies  of  the  4th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery. 

There  were  present  for  duty  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
103,785  officers  and  enlisted  men,  with  274  pieces  of 
artillery. 

General  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  with  20,000  men,  was  to 
co-operate  from  the  south  side  of  the  James  River,  moving 
from  Fortress  Monroe  the  same  day  that  General  Meade 
moved  from  Culpeper. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY,  779 

The  Army,  which  then  occupied  a  position  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Rapidan,  was  put  in  motion  May  4,  1864,  with 
the  object  of  turning  Lee's  Right  flank,  the  Fifth  Corps 
taking  the  advance,  followed  by  the  Sixth  Corps. 

The  enemy,  well  protected  by  earthworks,  occupied  the 
south  bank  of  the  Rapidan,  their  Left  flank  covered  by  the 
Rapidan  and  the  mountains  near  Orange  Court  House, 
their  Right  flank  guarded  by  a  line  of  fortifications,  extend 
ing  from  Mine  Run  to  Morton's  Ford. 

The  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  were  ordered  to  cross  at 
Germanna  Ford,  and  proceed  to  the  Old  Wilderness  Tavern 
on  the  Orange  and  Fredericksburg  turnpike. 

The  Second  Corps,  followed  by  the  Artillery  Reserve, 
were  to  cross  at  Ely's  Ford  and  take  position  at  Chancellors- 
ville.  In  advance  of  each  column  were  the  cavalry,  and 
cavalry  guarded  the  supply  trains,  which  were  to  assemble 
at  Richardsville. 

General  Burnside,  in  command  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  was 
stationed  at  the  crossing  of  the  Rappahannock  River  on  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad  to  guard  that  road  as  far 
north  as  Bull  Run,  until  he  was  notified  that  the  crossing 
of  the  Rapidan  had  been  accomplished,  then  he  was  to  move 
forward  promptly,  and  a  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  was 
to  cover  the  bridge  at  Germanna  Ford  until  his  arrival. 

The  Fifth  Corps,  marching  in  silence,  at  midnight  of 
May  3d,  1864,  moved  from  the  vicinity  of  Culpeper.  Tak 
ing  the  most  direct  road  to  the  Old  Wilderness  Tavern,  they 
crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Germanna  Ford  and  bivouacked  at 
the  junction  of  the  Germanna  Ford  road  with  the  turnpike, 
a  distance  of  20  miles,  their  line  stretching  from  the  turn 
pike  to  the  Lacey  house,  and  taking  in  the  old  tavern.  After 
crossing  the  Ford  the  several  batteries  were  assigned  to 
march  with  the  Divisions,  for  their  better  protection,  it  was 
said,  through  the  Wilderness.  The  Third  and  Fifth  Mass. 


780  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Batteries  and  Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  marched  with  General 
Charles  Griffin's  (First)  Division,  Fifth  Corps. 

Across  their  line  of  march  led  two  roads,  the  Orange 
turnpike  and  the  Orange  and  Fredericksburg  Plank  Road. 
The  enemy  had  the  same  designs  on  our  Right  flank  that 
we  had  on  theirs,  and  knowing  all  about  what  we  were 
doing,  started  on  the  afternoon  of  May  4th  to  carry  out 
their  plans. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  halted  and  waited  in  the  Wil 
derness,  where  the  conditions  were  much  more  favorable  to 
the  enemy  than  to  them,  from  2  o'clock  p.  m.  May  4th  until 
5  o'clock  a.  m.  of  May  5th.  It  was  thought  best  to  halt  the 
Fifth  Corps  at  this  place,  in  order  to  make  the  passage  of 
the  trains  secure,  and  to  rest  the  troops  that  they  might  be 
fresh  to  meet  the  enemy  the  next  day. 

The  rebel  general  Lee  sent  E well's  Corps  by  the  Orange 
turnpike,  and  A.  P.  Hill  by  the  Orange  and  Fredericksburg 
Plank  Road.  Hill  was  to  be  reinforced  by  Longstreet's 
Corps  on  the  Plank  Road. 

At  5  p.  m.  of  May  4th  the  last  of  the  supply  trains  having 
crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Culpeper  Ford,  with  their  guard 
and  the  Reserve  Artillery,  the  Fifth  Corps  moved  by  a  farm 
road  to  Parker's  Store,  their  right  extending-  to  the  Old 
Wilderness  Tavern,  four  miles  south  of  the  river,  meeting 
the  Divisions  of  the  Sixth  Corps  not  left  at  Germanna  Ford, 
and  having  on  its  left  the  Second  Corps  at  Shady  Grove 
church.  The  Army  had  marched  20  miles  and  crossed  the 
river  on  five  bridges  of  its  own  building. 

On  reaching  the  Plank  Road  the  Fifth  Corps  met  the 
column  of  the  confederate  general  Hill  advancing  from  the 
direction  of  Parker's  Store.  The  Fifth  Corps  formed  line 
of  battle  at  the  right  and  left  of  the  turnpike,  which  was  for 
several  miles  a  perfectly  straight  road  and  any  movement 
could  be  discerned  for  the  distance  of  two<  miles. 

General  Meade  moved  his  Head  Ouarters  to  Old  Wilder- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  781 

ness  Tavern  and  General  Grant  moved  his  Head  Quarters 
alongside  General  Meade's. 

General  Griffin  in  command  of  the  ist  Division,  Fifth 
Corps,  moved  up  the  road  towards  the  west,  on  both  sides 
of  the  pike.  General  Samuel  W.  Crawford  with  the  3d 
Division,  and  General  James  S.  Wadsworth  with  the  4th 
Division,  moved  on  a  road  which  led  southwest  diagonally 
from  the  Lacey  house  to  the  Plank  Road,  so  that  the  farther 
they  proceeded  the  greater  distance  there  was  between 
Griffin's  left  and  Wadsworth's  right. 

As  Griffin  moved  forward,  he  came  to  a  valley  free  from 
timber,  but  impeded  by  underbrush,  several  acres  in  extent. 
Across  this  valley  on  the  crest  of  a  ridge  and  in  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  the  enemy  was  posted,  and  opened  fire  on  our 
advancing  troops  the  moment  they  reached  the  cleared 
space.  Here  was  where  the  i4Oth  New  York  was  cut  up, 
crossing  the  valley  and  attempting  a  charge  on  the  opposite 
side,  and  the  I46th  New  York,  both  of  General  Romeyn 
B.  Ayres'  Brigade  of  the  ist  Division,  Fifth  Corps,  in 
assisting  them. 

On  each  side  the  contestants  were  completely  concealed  by 
the  peculiar  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  growth  of  wood. 
The  Sixth  Corps  was  unable  to  get  in  position  on  the  right 
of  Ayres'  Brigade,  and  he  was  completely  outflanked. 

While  Ayres  was  fighting  on  the  right  of  the  turnpike. 
General  Joseph  J.  Bartlett  of  the  3d  Brigade  of  Griffin's 
Division  was  moving  forward  on  the  left,  and  reaching  the 
confederate  line  compelled  the  enemy  to  fall  back,  until  re 
inforced  by  fresh  troops,  who  after  taking  the  ground  from 
Ayres,  moved  down  on  Bartlett's  flank. 

Wadsworth  on  his  diagonal  road,  which  led  through  a 
thick  forest,  was  outflanked  on  both  sides,  and,  cut  off  from 
the  rest  of  the  Army  in  the  rear,  had  to  fight  his  way  back 
to  it.  At  6  p.  m.  supported  by  General  Henry  Baxter's 
Brigade  of  General  John  C.  Robinson's  Division,  Wads- 


782  HISTORY    OF    THE 

worth's  Division  occupied  the  woods  south  of  the  Lacey 
house,  from  which  they  drove  out  the  rebels;  pursuing  them 
until  dark,  when  they  bivouacked  with  both  flanks  exposed. 

When  the  Fifth  Corps  became  engaged  the  Second  Corps 
with  Hancock  in  command,  which  had  crossed  the  Rapidan 
at  Ely's  Ford  and  moved  to<  Chancellor sville,  was  recalled 
while  en  route  to  Spottsylvania,  and  marched  across  coun 
try  to  the  junction  of  the  Brock  and  Plank  roads  where 
they  were  engaged  with  the  Confederate  Divisions  of  Heth 
and  Wilcox. 

The  night  of  May  5th  Griffin's  Division  constructed 
breastworks  and  occupied  them. 

General  Burnside  with  the  Ninth  Corps,  by  a  forced 
march,  came  up  on  the  6th  early  in  the  morning,  and  two 
Divisions  under  Generals  Potter  and  Wilcox,  took  their 
position  on  the  road  to  Parker's  Store,  between  those  held 
by  the  Fifth  and  Second  Corps;  other  Divisions  being  as 
signed  elsewhere,  and  were  ordered  to  move  to  the  left,  and 
attack  the  enemy  on  the  right  of  the  Second  Corps. 

By  this  time  many  Divisions  had  been  detached  from 
their  own  corps  and  placed  in  others  according  to  orders 
latest  received,  or  ordered  to  positions  distant  from  their 
own  headquarters.  Then  followed  more  or  less  successful 
attempts  to  outflank  our  troops;  including  the  attack  on 
the  left  flank  of  the  Second  Corps,  Hancock's  famous  charge 
on  Hill,  and  the  unsuccessful  attempt  on  the  Right  of  the 
Army  at  6  p.  m.  of  the  6th  when  General  Samuel  W.  Craw 
ford's  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  came  promptly  to  its 
support. 

AS    TOLD    BY    MEMBERS    OF    THE    BATTERY. 

March  ist,  1864,  the  entire  Army  being  under  marching- 
orders,  all  the  cavalry  and  one  army  corps  having  gone  out 
to  the  front  for  the  purpose  of  taking  Richmond,  which 
was  thought  to  be  an  easy  thing,  the  Confederates  having 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  783 

made  Braxton  Bragg  commander-in-chief  under  their 
President,  "We  expected,"  wrote  Serg't.  Peacock,  "to 
move,  for  a  certainty,"  but  the  orders  were  countermanded 
on  the  2d  and  the  report  came  to  camp,  that  Kilpatrick  and 
Custer  were  "slashing  around  Richmond." 

On  the  3d  the  following  General  Order  was  issued  from 
the  War  Department: — 

THE  REVIVAL  OF  THE  GRADE  OF  LIEUT.  GEN'L. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  March  3,   1864. 
General  Orders. 
No.   87. 

The  following  Act  of  Congress  is  published  for  the  informa 
tion  of  all  concerned: 

Public. — No.    12. 

An     Act     reviving     the     grade     of     Lieutenant     General     in     the 
United  States  Army. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the 
grade  of  Lieutenant  General  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  revived  in 
the  Army  of  the  United  States ;  and  the  President  is  hereby 
authorized,  whenever  he  shall  deem  it  expedient,  to  appoint  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  a  Lieutenant  General, 
to  be  selected  from  among  those  officers  in  the  military  service  of 
the  United  States  not  below  the  grade  of  Major  General,  most 
distinguished  for  courage,  skill,  and  ability,  who,  being  commis 
sioned  as  Lieutenant  General,  may  be  authorized,  under  the  direc 
tion  and  during  the  pleasure  of  the  President,  to  command  the 
Armies  of  the  United  States. 

Section  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted :  That  the  Lieutenant 
General  appointed  as  hereinbefore  provided,  shall  be  entitled  to  the 
pay,  allowances,  and  staff,  specifie'd  in  the  fifth  section  of  the  Act, 
approved  May  twenty-eight,  seventeen  hundred  and  ninety-eight;  and 
also  the  allowances  described  in  the  sixth  section  of  the  Act  approved 
August  twenty-three,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-two,  granting  addi 
tional  rations  to  certain  officers,  Provided,  That  nothing  in  this  Act 


784  HISTORY    OF    THE 

contained  shall  be  construed  in  any  way  to  affect  the  rank,  pay,  or 
allowances  of  Winfield  Scott,  Lieutenant  General  by  brevet,  now  on  the 
retired  list  of  the  Army. 

Approved  February  29,  1864. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

W.  A.  NICHOLS, 

•Asst.  Adjt.  Gen1 1 


March  4th  a  Brigade  drill  was  held  near  the  Head 
Quarters  of  General  Sykes.  Lieut.  Appleton  rode  over  to 
Captain  Martin's  Head  Quarters  on  the  5th,  where  two 
West  Virginia  young  ladies  relatives  of  the  commissary 
of  the  Artillery  Brigade,  on  Captain  Martin's  staff,  a  loyal 
West  Virginian,  were  visiting.  The  next  day  was  Sunday, 
and  many  attended  the  church  of  the  22d  Mass.  Regiment 
at  Beverly  Ford.  Divine  service  was  held  there  in  a  chapel 
erected  by  the  soldiers.  Private  Benjamin  West  went  over 
in  the  afternoon  to  the  hospital  to  see  Private  Dyer. 

March  7th  the  following  General  Order  was  issued  rela 
tive  to  the  Invalid  Corps. 

THE  INVALID  CORPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  March  7,  1864. 
General  Orders, 
No.  93. 

The  following  named  .  .  .  privates,  having  been  duly  examined 
and  declared  unfit  for  further  field  service,  but  fit  for  duty  in  the 
Invalid  Corps,  are  hereby  transferred  ....  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  to 
take  effect  March  15,  1864,  and  from  and  after  that  date  will  be  dropped 
from  their  Regimental  Rolls 

Bliss,  Cornelius  E.,  Private,  5th  Mass.  Battery. 

Sanford,  John  G.,  Private,  5th  Mass.  Battery. 


On  the  7th  Lieut.  Appleton  pulled  down  his  house  and 
Lieut.  Blake  began  his — one  for  his  wife.     Private  Dyer 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  785 

was  advised  by  the  Doctor  to  go  to  Washington,  but  he 
preferred  to  go  to  the  Battery. 

March  9th  Captain  Phillips  went  home  on  a  15  days' 
leave.  Serg't  Ephraim  B.  Nye  also  left  for  home.  Lieut. 
Appleton  rode  to  Meade's  Head  Quarters  at  Brandy  Sta 
tion  and  visited  Phil.  Mason's  and  Bigelow's  Batteries. 

March  loth  there  was  a  heavy  rain  storm,  the  second 
within  a  week.  General  Grant  paid  General  Meade  a  visit 
at  the  latter' s  Head  Quarters.  Corporal  Proctor  and 
Private  Dyer  asked  the  Doctor  for  the  2Oth  time  to  let  them 
go  back  to  the  Battery.  He  let  them  go.  The  ambulance 
took  them  back  with  their  things.  The  Doctor  excused 
Dyer  from  duty  for  a  week. 

The  next  day  it  was  drizzly,  with  thunder  in  the  evening. 
An  order  had  been  issued  for  all  ladies  then  in  the  Army 
to  go  home. 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  HENRY  D.  SCOTT. 
FEB.  22,  1901. 

"On  the  8th  of  March,  1864,  I  received  an  order  to  re 
port  to  Massachusetts  to  command  a  new  Battery,  the  i6th 
just  recruited,  and  as  soon  as  Captain  Phillips  returned,  I 
bade  farewell  to  the  Fifth  Battery,  and  saw  them  only  afte*- 
the  war  was  over  and  they  were  camped  near  Washington 
on  their  way  home.  I  took  great  interest  in  their  move 
ments,  as  I  read  them  after  I  left,  from  time  to  time,  and 
I  shall  never  forget  the  part  I  took  with  the  Fifth  Battery, 
and  the  good  feeling  and  courtesy  always  shown  by  both 
officers  and  men,  and  I  esteem  it  a  high  privilege,  the  oppor 
tunity  to  meet  and  shake  them  sincerely  by  the  hand." 

In  relation  to  the  Notes  contributed  to  this  history  which 
had  been  made  from  time  to  time,  delivered  to  assemblies 
of  his  comrades  and  since  revised,  he  says:— 

"I  started  out  with  the  writing  of  my  experience  with 
the  Battery  to  leave  with  my  children  something  they  might 


786  HISTORY    OF    THE 

peruse,  as  I  question  none  of  them  will  ever  have  to  expe 
rience  what  I  have,  at  most  I  hope  not,  but  I  have  never 
regretted  this  experience,  however  much  it  has  cost  me. 

On  account  of  my  wound  at  Gettysburg  I  was  out  two 
months,  and  Mine  Run  one  month.  I  have  often  wished 
I  could  have  remained  with  the  Battery  to  the  end,  but  I 
hope  the  reader  will  be  able  to  find  some  points  in  connec 
tion  with  other  writers  to  make  all  complete." 

COPY  OF  AN  ORDER.— SCOTT'S  PROMOTION. 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 
EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

BOSTON,  March  8,  1864. 
LIEUT.  HENRY  D.  SCOTT, 

5th  Battery  Mass.  Vol.  Lt.  Art'v. 
Sir: 

His  Excellency  the  Governor,  has  requested  your  discharge  from 
the  5th  Battery,  in  order  that  you  may  immediately  report  at  Head 
Quarters  at  Boston,  to  receive  a  commission  as  captain  of  the  i6th 
Battery  Mass.  Vol.  Lt.  Art'y..  now  in  camp  at  Readville,  Mass.  As 
the  i6th  Battery  is  full,  all  its  officers  are  needed  for  duty  at  once. 
Will  you  please  make  every  exertion  on  your  own  part  to  arrive  at 
Boston  at  the  earliest  moment  possible? 

By  Order  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 

A.  G.  BROWNE,  JR., 
Lt.  Col  Mil.  Sec'y. 

WANTED.— RECRUITS. 

One  Sunday  in  March  Lieut,  Appleton  wrote  home  an 
acknowledgment  of  the  receipt  of  some  of  the  posters, 
which  on  a  recent  leave  of  absence  he  had  had  struck  off 
and  displayed  in  several  conspicuous  places  in  Boston,  and 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: — 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  787 


JOIN   THE    LIGHT    ARTILLERY. 
VOLUNTEERS    ATTENTION. 

A  few    more    Recruits    wanted    for    the    Fifth    Mass, 
Battery,  CAPT.  CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS,  of  Salem. 

YORKTOWN,  HANOVER  COURT  HOUSE,  GAINES 

MILLS,  MALVERN  HILL,  FREDERICKSBURG,  CHAN- 

CELLORSVILLE,  GETTYSBURG,  RAPPAHANNOCK 

AND   MINE   RUN. 

(O^31  The  Battery  is  now  with  the  Fifth 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  RED,  WHITE,  AND  BLUE  Maltese  Cross. 

It  has  six  three-inch  rifled  guns. 
Fall  in,  and  help  fire  them  off  again. 


W.  H.  Keenan,  Printer,  No.  104, 
Washington  St.  Boston. 


788  HISTORY    OF    THE 

March  12,  1864,  the  Left  section  oiled  harnesses.  Drill 
on  the  manual  of  the  piece.  Lieut.  General  Grant  arrived 
at  Culpeper  Court  House,  69  miles  southwest  of  Washing 
ton,  and  established  his  Head  Quarters.  This  point  was 
about  the  same  distance  northwest  of  Richmond,  and  12 
miles  north  of  the  Rapidan  River.  Six  recruits  from  Mar- 
blehead  came  to  the  Battery. 

EXIT  HALLECK. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJ'T  GEN'I/S  OFFICE, 
WASHINGTON,  March  12,  1864. 
General  Orders, 

No.  98. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  orders  as  follows: 

I.  Major  General  H.  W.  Halleck  is,  at  his  own  request,  relieved 
from   duty  as   General-in-Chief  of  the  Army,  and  Lieutenant  General 
U.  S.  Grant  is  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Armies  of  the  United 
States.     The  Head  Quarters  of  the  Army  will  be  in  Washington,  and 
also  with  Lieutenant  General  Grant  in  the  field. 

II.  Major  General  H.  W.  Halleck  is  assigned  to  duty  in  Washing 
ton,  as  Chief  of  Staff  of  the  Army,  under  the  direction  of  the  Secre 
tary   of   War   and   the   Lieutenant    General    commanding.     His   orders 
will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 

V.  In  relieving  Major  General  Halleck  from  duty  as  General-in- 
Cliief,  the  President  desires  to  express  his  approbation  and  thanks  for 
the  able  and  zealous  manner  in  which  the  arduous  and  responsible 
duties  of  that  position  have  been  performed. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Gen'l. 


March  13,  1864.  Inspection  and  drill  of  the  Battery  by 
Lieut.  Scott.  Private  Philo  Braley  died  at  3  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  which  made  us  feel  "blueish"  (Appleton's  ex 
pression),  and  the  next  day  the  Battery  escorted  him  to 
the  station  with  funeral  honors.  It  was  a  cloudy  and  windy 
day.  Private  Lemuel  Washburn  received  a  furlough  of  10 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  789 

days  to  go  home  with  the  body. 

On  the  1 5th  there  was  a  Brigade  drill.  Out  after  a  snow 
storm.  Private  Dyer  went  into  the  woods  and  cut  a  load  of 
wood  for  his  tent. 

On  the  1 6th  Lieut.  Appleton  went  over  to  a  ball  given  by 
Brig.  Gen.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett  and  staff  at  his  Head  Quar 
ters.  A  dancing  hall  was  built  for  the  purpose,  adjoining 
the  house,  and  decorated  with  flags.  The  invitations  were 
adorned  with  the  ist  Division  Corps  Badge,  which  was  a 
Greek  cross  in  red.  The  evening  was  quite  cold,  and  the 
rooms  were  rather  chilly,  but  the  ball  was  well  attended 
by  beauty  and  chivalry.  It  was  called  a  good  specimen  of 
army  balls.  A  number  of  handsomely  dressed  ladies  came 
from  Philadelphia  and  Washington, — among  them  a  daugh 
ter  of  Judge  Loring,  and  the  wife  of  the  portrait  painter 
Ames.  The  day  before  the  ball,  the  2d  and  5th  Detach 
ment  guns  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  were  polished  up 
and  sent  to  Division  Head  Quarters  and  put  in  the  Ball 
Room.  The  wood  work  was  oiled  with  sweet  oil,  the  guns 
were  dismounted  and  carried -into  the  hall  and  placed  "in 
Battery"  on  each  side  of  the  door. 

Dyer  mentions  Lt.  Appleton's  going  to  the  ball  which  he 
calls  "a  big  time  at  General  Bartlett's  Head  Quarters." 
On  the  1 7th  Dr.  Fairchild  was  staying  with  them.  St. 
Patrick's  Day  was  appropriately  celebrated  by  the  Mass. 
9th  Regt.  Infantry,  at  Bealton,  and  Lieut.  Appleton  went 
down  to  see  them.  There  was  a  mock  parade,  foot  ball, 
races,  etc.  "These,"  writes  Appleton,  "formed  the  features 
of  a  bully  old  jink  for  the  fighting  sons  of  Erin." 

Of  Grant  he  says,  "Isn't  it  splendid  that  we  are  actually 
to  have  him  out  here?  You  can't  play  any  bureau  work  in 
Washington  on  old  Ulysses.  I  saw  a  most  refreshing  sight 
the  other  afternoon.  The  I5th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artil 
lery,  who  for  two  years  have  done  duty  in  the  fortifications 
around  Washington,  and  are  2000  strong,  passed  by  our 


790  HISTORY    OF    THE 

camp  on  the  cars,  going  out  to  the  front.  They  will  have 
an  opportunity  now  to  get  their  pants  muddy  for  once. 
This  I  take  to  be  some  of  Grant's  doings,  and  I  think  he 
means  to  clo  more  of  the  same  style.  Altogether  I  feel  ver^ 
hopeful  for  the  spring  work,  and  I  think  the  Rebs  will  soon 
find  some  column  jabbing  at  their  flanks  where  neither  they 
nor  you  now  expect.  Just  get  us  out  of  this  camp  and  give 
us  something  to  see.  I  think  the  changes  all  around  are 
beneficial,  as  they  shake  up  men  and  things,  give  us  new 
acquaintances,  instil  new  life,  and  weed  out  some  of  the 
old  deadheads.  Corps,  Divisions,  and  Brigades,  are  slapped 
around  right  and  left." 

March  18,  1864.  Drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  in  the 
forenoon.  There  was  talk  of  a  cavalry  raid,  and  they  after 
wards  heard  that  there  was  a  skirmish  at  Morton's  Ford  on 
the  Rapidan.  News  arrived  that  General  Grant  was  tc 
take  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  "How  jolty 
it  is,"  wrote  Appleton,  "that  we  have  old  Grant  now  at  the 
head  of  the  Army.  We  have  our  most  successful  general 
at  the  top  of  the  ladder,  and  the  Rebs  have  one  of  theii 
most  unsuccessful  ones  at  the  same  place.  Let  us  hope  that 
this  is  a  good  omen.  Scott  leaves  our  Battery  to  take  com 
mand  of  the  1 6th,  as  soon  as  he  can  get  his  discharge 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  in  detachments,  keeps  passing  out 
camp  every  day,  going  out  to  the  front  from  Washington 
and  they  will  soon  be  ready  for  some  more  fun. 

We  had  the  hedge  fixed  on  the  i8th  and  there  was  a  little 
dance  at  General  A.  P.  Martin's  Head  Quarters." 

VETERAN  RESERVE  CORPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
ADJ'T  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  March  18,  1864, 
General  Orders, 

No.  in. 
The  name  of  the  organization  authorized  by  General  Orders  No. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  791 

105,  War  Dept.  1863,  as  an  "Invalid  Corps,"  is  hereby  changed  to  that 
of  "Veteran  Reserve  Corps."  All  orders  relating  to  the  Invalid  Corps 
will  remain  in  force  as  at  present,  with  respect  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Asst.  Ad  ft  Gen' I. 


March  19,  1864.  Excitement  about  the  Rebs.  Report 
that  Grant  was  coming  out  to  the  Army. 

LETTER  OF  SERGT.  W.  H.  PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION, 

March  19,  1864. 

We  are  expecting  an  attack  at  this  station  every  hour. 
Stuart  (Confederate  cavalry  general)  is  on  a  raid,  and  he 
will  probably  try  and  give  us  a  call,  as  there  are  a  good  lot 
of  stores  in  this  vicinity.  We  can  see  his  camp  fires  in 
the  distance.  It  is  reported  he  has  8000  cavalry  and  two  or 
three  batteries  with  him.  General  Sykes  of  our  Corps  is 
making  big  preparations  to  receive  them.  Last  night  our 
horses  were  harnessed  and  remained  so  all  night.  Rumor 
says  this  is  the  night  for  the  attack. 

The  1 8th  Mass.  Infantry  came  up  from  Beverly  Ford, 
about  two  miles  from  here,  and  remained  near  our  camp  all 
night.  All  of  the  other  infantry  were  out  under  arms,  as 
they  are  also  tonight.  We  have  orders  to  sleep  with  our 
clothes  on.  I  suppose  Stuart  wants  to  make  up  for  Kil- 
patrick's  raid,  but  no  go  this  time,  as  we  are  so  well  pre 
pared  for  him." 

"At  dusk"  (Dyer's  Notes  igth)  "an  Order  came  to  put 
our  guns  in  position  in  the  forts,  as  they  expected  a  cavalry 
raid.  The  i8th  Mass.  Regt.  laid  out  in  a  field  below  us  all 
night  with  their  guns  stacked." 

March  20,    1864.      Sunday.     Inspection  of  the  Battery 


792  HISTORY    OF    THE 

today  by  Lieut.  Scott.  Drilled  some  and  went  into  camp. 
Dyer  got  excused  from  fatigue  duty  for  being  the  cleanest 
man  at  guard  mounting. 

March  2ist.  Lieut.  Appleton  went  over  to  General  Mar 
tin's  as  a  member  of  a  Board.  Lieut.  Scott  received  his 
discharge.  Dyer  passed  the  evening  at  the  camp  of  the  2Oth 
Maine. 

March  22,  1864.  Lieut.  Scott  left  in  the  morning  for 
Boston  and  his  new  battery.  Very  cold  day.  Snow  in  the 
afternoon  and  all  night.  23d.  Snow  on  the  ground,  six 
inches  deep  on  a  level,  but  the  morning  was  clear.  Camp 
awakened  by  the  "merry  sound  of  the  bugle."  Captain 
Phillips  had  got  as  far  as  Washington  on  his  way  back  to 
camp,  and  called  upon  Hon.  John  B.  Alley  a  member  of 
Congress  from  Massachusetts,  about  regimental  organiza 
tion  of  Massachusetts  Artillery.  (See  p.  52.) 

ARMY  CORPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJ'T   GEN'I/S   OFFICE, 
WASHINGTON,  March  23,  1864. 
General  Orders, 
No.  115. 

I.  By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  the  number 
of  Army  Corps  comprising  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  will  be  reduced 
to  three  viz.,  the  Second,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Corps.     The  troops  of  the 
other  two  Corps,  viz.,  the  First  and  Third,  will  be  temporarily  reor 
ganized,  and  distributed  among  the  Second,  Fifth,  and  Sixth,  by  the 
Commanding  General,  who  will  determine  what  existing  organizations 
will  retain  their  Corps  Badges  and  other  distinctive  marks.     The  Staff 
Officers  of  the  two  Corps  which  are  temporarily  broken  up,  will  be 
assigned  to  vacancies  in  the  other  Corps,  so  far  as  such  vacancies  may 
exist.     Those  for  whom  there  are  no  vacancies,  will  cease  to  be  con- 
sidere'd  as  officers  of  the  General  Staff  of  Army  Corps. 

II.  Major  General  G.  K.  Warren  is  assigned  by  the  President  to 
the  command  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Asst.  Ad  ft  General. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  793 

March  24,  1864.  Captain  Phillips  returned  from  his 
"leave,"  about  2  p.  m.  Lieut.  Gen'l  Grant  came  down  on 
.a  special  train  just  ahead  of  the  one  Captain  Phillips  was 
in.  Maj.  General  Sykes  was  relieved  of  his  command,  and 
Major  General  Warren  was  put  in  his  place.  Troops  were 
constantly  arriving  in  the  cars. 

March  25,  1864.  In  the  reorganization  Colonel  Charles 
S.  Wainwright  of  the  ist  New  York  Artillery  was  to  be 
Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  5th  Corps.  Captain  Phillips 
passed  the  night  at  Captain  Martin's  Head  Quarters. 
Private  Dyer  went  into  the  woods  and  cut  a  load  of  wood 
for  his  tent  and  brought  it  to  camp  with  Wm.  Finder's 
team  towards  night. 

Of  the  change  in  the  commanders  of  the  Artillery,  Cap 
tain  Phillips  in  a  letter  of  March  27th,  1864,  says:  "Colonel 
Charles  S.  Wainwright  of  the  ist  N.  Y.  Artillery,  who  has 
been  Chief  of  Artillery  in  the  First  Corps,  will  probably 
be  chief  of  artillery  for  the  5th  Corps,  and  Captain  Martin 
will  be  obliged  to  return  to  his  battery.  It  is  hard,  after 
being  Chief  of  Artillery,  to  be  only  captain  once  more." 

But  this  was  what  Appleton  indicated  as  likely  to  happen, 
in  his  Artillery  paper,  see  p.  52. 

March  27th,  1864.  Sunday.  Lieut.  Appleton  went  to  the 
chapel  at  Beverly  Ford,  and  heard  an  excellent  sermon.  In 
the  evening  there  was  singing  in  the  camp. 

March  28th  was  a  beautiful  spring  day.  The  mud  was 
drying  up  very  fast.  Lots  of  troops  going  out  on  the  cars 
to  the  front.  Dyer  mentions  a  visit  from  Andrew  Almv 
and  Fred  Alden,  and  says  Almy  "discoursed  some  fine  music 
on  the  accordeon."  The  Battery  was  photographed :  two 
views  were  taken  of  the  Battery,  and  one  of  the  camp. 

March  2Qth  Lieut.  Blake  started  on  a  leave  of  ten  days. 
Captain  Martin  on  a  leave  of  five  days,  leaving  Captain 
Phillips  in  command  of  the  Artillery  Brigade.  It  com- 


794  HISTORY    OF    THE 

menced  raining  about  one  o'clock  p.  m.  and  at  Taps  it  poured 
down  in  torrents. 

March  3Oth  it  was  still  raining.  The  Rappahannock 
River  rose  eleven  feet,  the  pontoons  were  strung  up,  and 
water  everywhere.  The  bridge  across  the  Rappahannock 
was  washed  off  its  foundations  by  trees  falling  against  it 
that  floated  down  the  river,  so  the  cars  could  not  run. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"March  31,  1864.  Since  I  have  written  our  stupid  old 
army  has  actually  been  reorganized,  as  you  see  by  the 
papers.  The  First  Corps  comes  into  the  gallant  Fifth,  and 
we  keep  our  name,  our  honor,  and  our  Maltese  cross.  The 
Artillery  Brigade  falls  to  the  command  of  our  friend  Colonel 
Wainwright,  though  Martin  has  not  as  yet  been  actually 
relieved.  Our  Corps  (Fifth)  now  extends  from  Bristoe  to 
the  Rapidan,  with  General  Warren's  Head  Quarters  at 
Culpeper  Court  House.  But  best  of  all  the  immortal 
Grant  is  our  own.  It  so  happens  that  I  am  the  only 
officer  at  present  with  the  Battery,  and  I  am  therefore  in 
command.  Captain  Phillips  commands  one  part  of  the 
Brigade,  that  is,  the  Fifth  Corps  Batteries,  as  Captaia 
Martin  is  in  Washington.  Scott  has  gone,  Blake  absent 
on  leave,  Spear  ordnance  officer,  and  the  new  lieutenant  has 
not  as  yet  received  his  commission  in  his  hands,  although 
it  has  been  gazetted — thus  I  am  commander,  perpetual 
officer  of  the  day,  &c.,  &c.  The  whole  country  around 
looks  like  a  big  lake.  The  pontoon  bridge  was  all  knocked 
to  pieces." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY. 


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FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  797 

April  i,  1864,  Serg't  Harrison  O.  Simonds'  commis 
sion  as  2d  Lieutenant,  was  received.  Serg't  E.  J.  Gibbs 
was  promoted  to  ist  Sergeant. 

ORDERS  FOR  THE  COUNTERSIGN. 

HEAD   QUARTERS   ARMY  OF   THE   POTOMAC. 

April  2d,  1864. 
Orders. 

COUNTERSIGN. 

April  3d,  Boston. 
"       4th,  Albany. 
"      5th,    Newport. 
"      6th,  Baltimore. 
"      7th,    Chicago. 

8th,  Saint  Louis, 
pth,  Lexington. 

By  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  Meade, 

(Signed)  S.  WILLIAMS,  A.  A.  G. 

Official. 

FRED  T.  LOCKE, 

Asst.  Ad  ft  Gen'l 

April  2,  1864,  Captain  A.  P.  Martin  and  Captain  Charles 
A.  Phillips  returned  to  their  commands,  and  Lieut.  Simonds 
joined  the  mess. 

April  4th,  Lieut.  Appleton  went  over  to  Captain  Mar 
tin's  Head  Quarters  where  were  Colonel  Wainwright  and 
his  staff.  It  snowed  and  rained.  Colonel  Wainwright 
assumed  command  of  the  Artillery  Brigade  5th  Corps. 

April  6th,  Corporal  Newhall  was  promoted  to  Sergeant 
George  L.  Newton  and  Andrew  W.  Almy  were  promoted 
to  corporals. 

April  8,  1864.  Orders  came  for  the  sutlers  to  leave  by 
the  1 6th  of  the  month.  Corporal  Stiles  was  promoted  to 
sergeant.  Lieut.  Appleton  rode  over  to  the  Reserve  Artil 
lery. 

April  9,  1864.  Lieut.  Blake  returned  from  leave.  The 
Rappahannock  had  risen  17  feet,  it  being  the  highest  it  had 


798  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ever  been.     The  pontoon  house  and  bridge  were  washed 
down  stream  in  the  morning. 

April  10,  1864,  a  minute  inspection  of  the  Battery  and 
quarters  took  place  by  Captain  Phillips.  Big  freshet  on 
the  river  and  all  around.  The  bridges  were  all  down  be 
tween  the  camp  and  Washington,  including  the  bridge  at 
Cedar  Run.  No  trains  had  come  through  since  the  previous 
night.  All  leaves  of  absence  and  furloughs  had  ceased. 

Captain  Phillips  wrote  on  April  loth  in  relation  to  the 
artillery : 

"The  reorganization  has  left  us  in  a  rather  unsettled  state. 
Captain  Martin  has  ceased  to  be  Chief  of  Corps  Artillery, 
but  for  the  present  the  batteries  belonging  to  the  old  Fifth 
Corps  form  a  demi-brigade,  under  his  command.  Some  of 
our  batteries  will  go  into  the  Artillery,  but  we  shall  remain 
in  the  new  Fifth  Corps.  It  is  so  muddy  as  to  render  any 
thing  like  drill  out  of  the  question." 

Again  on  the  i6th  he  wrote:  "For  the  present,  and  until 
the  Corps  is  assembled  at  Culpeper,  the  batteries  north  of 
the  river  are  organized  in  a  half-brigade,  commanded  by 
Captain  Martin.  For  four  days,  while  Captain  Martin 
was  in  Washington,  and  before  Colonel  Wainwright  was 
appointed,  I  was  acting  Chief  of  Artillery,  while  Lieut. 
Appleton  had  the  satisfaction  of  signing  himself  2d  Lieut, 
commanding  the  Battery." 

April  10,  1864,  General  Grant  was  at  Culpeper.  On  the 
nth  trains  from  Washington  arrived  in  the  evening.  The 
night  of  the  i2th  Colonel  Wm.  S.  Tilton  passed  with  the 
Battery. 

April  13,  Dyer  was  on  extra  fatigue  duty  for  not  attend 
ing  drill  call,  but  as  there  was  a  pretty  merry  crowd  on, 
they  had  a  pretty  jolly  time.  Colonel  Tilton  was  sent  off 
in  an  ambulance.  The  sutlers  were  selling  off  cheap,  as 
they  were  obliged  to  go  to  the  rear  with  the  wagon  trains. 
April  14,  1864.  Battery  drill  in  the  forenoon.  The 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  799 

sutlers  left  the  camp.  On  the  I5th  a  trench  was  dug  in 
the  stable  and  the  place  the  sutler  occupied  was  cleaned  up. 
Battery  drill  in  the  forenoon.  In  the  afternoon  Captain 
Phillips  selected  a  spot  for  target  practice  just  over  the 
river  near  the  fort,  firing  down  river  towards  Kellyville. 
Good  ranges  up  to  1500  yards.  Two  recruits  arrived. 
Ordered  to  turn  in  surplus  clothing  to  reduce  baggage. 

April  1 6th  it  rained  all  day,  postponing  the  target  practice. 
The  men's  surplus  baggage  was  sent  off.  Unserviceable 
Quarter  Master's  property  and  clothing,  camp  and  garrison 
equipage  was  inspected.  Orders  came  to  be  ready  to  march 
by  the  2ist.  The  entire  Army  under  marching  orders. 
Did  not  shoot  on  account  of  the  rain. 

April  1 8th.  Dyer  was  busy  all  day  "making  a  tent  against 
we  marched."  General  Charles  Griffin  and  others  called 
Page  got  extra  guard  duty  because  the  man  on  No.  i  post 
failed  to  salute  General  Griffin.  The  ist  Michigan  vets, 
(see  p.  561)  returned.  Perfect  day. 

LETTER  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"April  19,  1864.  The  Army  is  completely  ready,  and  we 
sha'n't  be  surprised  any  morning  to  have  the  order — 'For 
ward,  Army  of  the  Potomac!'  The  story  now  is  that  the 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps, — the  old  Invalid  Corps, — are  to 
have  the  honor  of  defending  the  Capital.  In  that  case  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  can  move  independently,  a  thing,  by 
the  by,  which  it  has  never  been  able  to  do,  and  one  that 
is  quite  ignored  by  the  'On  to  Richmonders.'  Send  every  • 
body  out  immediately.  General  Grant  keeps  reviewing 
different  slugs  of  the  Army  every  day.  Our  Battery  was 
out  target  shooting  this  morning,  as  all  the  artillery  and 
infantry  have  been  doing  for  the  last  month.  We  are  verv 
well  filled  up  now  with  all  our  recruits." 

At  the  target  shooting  from  a  hill  over  the  river,  General 


800  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Griffin,  Captain  Martin,  and  several  other  officers  were 
present.  The  targets  were  placed  at  800,  1000,  1200,  1500, 
and  1700  yards.  Made  several  holes  in  the  1000  yards 
target.  The  Battery  fired  36  shots.  At  dress  parade  an 
Order  for  the  cannoneers  to  fall  in  at  all  calls  was  read. 

April  20,  1864.  Battery  drill  in  the  forenoon  and  drill 
on  the  manual  of  the  piece  in  the  afternoon.  The  awkward 
squad  also  drilled. 

April  2 1  st.  George  H.  Johnson  was  thrown  from  a  horse 
and  received  a  broken  wrist.  Battery  drill  in  the  forenoon. 
Drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  in  the  afternoon.  Dyer 
says,  "The  weather  was  changeable,  from  wind,  snow,  and 
rain,  to  the  hot  torrents  of  the  sun." 

April  22d.  Battery  drill.  Lieut.  Appleton  met  General 
Gregg  on  the  way  to  Martin's. 

April  23d.  Orders  were  received  to  clean  up  for  inspec 
tion  the  next  day.  All  the  old  things  belonging  to  the 
Battery  were  condemned.  Ordnance  stores  were  inspected 
by  Lieut.  Breck  ist  N.  Y.  Artillery.  An  Order  was  read 
at  dress  parade  relating  to  applications  to  prepare  for  com 
missions  in  colored  troops. 

April  24th  the  Battery  was  inspected  by  Captain  Phillips. 
It  was  Sunday.  Lieut.  J.  Edward  Spear  passed  the  night 
with  Lieut.  Appleton.  Some  thought  they  were  waiting 
for  General  Burnside  to  get  all  ready,  before  moving.  In 
the  evening  Private  Dyer  took  a  walk  up  the  railroad.  On 
the  25th  Lieut.  Appleton  rode  with  Dr.  Fontaine  to  Brigade 
Head  Quarters  near  Culpeper,  went  into  the  town  and  came 
home  in  the  dark.  26th.  Drill  on  the  pieces  for  upwards 
of  three  hours  in  the  forenoon.  Drill  on  the  manual  of  the 
piece  in  the  afternoon. 

April  27th  had  a  very  long  drill,  both  forenoon  and  after 
noon.  At  guard  mounting  a  gale  of  dust  came  blowing 
over  the  hill,  which  made  the  officers  beat  a  hasty  retreat 
for  their  quarters.  Appleton  wrote:  "We  have  drills  con- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  801 

stantly  and  are  quite  ready  to  be  in  the  saddle,  with  our  bed 
in  the  mud.  The  tremendous  lull  here  seems  almost  strange 
at  the  present  time,  but  when  we  are  off  we  think  it  will  be 
short  and  stupendous.  The  news  all  around  the  edges  ot 
the  Confederacy  is  bad  at  present,  but  to  us  absorbed  hi 
what  must  soon  take  place  here,  these  disasters  give  little 
annoyance." 

April  28,  1864.  Lieut.  Appleton  went  in  the  evening 
to  a  "sociable"  at  the  30!  Brigade.  2Qfh.  After  fatigur 
duty  Bob  King  and  John  E.  Dyer  went  up  to  the  station 
with  the  teams  for  grain  and  hay.  The  same  day  Dyer 
finished  his  tent.  Various  rumors  of  Burnside's  troops 
coming  up  the  railroad.  All  ready  to  move.  Ephraim  B. 
Nye,  with  his  battery,  the  I4th  Mass.,  came  right  into  the 
camp,  which  they  occupied  when  the  Battery  left.  The  Qth 
Corps  arrived  to  relieve  the  Fifth  in  guarding  the  railroad. 
The  Pennsylvania  Reserves  and  Rittenhouse's  Battery 
crossed  the  river  and  marched  to  Brandy  Station. 

LETTER  OF  SERG'T.  W.  H.  PEACOCK. 

"RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION,  VA., 

April  30,  1864. 

The  9th  Army  Corps  arrived  today,  and  is  relieving  all 
of  the  old  troops  from  Warrenton  to  the  Rappahannock. 
...  I  dread  the  coming  campaign, — sleeping  without  tents 
and  marching  by  day  and  night.  The  next  battle  of  this 
Army  will  be  a  rouser.  The  rebels  of  Lee's  Army  are  all 
ready  for  us,  and  are  said  to  be  90,000  men.  They  will 
give  us  a  tough  pull,  if  my  opinion  amounts  to  anything. 
Today  I  was  up  to  Brandy  Station,  5  miles  from  here, 
drawing  ordnance  stores.  You  can  form  no  idea  of  the 
bustle  and  confusion  at  this  Depot  when  the  Army  is  getting 
ready  to  move.  It  looked  to  me  as  if  one  thousand  or  more 
wagons  were  waiting  to  load,  and  there  were  immense  piles 


802  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  ammunition,  all  kinds,  ordnance  stores,  &c.,  &c.,  and 
piles  of  boxes  of  hard  bread  as  high  as  two  or  three  story 
houses.  It  reminded  me  some  of  a  wharf  in  New  York, 
with  12  or  15  ships  loading  and  unloading." 


"It  is  resolved — they  march — consenting  Night 
Guides  with  her  star  their  dim  and  torchless  flight. 

Already  they  perceive  its  tranquil  beam 
Sleep  on  the  surface  of  the  barrier  stream. 

A  moment's  pause,  'tis  but  to  breathe  their  band, 
Or  shall  they  onward  press,  or  here  withstand? 
It  matters  little — if  they  charge  the  foes 
Who  by  the  border-stream  their  march  oppose, 
Some  few,  perchance,  may  break  and  pass  the  line 
However  link'd  to  baffle  such  design." 

— BYRON'S  "Lara." 

May  ist,  1864,  the  Fifth  Corps  having  been  ordered  to 
assemble  at  Culpeper  Court  House,  Orders  came  at  3  a.  m. 
for  the  Battery  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  with  Griffin's 
ist  Division  and  the  two  other  batteries,  and  march  at 
9  a.  m.  in  the  following  order : 

ist  Brigade,  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

2d  Brigade,  Third  Mass.  Battery. 

3d  Brigade,  Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

The  Division  looked  splendidly. 

They  crossed  the  river  at  Rappahannock  Station,  and 
went  into  park  a  short  distance  beyond  Ingalls  Station,  and 
north  of  Brandy  Station.  Everybody  slept  on  the  ground. 

May  2,  1864.  Went  about  three  miles  to  water  horses. 
Lieut.  Appleton  passed  a  very  delightful  morning  at  General 
Meade's  Head  Quarters.  Lunched  there  with  all  the 
fellows.  Marched  at  5^  p.  m.,  in  a  terrible  storm  of  wind 
and  dust,  followed  by  a  heavy  rain  which  continued  till  they 
came  near  Culpeper.  Camped  in  the  vicinity  of  the  railroad 
bridge  over  Mountain  Run,  cold  and  wet.  Shackley  says, 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  803 

"We  passed  the  night  in  misery  in  our  wet  clothes,  with 
no  fire  nor  fuel  to  make  one."  A  load  of  hay  came  for  the 
men  to  lie  upon.  It;  ceased  raining  about  8,  and  they  ear 
;upper  and  went  to  bed  pretty  tired. 

May  3,  1864,  was  cold  and  windy,  the  Blue  Ridge  a  few 
.niles  distant  was  white  with  snow.  Remained  in  camp 
all  day  and  were  told  they  would  remain  there  for  two  or 
three  days.  Unpacked,  pitched  tents,  and  received  orders 
to  clean  up  for  review  the  next  day.  Colonel  Wainwright 
visited  the  camp.  The  Demi-Brigade  was  dissolved. 
Appleton  calls  it  the  ''Demise  of  the  Demis."  Captain 
Martin  took  command  of  his  own  battery,  the  Third  Mass., 
and  Lieut.  Spear  came  back  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 
In  the  evening  rations  were  given  out  for  6  days.  Rumors 
of  a  move  on  foot.  Rumored  the  Rebs  had  evacuated  in 
our  front.  At  11.30  p.  m.  Orders  came  to  march  at  12. 
The  Army  was  to  advance  in  two  columns.  The  Fifth 
and  Sixth  Corps  forming  the  Right,  were  to  cross  at  Ger- 
manna  Ford,  and  the  Second  Corps  with  the  cavalry  under 
Sheridan  at  Ely's  Ford,  six  miles  farther  down.  The  Third 
and  Fifth  Mass,  and  Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  fell  in  behind 
Griffin's  First  Division. 

Reveille  at  midnight!  "Boots  and  Saddles"  immediately 
after  cleaning  horses. 

BREAKING  CAMP.     APPLETON'S  NOTES. 

"The  breaking  camp  at  night  and  starting  on  the  march, 
is  a  beautiful  and  inspiring  sight.  The  country  around 
for  miles  is  lit  up  by  a  thousand  fires,  which  sparkle  like 
so  many  glowworms.  Tents  are  struck  and  folded,  horses 
are  neighing  and  pawing  impatiently  in  the  cool  night  air, 
the  artillery  is  harnessed  and  stands  parked,  ready  for  the 
word  to  move,  officers  are  riding  around  seeing  that  every 
thing  is  in  readiness  while  all  feel  through  their  veins  the 
electricity  inspired  by  the  prospect  of  change  and  activity, 


804  HISTORY    OF    THE 

after  the  long  days  and  nights  of  quiet.  Silently,  and  in 
good  order,  the  troops  filed  forth  by  the  different  roads, 
the  cavalry  having  gone  on  in  advance,  and  sunrise  found 
the  main  body  of  the  Army  at  the  banks  of  the  Rapidan, 
and  ready  to  cross  the  stream. 

The  pontoons  were  then  laid,  and  over  we  went  again 
into  the  enemy's  country,  and  all  day  long,  under  the  rays 
of  a  hot  spring  sun,  so  hot  that  many  threw  away  theii 
blankets  and  extra  clothing, 

'Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  boys  are  marching,'  until  as 
the  afternoon  shadows  were  lengthening,  we  halted  on  the 
edge  of  the  Wilderness,  where  the  pickets  were  carefully 
posted,  and  the  order  given  to  bivouac  for  the  night." 


They  crossed  the  Rapidan  without  opposition,  and  marched 
till  about  2  of  May  4th  p.  m.,  when  they  came  into  position 
6  miles  from  Chancellorsville,  within  five  miles  of  Mine 
Run,  a  hard  march  of  25  miles.  The  entire  Army  was  in 
position  in  the  Wilderness.  The  camp  was  close  to  the 
house  where  "Stonewall"  Jackson  was  brought  when  he 
lost  his  arm  the  year  before,  and  they  found  the  old  line 
of  works  which  were  hastily  thrown  up  by  the  Third  Corps 
at  the  Battle  of  Chancellorsville. 

BULLETIN  FROM  GENERAL  MEADE. 
READ  TO  THE  SOLDIERS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

May  4,   1864. 
(Extract.) 
SOLDIERS  : 

....  You  have  been  reorganized,  strengthened  and  fully  equipped 
in  every  respect  You  form  a  part  of  the  several  armies  of  your 
country,  the  whole  under  the  direction  of  an  able  and  distinguished 
General,  who  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  government,  the  people,  and 
the  army.  Your  movement  being  in  co-operation  with  others,  it  is  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  no  effort  should  be  left  unspared  to  make  it 
successful.  .  .  . 

GEO.  G.  MEADE, 
Maj.  Gen'l  Commanding. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  805 

Appleton  wrote  of  the  close  of  the  day  of  May  4th  that 
he  "listened  to  the  music  and  retired  under  a  'fly/  The  Eve 
of  Battle."  Warren's  Fifth  Corps  was  in  advance  of  the 
Right  wing  of  the  Army  encamped  on  the  Wilderness  pike. 
Ewell's  Corps  of  Lee's  army  was  encamped  directly  opposite 
Warren's,  each  ignorant  of  the  other's  whereabouts,  but 
when  the  Fifth  Corps  made  ready  to<  resume  its  march  on 
the  morning  of  Thursday,  May  5th,  they  found  the  enemy, 
unexpectedly,  confronting  them,  and  were  forced  to  fight 
him  where  he  was,  Meade  concentrating  the  several  army 
corps  for  that  purpose.  The  Wilderness  was  a  mining 
country.  The  timber  of  large  growth  had  been  cut  down 
for  miles  around,  for  use  in  developing  the  mines,  and  the 
wood  of  smaller  growth  was  a  dense  mass  of  scrub  oaks, 
low  pines,  and  underbrush,  where  it  was  an  impossibility  t  > 
form  troops  in  line  of  battle  or  for  the  officers  to  see  more 
than  a  small  number  of  their  commands  at  one  time.  The 
artillery  could  not  be  taken  into  the  underbrush,  and  could 
only  co-operate  with  the  infantry  by  the  use  of  a  piece  or  a 
section  at  certain  points.  Cavalry  was  still  less  available. 
But  here  the  Fifth  Corps  met  the  advance  of  Lee's  Army. 

THE    FIGHT    OF    MAY    5. 

May  5,  1864,  at  daylight,  Battery  in  position  where  they 
first  encamped.  The  Rebs  came  up  about  8  a.  m.  The 
report  was  brought  in  that  they  were  coming  down  upon 
them.  In  position  on  a  high  knoll  commanding  the  valley 
and  the  road  to  Parker's  Store,  just  in  front  of  the  Lacey 
house,  to  the  left  of  the  turnpike,  and  not  far  from  the 
Head  Quarters  of  General  Grant  and  General  Meade. 

The  Right  section,  commanded  by  Lieut.  J.  E.  Speai« 
was  in  position  on  the  Gordonsville  road,  about  noon  and 
fired  13  rounds.  The  infantry  firing  was  very  heavy.  Neat' 


606  HISTORY    OF    THE 

them  were  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.,  Battery  H,  ist  N.  Y.,  and 
B,  ist  Pennsylvania. 

General  Griffin,  advancing  up  the  turnpike  with  one  sec 
tion  of  Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.  Light  Battery,  Capt.  Geo. 
B.  Winslow,  opened  the  fight  at  2  p.  m.  and  was  heavily 
engaged  where  the  i4Oth  New  York  Infantry  made  its 
fatal  charge  and  Captain  Winslow  and  Lieut.  A.  S.  Sheldon 
were  wounded.  Captain  Winslow  lost  two  guns,  and  the 
remaining  four  guns  were  placed  in  position  on  the  right 
of  the  section  of  the  5th  Battery  which  was  posted  on  the 
pike. 

Powell's  History  of  the  Fifth  Corps  has  it  that  a  section 
of  the  Battery  "replied  to  and  several  times  silenced  a  Con 
federate  battery  similarly  posted  at  a  distance  of  about  1400 
yards." 

We  drove  the  enemy  off  the  road. 

There  was  very  heavy  musketry  firing  all  day,  continuing 
till  8  o'clock  in  the  evening.  At  that  time  unharnessed  and 
turned  in,  having  gained  ground. 

By  Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton :  "We  were  covering  an 
open  piece  of  land,  while  the  fighting  was  taking  place  in 
the  tangled  woods,  a  half  mile  or  so  in  advance.  General 
James  S.  Wadsworth  led  his  Division  through  this  field, 
with  ranks  full  and  banners  waving,  to  the  woods,  where  we 
could  distinctly  hear  the  dread  rattle  of  musketry.  At 
length  I  noticed  the  men  coming  back,  singly  and  in 
squads,  limping  and  on  stretchers,  and  evidently  in  disor 
der.  Something  had  gone  wrong,  and  the  old  general  was 
rushing  about  with  drawn  sword  rallying  his  men  around 
a  flag  which  he  had  placed  in  position.  He  seemed  to  do*  all 
the  work  himself,  and  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of 
mounting  my  horse,  riding  up  to  him,  saluting,  giving  my 
name,  and  asking  if  I  could  be  of  any  use.  I  thought  that 
at  least  I  might  try  to  stop  his  men  from  passing  to  the 
rear,  through  the  two  guns  of  my  section  of  the  Battery. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  807 

He  thanked  me,  and  in  a  short  time  he  had  re-organized 
his  broken  Division,  and  was  ready  for  more  fighting,  and 
this  came  the  next  day,  May  6,  1864,  when  he  received  a 
wound  in  the  head  from  which  he  died  two  days  later." 

THE  FIGHT  OF   MAY   6. 

The  fight  opened  at  daylight,  5  a.  m.  and  lulled  at  10, 
commenced  again  at  4,  and  was  continued  till  9  p.  m.  We 
gained  ground  on  the  Left,  but  lost  on  the  Right.  The 
firing  of  the  musketry  was  one  continuous  roll.  The  Battery 
lay  still  all  the  morning.  Burnside's  troops  came  up.  In 
the  afternoon  reported  to  General  Griffin.  In  the  main  line 
held  by  the  Fifth  Corps  were  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  and 
Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  now  commanded  by  Lieut.  Lester  I. 
Richardson.  The  New  York  Battery  was  on  the  right  of 
the  turnpike;  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  across  the  pike; 
the  Third  Mass.  Battery,  Battery  H,  ist  N.  Y.,  L, 
ist  N.  Y.,  and  B,  ist  Pennsylvania  to  the  left.  At 
six  o'clock  a  part  of  the  Sixth  Corps  fell  back,  causing 
general  excitement,  and  "all  that  night  (Appleton's  Letters) 
there  was  a  mass  of  men  marching  through  and  over  us, 
as  we  lay  in  bivouac  trying  to  sleep.  It  was  the  Sixth 
Corps  falling  back  in  confusion,  and  communication  on  the 
Right  of  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  R.  R.  to  Washington 
was  lost,  and  must  be  established  on  the  Left,  by  the  rivers.'' 
Dyer  writes :  "The  whole  of  the  Sixth  Corps  gave  way,  and 
that  flanked  the  Fifth  Corps,  so  part  of  that  gave  way  about 
dark.  The  rest  of  the  5th  was  firm." 

Of  the  fight  of  May  6th  Corporal  Shackley  wrote,  "Fight 
ing  very  severe,  but  did  not  fire.  Towards  night  the  other 
two  sections  (the  Centre  and  Left)  were  brought  into  line. 
About  sunset  the  Right  wing  (6th  Corps)  broke,  and  there 
was  quite  a  panic.  General  Griffin  met  the  stragglers  in 
the  rear  of  our  guns,  and  most  earnestly  urged  them  to  form 


808  HISTORY    OF    THE 

line,  'For,'  said  he,  'I  know  that  my  artillery  will  stand !'  ' 

THE    FIGHT    OF    MAY    7. 

On  Saturday,  May  7,  1864,  the  Battery  opened  fire  with 
shot  and  shell  early  in  the  morning,  checked  the  advance  of 
the  enemy  made  about  daylight  driving  in  our  skirmishers, 
and  drove  them  back  into  the  woods.  One  spare  pole  broke 
in  action.  Kept  in  position  all  day.  At  3  p.  m.  General 
Warren  was  ordered  to  move  the  corps-train  to  Chancellors- 
ville  at  5  p.  m.  and  park  it,  to  be  ready  to  move  at  night, 
and  to  move  the  Corps  at  half-past  eight  p.  m.  on  the  Brock 
Road,  via  Tocld's  Tavern,  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
passing  by  the  Second  Corps,  which  was  to  follow  closely, 
the  Fifth  Corps  pickets  to  be  withdrawn  at  one  o'clock  a.  m. 
of  the  8th,  those  of  the  Second  at  2  a.  m.  This  order  was 
based  on  one  from  General  Grant,  directing  a  flank  move 
ment. 

At  8  p.  m.  of  the  7th  the  Battery  started  off  with  Griffin's 
Division.  Marched  all  night,  moving  by  the  left  flank 
along  the  line  of  Burnside's  Corps,  out  on  the  Brock  road  for 
Spottsylvania  Court  House. 

The  route  was  back  to  the  intersection  of  the  Germanna 
Plank  Road;  to  march  along  this  road  about  a  mile  and  a 
quarter,  then  to  strike  the  Brock  road.  About  a  mile 
farther  along  cross  the  Orange  Plank  road,  and,  at  the  end 
of  another  three  miles,  the  railroad. 

General  Sheridan  with  the  cavalry  protected  the  column. 
This  was  the  first  of  the  marches  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  by  the  left  flank,  in  which  the  Fifth  Corps  led. 

FROM  APPLETON'S  NOTES. 

"On  the  Brock  Road  I  met  several  of  the  officers  of  the 
56th  Mass.  Regt.  in  the  Ninth  Corps,  in  bivouac  and  wait 
ing  to  move,  later  on. 

During  that  slow  night  march  I  occasionally  dozed  on 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  809 

my  horse,  taking  cat  naps,  like  some  of  the  staff  of  Napoleon 
in  Meissonier's  famous  painting  of  the  'Retreat  from  Mos 
cow.'  I  may  have  done  so  before,  but  this  time  I  recall 
it  most  vividly. 

As  I  look  back  to  that  fearful  three  days'  struggle,  it 
seems  to  me  like  some  confused  and  horrid  dream.  I  can 
hear  again  the  incessant  crash  of  the  musketry  which  would 
continue  unbroken  for  hours,  with  the  louder  roar  of  the 
cannon  at  intervals  relieving  its  terrifying  sounds;  I  can 
see  long  lines  of  infantry  pressing  forward  through  the 
patches  of  farm  land  to  their  place  in  the  woods,  ranks  full, 
flags  floating  in  the  breeze,  and  all  proud  and  flushed  with 
a  hope  of  victory.  I  can  see  them  straggling  back,  in 
groups  of  two  or  three,  even  squads  and  whole  companies, 
confused  and  demoralized,  their  officers  in  vain  trying  to 
rally  around  the  battle-riddled  standard. 

Again  my  ear  catches  the  sound  of  the  rebel  'yell'  and 
Yankee  'hurrah/  strangely  mingled,  as  charges  and  counter 
charges  would  be  made  day  and  night;  here  long  lines  of 
ambulances  block  the  road,  while  back  through  openings  in 
the  tangled  forests  the  bloody  stretchers  come  bearing  their 
sad  and  groaning  load.  The  great  tents  of  the  field  hospitals 
stand  up  before  my  vision  in  their  white  sepulchral  lines, 
well  out  of  reach  of  the  firing,  the  red  flag  marking  them 
as  a  place  of  refuge  for  friend  or  foe  alike;  here  the  poor 
sufferers  lay,  the  surgeons  bustling  about,  knife  and  band 
ages  in  hand,  while  the  strains  of  patriotic  music  the  band 
was  playing,  would  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  wounded,  and 
were  often  the  last  sound  heard,  as  they  gained  the  victory 
over  death.  Now  a  group  of  Confederate  prisoners,  in  their 
rusty  butternut  dress,  and  long  uncouth  hair,  would  pass  in 
the  lines  escorted  by  their  guard;  the  officers  casting  aroun.J 
looks  of  dogged  defiance  at  their  captors;  here  a  battery  of 
light  artillery  is  rushed  up  the  road  to  its  position  on  some 
hill,  the  horses  plunging  and  straining  at  the  weight  behin-i 


810  HISTORY    OF    THE 

them;  the  flags  of  the  signal  service  are  waved  in  treetops, 
here  and  there,  in  a  manner  mysterious  to  all  the  unini 
tiated;  in  a  continuous  line  the  tired  soldiers  remain  man 
fully  at  the  breastworks  hastily  thrown  up,  and  try,  at  odd 
times,  to  snatch  a  few  hours'  sleep  and  f orgetf ulness ;  but 
amidst  all  the  carnage  and  confusion  around,  one  quiet,  un 
pretending  figure  stands  out  conspicuously,  clear-headed, 
and  undismayed. 

It  is  General  Grant,  the  soldier  of  the  people,  the  person 
upon  whom  the  responsibility  fell,  and  who  was  able  to  bear 
it,  for,  as  he  sat  in  his  tent,  calmly  smoking  his  cigar, 
watching  the  varying  fortunes  of  the  struggle,  receiving 
despatches  as  they  were  constantly  brought  in,  more  and 
more  convinced  did  he  become  that  success  could  only  be 
achieved  by  blows,  not  by  strategy,  and  that  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  army  to  'fight  it  out  on  that  line,'  at  no  matter  what 
apparent  sacrifice. 

So  the  three  days  of  battle  passed. 

This  march  of  May  7th  was  long  and  tedious  for  the 
weary  soldiers,  and,  as  is  generally  the  case  at  night,  espe 
cially  in  the  muddy  roads  of  Virginia,  not  many  miles  were 
accomplished  as  the  rosy  streaks  of  the  rising  sun  appeared 
in  the  eastern  horizon.  The  day  was  fairly  breaking  when 
our  Division  came  up  to  Todd's  Tavern,  an  old  wayside 
inn,  and  the  troops  were  halted,  with  orders  to  rest  for  an 
hour  or  so,  and  make  their  coffee. 

I  took  the  saddle  off  my  horse,  and,  using  it  for  a  pillow, 
tried  to  seize  a  few  moments'  sleep.  Ah  me!  he  who  has 
passed  through  such  scenes  as  these  will  not  lightly  talk 
of  war  as  a  thing  to  be  madly  rushed  into,  and  a  game  for 
kings  and  emperors  to  play." 


CHAPTER    XXL 

THE    BATTLE     OF      SPOTTSYLVANIA      COURT 
HOUSE,  AND  LAUREL  HILL. 

MAY  8- 1 8,  1864. 

"God's  truth!"  sez  I,— 'an  ef  I  held  the  club, 
An'  knovved  jes'  where  to  strike, — but  there's  the 

rub!'  — 

"Strike  soon,"  sez  he,  "or  you'll  be  deadly  ail- 
in', — 
Folks  thet's  afeared  to  fail  are  sure  o'  failin';"  .... 

— JAMES  RUSSELL  LOWELL,  The  Biglow  Papers. 

The  Fifth  Corps,  followed  by  the  Sixth  Corps,  was  put 
in  motion  on  the  Brock  Road,  at  9  o'clock  on  the  night  of 
the  7th  of  May,  1864,  preceded  by  a  Division  of  cavalry 
under  General  Wesley  Merritt;  their  object  being  to  secure 
a  cross  road  leading  to  Fredericksburg,  by  which  the 
wounded  could  be  sent  to  Washington. 

They  met  the  enemy  the  next  day  about  two  miles  be 
yond  Todd's  Tavern,  near  the  crossing  of  the  river  Po, 
about  12  miles  from  the  position  in  the  Wilderness,  between 
the  two  most  northern  forks  of  the  Mattapony  river,  the 
Po  and  the  Ny,  but  nearer  the  banks  of  the  Po.  Two 
other  streams,  southern  forks  of  the  same  river,  are  desig 
nated  by  the  syllables  Mat  and  Ta. 

The  enemy  was  not  able  to  dislodge  our  cavalry  but  they 
held  Merritt  in  check,  and  about  6.30  a.  m.  General  John 
C.  Robinson's  Division  with  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  and 
Battery  L,  ist  N.  Y.,  followed  by  Griffin's  Division  with 
Battery  H,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  and 

811 


812  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  moved  past  the  cavalry,  and 
pushed  on  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  beyond  the  Alsop 
house. 

They  formed  two  lines  of  battle  across  the  road,  and 
drove  the  rebels  two  or  three  miles.  Robinson  passed  and 
secured  the  road  leading  to  Fredericksburg,  and  continued 
to  advance  until  at  the  junction  of  the  old  Court  House 
road  with  the  Brock  road,  he  received  another  check,  and 
fell  back  to  the  shelter  of  the  woods. 

While  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  was  being  withdrawn  to 
a  rise  in  the  ground  which  commanded  the  valley,  Captain 
A.  P.  Martin  was  wounded,  and  Lieut.  Aaron  F.  Walcott 
again  assumed  command  of  the  battery. 

General  Hancock  with  the  Second  Corps  arrived  at  Todd's 
Tavern  the  same  morning  (8th  May)  at  9  o'clock,  and, 
relieving  the  cavalry,  covered  the  Brock  and  Catharpin 
roads,  and  afterwards  the  Catharpin  and  Spottsylvania 
roads.  At  1 1  o'clock,  Colonel  Nelson  A.  Miles,  with  in 
fantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  made  a  reconnoissance  on  the 
Catharpin  Road  towards  Corbin's  Bridge,  and  on  the  way 
back  to  rejoin  the  Second  Corps,  met  and  drove  back 
Mahone's  Confederate  Brigade. 

In  the  report  of  Major  James  A.  Cunningham  of  the 
32d  Mass.  Infantry,  who  some  years  after  the  war  became 
adjutant  general  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
may  be  found  the  following: 

"May  8,  1864,  came  up  with  the  enemy  near  Todd's  Tavern.  The 
regiment  was  detached  from  the  Brigade  to  support  Battery  E,  (Fifth) 
Massachusetts.  At  midnight  rejoined  the  Brigade,  and  took  up  posi 
tion  on  the  left,  behind  breastworKs  already  constructed." 

On  May  Qth  Battery  B,  ist  Perm.  Light,  Captain  James 
H.  Cooper,  held  the  position  on  the  right  and  left  of  the 
Alsop  house.  Next  on  the  right  was  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S., 
Lieut.  B.  F.  Rittenhouse.  That  afternoon  about  400  yards 
in  their  rear  was  posted  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  on  spacious 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  813 

grounds  at  the  right  of  the  Court  House  road  and  command 
ing  the  valley  towards  the  Pritchard  house. 

On  the  same  day  General  Sheridan,  with  the  Cavalry 
Corps  went  off  on  a  raid  with  orders  to  cut  the  Fredericks- 
burg  and  the  Virginia  Central  railroads,  to  threaten  Rich 
mond,  to  communicate  with  and  draw  supplies  from  the 
James  River. 

While  the  Sixth  Corps  was  adjusting  its  lines  on  the  Qth 
General  John  Sedgwick  was  killed,  and  General  H.  G. 
Wright  assumed  command  of  the  Corps. 

On  the  loth  the  object  of  the  fighting  of  the  Fifth  Corps 
was  to  obtain  possession  of  Laurel  Hill.  The  plan  of 
placing  the  Army  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House  n  miles 
from  Fredericksburg,  between  Lee  and  Richmond,  had  been 
abandoned  when  Meade's  Army  was  intercepted  at  Alsop' s 
Farm  by  the  Confederate  general,  Anderson. 

Hancock  was  ordered  to  send  two  Divisions  of  the  Second 
Corps  to  aid  the  Fifth  Corps  in  an  attempt  to  turn  the 
Confederate  Left  by  attacking  their  fortifications  placed  on 
Laurel  Hill.  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S.,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
James  Stewart,  was  posted  at  the  right  and  rear  of  the  Fifth 
Mass.  Battery,  close  to  the  Alsop  House.  During  the  day 
the  batteries  remained  in  position,  but  all  that  part  of  the 
line  was  quiet. 

The  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  broke  through  the  rebel  lines 
of  intrenchment,  and  General  Burnside  with  the  Ninth 
Corps  made  a  reconnoissance  in  the  direction  of  the  Spottsyl 
vania  Court  House,  and  intrenched  his  Corps  within  a  quar 
ter  of  a  mile  of  that  place.  In  this  movement  General  J.  D. 
Stevenson  was  killed. 

On  May  n,  1864,  the  position  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac  was  as  follows :  The  Fifth  Corps  was  on  the  extreme 
right  from  near  the  Po  river,  extending  past  the  front  of 
the  Alsop  house  in  an  irregularly  curved  line.  The  Sixth 
Corps  was  on  the  left  of  the  Fifth,  the  Second  Corps  in 


814  HISTORY    OF    THE 

front  of  the  salient,  or  the  advanced  point  in  the  fortifi 
cations. 

The  Ninth  Corps  was  on  the  extreme  left,  resting  near 
Spottsylvania  Court  House. 

The  batteries  were  in  their  old  positions.  Batteries  E 
and  L,  ist  New  York  Light,  commanded  by  Lieut.  George 
Breck,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  and  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S., 
Lieut.  James  Stewart,  were  in  position  to  the  extreme  left 
of  the  corps  posted  around  the  Alsop  house  to  the  left  of 
the  road  which  crosses  the  Po  at  Corbin's  Bridge.  In  the 
afternoon  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S.  was  moved  to  the  left  and 
front  of  Battery  B,  ist  Penn.,  and  the  Third  Mass.  Battery 
was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Ayres,  now  in  command 
of  the  2d  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  to  be  placed  in 
the  first  line. 

At  3  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  May  nth,  General 
Meade,  by  General  Grant's  direction,  ordered  the  three 
Divisions  of  the  Second  Corps  to  move  by  the  rear  of  the 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  and  joining  the  Ninth  to  make  a 
vigorous  assault  at  4  a.  m.  of  the  I2th.  The  Fifth  and 
Sixth  Corps  were  to  be  held  in  their  present  places  close  to 
the  enemy's  lines. 

A  part  of  the  Fifth  Corps  was  sent  forward  May  I2th 
in  advance  of  all  the  Union  forces,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
and  Batteries  E  and  L,  ist  N.  Y.,  taking  position  to  the 
left  of  the  road  which  crosses  the  Po  at  Corbin's  Bridge. 
During  the  forenoon  they  shelled  the  woods  across  the  river, 
and  replied  to  the  guns  which  opened  on  our  skirmish  lines, 
and  in  the  afternoon  silenced  a  rebel  battery  at  a  distance  of 
1 200  yards. 

Lee  withdrew  at  midnight. 

Leaving  the  pickets  all  in  position,  the  Fifth  Corps  moved 
after  dark  on  May  I3th  by  cross  roads  and  through  the 
woods,  fording  the  Ny  river,  across  country  in  the  direction 
of  the  Fredericksburg  and  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  815 

along  that  road;  the  design  being  to  turn  Lee's  Right  flank. 
They  reached  the  appointed  place  at  daylight  of  the  I4th, 
on  which  day  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  were  placed  in 
position  in  front  of  the  Confederate  intrenchments  across 
the  Fredericksburg  road  in  front  of  the  Court  House. 

On  May  I7th,  it  having  been  determined  to  move  the 
Second  and  Sixth  Corps  to  the  extreme  right  to  make 
another  assault,  the  Fifth  Corps  was  intrenched;  General 
Warren  ordering  26  guns  into  position  and  protecting  his 
left  flank  by  the  i5th  N.  Y.  Battery,  Captain  Hart,  and  the 
Third  and  Ninth  Mass.  Batteries  at  the  Anderson  house, — 
Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.,  Lieut.  Rittenhouse,  with  Battery  D, 
5th  New  York,  six  20  pdr.  Parrotts,  was  advanced  to  within 
1400  yards  of  the  Court  House, — and  ist  N.  Y.  Light 
Battery  D,  making  14  guns  under  Major  Robert  H.  Fitz- 
hugh. 

The  ist  Pennsylvania  Light  Battery  B,  Captain  Cooper, 
Batteries  E  and  L,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  Lieut.  George  Breck. 
and  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  Phillips,  twelve  3  inch 
guns,  the  order  reducing  each  battery  to  4  guns  having 
been  carried  out,  were  posted  in  a  very  advantageous  posi 
tion  on  a  hill,  at  the  front  and  about  400  yards  to  the  left  of 
Fitzhugh's  guns,  at  an  angle  of  about  60  degrees  with  his 
line. 

Opposed  to  these  guns  were  the  20  pieces  of  the  enemy 
in  front  and  to  the  right  of  the  Court  House. 

At  daylight  of  May  i8th,  just  when  the  Second  Corps 
advanced  on  the  Right  the  batteries  opened  on  both  sides. 
The  firing  which  was  about  equally  accurate,  continued  for 
about  three-quarters  of  an  hour  continuously,  and  at  inter 
vals  throughout  the  day  with  the  result  that  the  confederate 
general  Hill's  guns  were  silenced,  but  the  general  attack 
was  given  up  when  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  was 
prepared  for  it,  and  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps  went  back 
to  their  positions  of  the  I7th  of  May. 


816  HISTORY    OF    THE 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 
FROM  NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  APPLETON. 

"Grant  knew  that  an  absolute  victory  or  defeat  in  such 
a  country  as  the  Wilderness,  was  impossible,  and  so  he 
concluded  that  losing  his  communication  on  the  right  and 
by  the  railroad,  he  would  establish  it  on  the  left,  and  by  the 
great  rivers.  The  Army  soon  came  to  know  that  it  had  for 
its  leader  a  strong  and  reliable  man,  and  I  am  convinced 
that  the  three  days  at  the  Wilderness,  and  the  five  following 
ones  at  Spottsylvania,  proved  to  all  that  the  time  for  retreat 
ing  was  over.  Men,  horses,  ammunition,  food  and  forage, 
all  followed  as  rapidly  as  possible  in  the  wake  of  the  ever 
advancing  Army,  and  the  wounded  were  taken  to  Washing 
ton  by  steamers,  which  were  ready  to  meet  them  on  the 
various  rivers,  from  the  Rappahannock  to  the  James.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  May,  1864,  we  reached  Todd's 
Tavern,  where  the  cavalry  had  been  skirmishing  under 
Sheridan,  and  there  I  saw  a  young  officer  of  one  of  the 
cavalry  regiments,  wounded  and  reposing  in  the  porch  of 
the  inn.  We  continued  our  advance,  and  later,  under  a  tree, 
whom  should  I  see  also  wounded,  but  Captain  A.  P.  Martin, 
who  had  received  a  bullet  shot  in  the  neck,  from  which  the 
blood  was  slowly  oozing,  and  Colonel  Fred  T.  Locke  the 
popular  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  who 
had  been  hit  in  the  face.  It  was  a  gruesome  sight,  and  one 
calculated  to  make  the  observer  feel  the  dangers  of  war  very 
keenly.  These  officers  recovered  from  their  wounds,  how 
ever,  and  both  returned  to  the  service.  (Colonel  Locke 
died  in  1893;  this  wound,  it  was  said,  being  the  indirect 
cause  of  his  death,  and  General  Martin  died  in  Boston, 
March  13,  1902,  of  a  complication  of  diseases  after  a  year's 
illness,  and  was  buried  at  Mount  Auburn  with  military  hon 
ors.  He  was  borne  to  the  grave  by  members  of  Battery  A, 
Light  Artillery  M.  V.  M.,  attended  by  Lieut.  Aaron  F. 
Walcott  and  25  members  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery,  with 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  817 

members  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  civic  organizations.) 

Our  Battery  soon  continued  the  advance,  passing  the  body 
of  a  dead  Union  infantryman  in  an  open  bit  of  ground,  and 
soon  we  were  put  in  position  to  resist  anv  attack  that  might 
be  made.  We  were  supported  on  either  side  by  the  32d 
Mass.  Regt,  Colonel  George  L.  Prescott,  who  was  killed 
at  the  first  attack  on  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864.  (See 
p.  882.)  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Colonel  Prescott  and 
had  some  conversation  with  him.  It  was  rather  an  ugly 
place  to  be  in,  hemmed  in  by  woods,  and  not  much  open  land 
ahead,  in  case  a  strong  body  of  the  enemy  should  appear, 
but  Captain  Phillips  said  he  could  hold  his  own  front,  and 
only  wanted  the  infantry  to  do  the  work  on  either  flank." 

Todd's  Tavern  was  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Cathar- 
pin  and  Brock  roads,  and  was  a  ten  mile  march.  Here  in- 
trenchments  were  thrown  up. 

"About  2  miles  beyond  the  Tavern  (Dyer's  Notes,  May 
8,  1864)  we  found  the  cavalry  fighting  the  Rebs.  Went 
into  position  as  soon  as  we  reached  the  field.  Remained 
till  10  p.  m.,  then  advanced  about  a  mile;  having  driven  the 
enemy  from  their  position  in  breastworks.  Unharnessed 
and  turned  in." 

They  were  on  the  second  line,  in  position  on  the  right  of 
the  road  to  guard  against  an  attack  on  our  flank.  Martin's 
battery  was  heavily  engaged  and  Captain  Martin  was 
wounded.  Sedgwick  charged  at  dusk  and  carried  the 
enemy's  works.  The  advance  to  the  front  at  10  p.  m.  was 
to  join  the  rest  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  The  supply  train 
reached  the  camp  that  day,  which  was  lucky  as  the  forage 
was  short.  For  six  miles  back  from  the  front  the  provost 
guard  were  ordered  to  stop  all  passing  to  the  rear,  and  it 
was  said  that  of  the  two  it  was  safer  to  go  forward  and 
engage  the  enemy,  than  to  go  back  and  be  sabred  to  the  front 
by  the  provost  guard. 


8.18  HISTORY    OF    THE 

May  9,  1864,  Monday,  lay  still  all  the  morning.  Gen 
eral  Sedgwick  was  killed  at  10  a.  m.  Lieut.  Appleton  hap 
pened  to  be  at  the  road  when  his  body  was  carried  to  the 
rear  on  a  stretcher.  He  was  known  in  the  Army  as  "Uncle 
John,"  and  was  beloved  and  respected  by  all.  After  dinner 
on  the  Qth  went  into  position  on  a  ridge  in  about  the  Centre 
of  the  line.  A  few  stray  enfilading  shots  came  over  from 
the  left.  One  shell  killed  Private  Joseph  Kierstead  trans 
ferred  to  the  Battery  from  the  i  i8th  Pennsylvania,  and  mor 
tally  wounded  Private  John  Boynton  of  South  Danvers; 
also  wounded  Private  John  Mensing,  from  the  n8th  P.  V., 
all  drivers  on  the  first  piece.  Boynton  was  a  new  recruit. 

Bullets  whistle.  Entry  in  Quarter  Master  Sergeant  Wm. 
H.  Peacopk's  account-book  is  "one  shovel  broken  by  a  shell." 
Colonel  Percy  Wyndham  visited  the  Battery.  In  the  even 
ing  threw  up  breastworks,  and  remained  in  position  all 
night. 

NOTES  OF  CORPORAL  BENJAMIN  GRAHAM. 

WM.  REYNOLDS  SEES  A  GHOST. 

"On  the  evening  of  the  9th  May,  1864,  in  battery,  with 
our  left  flank  facing  the  enemy,  there  came  a  shell  from  one 
of  the  rebels'  batteries,  and  just  at  that  time  Kierstead, 
(John)  Mensing,  and  one  other,  I  have  lost  his  name,  (It 
was  Boynton.)  were  digging  a  pit  to  shelter  themselves  in. 
They  had  it  dug  out  about  two  feet,  when  they  heard  that 
shell  coming,  and  all  three  dropped  into  the  pit.  The  shell 
burst  in  the  pit  killing  Kierstead  and  the  unknown  (Boyn 
ton),  but  only  wounding  Mensing  in  the  wrist.  Kierstead 
and  the  other  it  blew  all  to  pieces,  so  I  had  to  pick  them  up 
and  put  them  in  a  blanket.  That  night  we  had  a  grave  dug 
and  buried  them.  I  wanted  to  mark  the  spot,  and  asked 
Reynolds  if  he  would  not  mark  a  board  for  them,  he  being  a 
good  penman.  He  said  he  would,  so  he  got  to  work,  and 
the  wind  was  blowing,  and  he  could  not  keep  the  candle  lit, 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY,  819 

and  I  suggested  to  him  to  sit  in  the  bottom  of  the  grave, 
in  he  went,  and  he  stuck  a  piece  of  wood  in  the  end  of  the 
grave  and  set  the  candle  on  it.  Then  he  started  in  again, 
and  when  I  thought  it  was  about  time  he  had  finished  I  went 
round  to  see  him,  and  as  I  was  passing  the  side  of  the  grave 
my  shadow  fell  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  grave,  when  to 
my  surprise  Reynolds  came  out  of  that  grave  as  if  he  had 
been  shot  out  of  a  Gun.  When  I  asked  what  was  the  mat 
ter,  he  said  Kierstead's  ghost  had  come  in  the  grave." 

FROM  LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  LETTER  OF  MAY  9, 

1864. 
''HEAD  QUARTERS  IN  THE  SADDLE, 

NEAR  SPOTTSVLVANIA  C.  H. 

The  fighting  has  been  perfectly  terrific  and  our  losses  tre 
mendous.  Artillery  has  very  little  chance,  as  the  country 
is  solid  woods,  with  now  and  then  an  opening.  The  bat 
teries  go  into  position  in  them,  so  there  is  a  good  deal  of 
luck  whether  or  not  you  get  engaged.  The  infantry  has 
suffered  tremendously.  Almost  all  Massachusetts  field  of 
ficers  are  killed  or  wounded." 

On  May  loth  keep  position  all  day.  "The  artillery 
opened  at  daybreak  and  continued  at  intervals.  (Dyer's 
Notes.)  At  ii  a.  m.  the  whole  line  opened  peal  on  peal. 
It  seemed  as  if  the  heavens  had  opened.  Also  very  severe 
charges  by  the  infantry.  Captured  a  large  number  of  pris 
oners,  some  guns,  and  stands  of  colors.  At  10  p.  m. 
silence  reigned  in  a  measure."  There  was  a  tremendous, 
exciting  fight  all  the  afternoon  in  the  woods  in  our  front, 
Grant  and  Meade  around.  A  bulletin  was  read  to  the  sol 
diers,  announcing  that  General  Butler  was  at  Petersburg, 
and  our  forces  had  defeated  the  enemy  in  the  West. 

A  good  many  Reb.  prisoners  taken.  The  rebels  said  to 
be  at  Brandy  Station. 


820  HISTORY    OF    THE 

May  nth  there  was  firing  by  both  artillery  and  infantry 
at  intervals,  but  no  very  severe  fighting.  About  1000  pris 
oners  passed,  going  to  the  rear.  In  the  afternoon  a  heavy 
thunder  shower  came  up.  Still  in  position  on  the  extreme 
left  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  with  Batteries  E  and  L,  ist  New 
York  Light,  Lieut.  George  Breck  in  command,  to  the  left  of 
the  road  which  crosses  the  Po  river  at  Corbin's  Bridge. 
May  12,  1864,  moved  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  line. 
General  Hancock  moved  to  the  left  and  made  a  big  capture 
in  the  morning, — Johnson's  Division  7000  men,  4  generals, 
and  30  odd  pieces  of  artillery, — by  a  surprise  before  day 
light.  It  rained  almost  all  day.  Appleton  wrote  home,— 
"Just  think  of  eight  days  almost  solid  fighting!  Without 
doubt  this  is  the  hugest  battle  that  ever  took  place  in  the 
world.  I  do  not  think  that  our  wounded  alone  can  be  less 
than  25,000.  They  are  going  down  to  Fredericksburg  on 
trains.  Our  Battery  was  engaged  quite  heavily  on  the  I2th 
and  we  passed  the  afternoon  in  an  artillery  duel  with  a  Reb. 
battery.  One  of  our  limbers  was  hit  and  exploded,  but, 
strange  to  say,  without  hitting  a  horse.  Our  Battery  has 
lost,  thus  far,  two  men  killed  and  four  wounded.  We 
marched  at  night  in  the  rain  and  came  into  camp  along  the 
road  in  a  mud  hole,  near  the  Fifth  Corps  Hospitals.  Grant 
will  win  the  battle  if  it  takes  till  next  Christmas.  (It  was 
about  this  time  that  Grant  made  the  remark  that  has  grown 
into  a  proverb  viz.  that  he  would  "fight  it  out  on  this  line 
if  it  takes  all  summer.")  Just  keep  cool  up  in  the  North, 
and  this  thing  will  soon  be  settled.  I  can't  think  it  will  last 
much  longer,  for  it  does  not  seem  as  if  the  cause  could  jus 
tify  such  a  tremendous  slaughter." 

FROM  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

Letter  of  May  13,  1864,  in  relation  to  May  I2th: — "Dur 
ing  the  forenoon  we  shelled  the  woods  by  General  Warren's 
orders,  and  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  a  battery  to  our 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  821 

left.  We  were  on  a  road  which  crossed  the  Po  river,  about 
200  yds.  ahead  of  us,  at  Corbin's  Bridge,  I  believe.  About 
noon,  the  rebels  placed  a  battery  on  our  right,  just  across  the 
Po,  but  hidden  from  us  by  the  woods.  We  made  a  guess 
as  to  the  distance,  and  let  them  have  it.  I  rode  to  the  right 
about  half  a  mile,  and  got  within  about  300  yds.  of  the  rebel 
battery,  and  saw  our  shells  bursting  beautifully.  They 
changed  position,  but  I  sent  an  orderly  back  to  change  our 
guns,  correspondingly,  and  the  rebs  soon  cleared  out. 
About  2  this  same  battery,  I  suppose,  took  position  in  our 
front,  still  hidden  by  the  woods,  and  having  got  all  ready, 
banged  away  all  at  once  as  if  they  expected  to  clean  us  out 
the  first  thing.  In  this,  however,  they  were  very  much  mis 
taken.  For  about  half  an  hour  we  kept  at  it,  quite  lively; 
they  blew  up  one  of  our  limbers  and  we  returned  the  com 
pliment.  At  the  end  of  half  an  hour  they  retired  in  disgust. 
They  only  hit  one  man  and  wounded  him  very  slightly. 
Still  they  faced  us  longer  than  any  rebel  battery  I  have  met, 
as  we  do  not  generally  allow  them  more  than  15  minutes. 
They  opened  again  about  an  hour  afterwards,  only  for  two 
or  three  rounds,  before  they  cleared  out.  .  .  .  We  left  the 
field  at  sunset  and  came  here  near  the  5th  Corps  hospitals.' 

In  Captain  Phillips'  report  to  the  adjutant  general  of  the 
state  he  mentions  the  killing  of  a  few  horses,  and  adds  that 
"two  of  our  men  were  wounded  at  this  time  by  shells  from 
one  of  our  own  batteries." 

Notes  of  Corporal  Jonas  Shackley  May  12,  1864: 
"Moved  by  the  right  flank  about  a  mile.  Exposed  to  fire 
from  both  flanks  and  front.  Corporal  (Benjamin)  Graham 
(of  New  Bedford)  and  (Private)  Thomas  Mensing, 
(n8th  P.  V.)  were  wounded  by  a  shell  from  Battery  L, 
ist  N.  Y.  A.  K.  P.  Hay  den  (of  New  Bedford)  wounded 
by  rebel  shell.  One  of  our  limbers  was  blown  up,  and  2 
horses  killed  by  rebel  shells." 


822  HISTORY    OF    THE 

They  blew  up  the  4th  limber.  The  Battery  fired  486 
rounds. 

From  John  E.  Dyer's  Notes: — "May  12,  1864.  Hitched 
up  at  daylight,  changed  our  position  and  went  on  the  right. 
Opened  on  the  enemy.  They  soon  returned  it  with  a  cross 
fire  upon  us.  Soon  it  became  the  hottest  of  any  place  yet. 
The  Rebs  had  four  batteries  playing  upon  us,  all  of  which 
we  silenced.  We  silenced  their  crack  battery  the  Richmond 
Cadets.  Had  one  limber  blown  up.  Ben.  Graham,  Men- 
sing,  and  Al.  Hayden  wounded.  Rained  all  day." 

NOTES    OF    SERGT.    WM.    H.    BAXTER. 
BENNIE  GRAHAM'S  DOUBLE  WOUND. 

In  a  letter  accompanying  his  Notes  dated  Oct.  4,  1900, 
Serg't.  Baxter  says  that  this  incident  he  has  related,  "is  a 
dead  sure  thing  without  drawing  on  the  imagination  and 
can  be  verified,  as  the  other  fellow  is  still  alive."  As  to  his 
title  he  says  he  is  "Plain  William  H.  In  the  old  Battery 
'Bill'  for  short,  and  'Serg't.'  sometimes." 


"At  Laurel  Hill  (May  12,  1864)  we  were  closely  en 
gaged  with  a  Reb.  Battery  in  an  artillery  duel,  and  from 
the  manner  that  the  Rebs  stood  up  and  took  their  medicine 
for  a  while,  it  was  evident  that  there  was  A  i  fighting  blood 
on  both  sides  of  the  fence.  The  duel  ended,  however,  as 
usual  when  the  Old  5th  had  a  hand  in  it. 

Benny  Graham  was  serving  on  the  right  Gun  from  the 
writer,  and  during  a  lull  in  the  firing,  the  writer  saw  that  he 
was  struck,  and  at  once  crossed  over  to  him.  When  I  got 
there  he  was  sitting  on  the  ground  nursing  his  left  arm. 

Where  are  you  hit  Bennie?' 

'In  the  muscle  of  the  upper  arm'  said  he. 

I  had  taken  a  small  strap  from  my  pocket  while  running 
to  him,  and  at  once  proposed  to  put  it  on  above  the  wound 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  823 

to  stop  the  flow  of  blood,  but  upon  applying  it  found  no 
hole  for  the  buckle.  I  took  out  my  jack  knife,  the  smallest 
blade  being  about  as  long  as  a  fore  finger,  and  stooped  over 
to  make  a  hole  in  the  strap.  At  the  exact  moment  of 
pressing  the  point  of  the  blade  into  the  strap,  a  Reb  shell 
burst  over  our  heads,  scattering  its  contents  and  fragments 
down  among  us,  and,  alas,  wrhen  the  shell  burst  the  ten 
dency  to  schrooch  came  upon  me,  and  in  my  anxiety  to  ad 
just  the  strap  to  the  arm,  I  plunged  the  blade  clean  through 
strap,  blouse,  shirt  and  arm,  out  through  the  other  side. 

In  telling  it  the  incident  could  well  be  ended  here,  but  I 
will  simply  add  that  for  some  time  after  I  made  that  fatal 
lunge  at  the  strap,  there  seemed  to  be  echoes  of  quotations 
from  the  Bible,  and  a  decidedly  sulphurous  smell,  hovering 
around  the  spot  occupied  by  Bennie  Graham  and  the  writer. 
He  has  long  ago  forgiven  me,  and  we  have  had  many  a 
good  laugh  over  it  since." 


In  some  notes  made  at  Old  Point  Comfort,  Va.,  April 
20,  1901,  Captain  Nathan  Appleton  says: — 

"Laurel  Hill  was  a  part  of  the  Spottsylvania  fight,  and 
for  some  time  I  had  a  clasp  with  the  name  on  my  corps 
badge,  but  it  was  never  recognized  officially  by  our  govern 
ment,  and  so  does  not  appear  on  the  flags." 


At  7.30  of  May  13,  1864,  the  men  tried  to  keep  comfort 
able  in  the  rain  under  a  tarpaulin,  and  after  hours  of  uncer 
tainty  marched  by  the  left  flank.  Having  remained  in  park 
until  2  p.  m.,  started  for  the  old  position  near  General  War 
ren's  Head  Quarters  and  the  Fifth  Corps  Hospitals. 
Turned  in  at  9  p.  m.  and  were  immediately  aroused  and 
hitched  up  and  started  toward  the  left  of  our  lines;  marched 
all  night  over  an  awful  road  knee  deep  in  mud,  through  for- 


824  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ests,  stumbling  over  tree  stumps  in  the  pitch  dark,  rain  pour 
ing  and  putting  out  fires  built  along  the  road  to  light  the 
way;  fording  the  Nye  where  it  was  three  feet  deep,  plodding 
on  for  eight  miles  to  a  position  on  General  Burnside's  left. 

Arrived  there  about  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  I4th 
and  here  fed  the  last  grain  to  the  horses.  This  was  the 
hour  for  the  attack.  Went  into  park  on  the  field.  Chance 
for  only  short  naps.  At  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  moved 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  rear  across  the  river  and 
went  into  park.  Got  supper  and  turned  in  about  7  p.  m. 
At  8  were  routed  out  to  unhitch  and  unharness  and  stretch 
the  picket  rope.  Two  guns  were  captured  from  the  Rebs 
that  day. 

Sunday,  May  15,  at  4  p.  m.  recrossed  the  Po,  and  were 
ordered  out  to  the  front  of  our  breastworks,  an  exposed  and 
very  uncomfortable  place.  " Apparently  as  a  decoy"  writes 
Shackley,  "to  the  rebels,  but  they  did  not  take  the  bait,  so 
about  dark  we  returned." 

Dyer  says  of  May  15, — "Expected  an  attack  on  Burn- 
side's  force  to  our  right  and  we  were  to  rush  on  them  in 
return." 

It  appears  that  General  Burnside  in  command  of  the 
Ninth  Corps,  had  reported  the  enemy  massing  in  his  front 
as  if  for  an  attack,  and  thus  the  Fifth  Corps  was  led  to  make 
preparations  to  receive  them. 

May  1 6,  1864.  Roused  at  5  o'clock,  cleaned  and  watered 
horses  but  no  feed.  During  the  day  the  teams  came  up, 
with  grain  for  the  horses,  and  Benjamin  West  came  to  the 
Battery.  Some  artillery  and  infantry  firing  but  no  hard 
fighting.  On  that  day  twenty-five  thousand  reinforcements 
to  the  Army  arrived.  Orders  to  turn  in  a  section,  two 
guns.  All  batteries  to>  be  four  guns.  Gun  teams  reor 
ganized. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  825 

TURNED  IN  A  SECTION. 

From  Captain  Appleton's  Notes : — "It  was  during  the 
last  days  of  the  fight  at  Spottsylvania,  that  we  received  the 
order  to  turn  in  one  section,  or  two  guns,  leaving  four  guns 
in  our  Battery.  I  have  always  supposed  that  General 
Grant,  seeing  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  encum 
bered  by  having  too  much  artillery,  decided  upon  this  plan 
of  reducing  it,  instead  of  disbanding  or  sending  to  the  rear 
some  of  the  batteries,  which  would  have  hurt  the  feelings 
of  the  captains  and  other  officers,  as  well  as  of  the  men. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  there  were  too  many  guns  for 
the  country  in  which  he  was  operating,  and  this  reduction 
was  a  good  thing  for  the  batteries  themselves,  as  few  of 
them  had  their  full  complement  of  men,  and  were  obliged 
to  have  details  from  the  infantry.  This  plan  showed;  as 
many  others  had  done,  his  great  tact  and  perfect  knowledge 
of  the  actual  requirements  of  the  situation." 

May  17,  1864,  the  two  guns  belonging  to  the  Left  section 
were  turned  in.  Kept  the  caissons,  but  Serg't.  Elisha  J. 
Gibbs  took  the  guns  to  Belle  Plain.  The  Reserve  Artillery 
had  been  broken  up  and  the  batteries  were  attached  to  the 
several  corps. 

At  night  we  advanced  our  line  of  intrenchments  to  within 
one  thousand  yards  of  the  enemy,  and  before  the  morning  of 
the  1 8th  we  had  constructed  a  magnificent  line  of  earth 
works  to  hold  the  Fifth  Corps  at  this  point. 

Letter  of  Lieut.  Appleton  May  17,  1864:  "Our  Army 
occupies  a  line  just  south  of  the  river  Po,  and  between  it 
and  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  The  Rebs  are  still  oppos 
ing  us  with  a  large  force.  We  are  north  of  the  river,  and 
in  a  sort  of  temporary  camp.  In  all  our  other  campaigns 
after  three  days'  fighting  our  Army  has  retired,  but  this 
time  Grant  means  to  fight  it  out.  A  Virginia  battle  is  so 
totally  different  from  any  ideas  which  any  one  may  have, 


826  HISTORY    OF    THE 

that  it  is  difficult  to  describe.  How  can  a  soldier  with  un 
washed  face,  filthy  clothes,  a  muddy  sabre,  a  played  out 
horse,  look  like  the  picture  of  Napoleon  at  Lodi? 

We  get  our  supplies  now  from  Washington  via  Acquia 
Creek.  Reinforcements  also  keep  coming  out,  so  that  the 
Army  will  hold  about  up  to  its  original  size.  We  need  all 
the  men.  We  have  not  seen  our  baggage  since  we  left  Cul- 
peper,  and  are  beginning  to  think  that  some  clean  clothes 
would  be  acceptable.  However  we  can  lie  abed  and  have 
ours  washed." 

"May  18,  1864.  (Appleton's  Diary.)  We  started  at  2$ 
and  went  into  position,  I  somewhat  in  the  rear  in  charge  of 
the  caissons,  as  we  have  turned  in  a  section.  Corporal 
(Charles  M.)  Tripp  hit  in  the  arm.  Four  more  batteries 
added  to  the  Brigade.  Went  back  to  camp  by  the  old 
house.  Milton  called."  (This  was  Lieut.  Richard  S.  Mil 
ton  who  commanded  the  Ninth  Mass.  Battery  in  the  absence 
of  Captain  Bigelow  wounded  at  Gettysburg.) 

Hitched  up  at  one  o'clock  of  the  i8th  and  recrossed  the 
Po,  and  reported  at  Head  Quarters  Artillery  Brigade. 
Took  position  on  the  left  of  the  5th  Corps  with  the  ist 
Pennsylvania  Light  Battery  B,  and  the  ist  N.  Y.,  Batteries 
E  and  L,  in  sight  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and 
fired  33  case  shot  and  175  percussion,  which  the  Rebs  re 
turned  with  interest.  Recrossed  the  river  at  dark,  and 
parked  for  the  night. 

According  to  Q.  M.  Serg't.  Peacock's  account  book,  "i 
handspike  was  broken  in  action." 

There  was  heavy  artillerv  fighting  all  clay.  "The  Rebs 
had  a  cross  fire  upon  us  (Dyer's  Notes)  but  we  dislodged 
them  and  dismounted  five  of  their  guns.  As  soon  as  we  got 
into  camp  we  got  supper  and  went  to  bed.  Corporal  Tripp 
slightly  wounded  by  a  spent  ball." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  NORTH  ANNA  RIVER 

AND 
VIRGINIA  CENTRAL  RAILROAD, 

MAY  23-26,   1864. 

"I  saw  that  same  shell  coming,  and  I  called  out  to  Maurice  Blake, 
'by  your  leave,  Maurice,  let  that  fellow  pass,  he's  in  a  hurrv' ;  and, 
faith,  I  said  to  myself,  'there's  more  where  you  came  from:  You're  not 
an  only  child,  and  I  never  liked  the  family.'  " 

"Night   after    Talavera"   in   Charles    O'Malley, — LEVER. 

In  pursuance  of  his  resolution  to  move  by  the  left  flank, 
General  Grant  gave  orders  on  the  2Oth  of  May,  1864,  to 
renew  this  movement  against  the  army  of  the  Confederates 
which  was  being  rapidly  reinforced  from  the  South  and 
concentrated  in  front  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
Fifth  Corps  Artillery,  followed  by  the  infantry,  moved 
south  on  the  2ist  of  May,  and  crossed  the  Mattapony  river, 
and  on  the  22d  all  forces  which  could  be  spared  by  General 
B.  F.  Butler  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  were  ordered  north  to 
be  sent  to  Grant,  under  the  command  of  Major  General 
William  F.  Smith. 

Perceiving  the  intention  of  General  Grant  to  continue 
his  movement  to  the  left,  EwelFs  Confederate  Corps  on 
the  left  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  later  Hill's  and  Anderson's 
Confederate  Corps  moved  by  the  Telegraph  road  towards 
Hanover  Junction,  and  on  the  night  of  the  22d  the  entire 
Confederate  Army  were  resting  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
North  Anna  river  in  the  vicinity  of  Hanover  Junction.  At 
1 1  a.  m.  of  the  23d,  the  Fifth  Corps,  with  the  artillery,  were 

827 


828  HISTORY    OF    THE 

at  the  railroad  bridge  near  the  North  Anna  river,  but  moved 
to  Mount  Carmel  Church  to  make  room  for  the  Second 
Corps,  who  had  been  ordered  to  that  place,  and  reached  the 
river  again  at  Jericho  Mills  where  there  was  a  ford.  On 
the  left  of  the  road  leading  to  this  forcl  the  artillery  was 
posted. 

Three  Divisions  of  the  Fifth  Corps  then  crossed  the  ford, 
Griffin's  leading,  and  the  22d  Mass,  infantry,  Colonel  Wm. 
S.  Tilton,  ahead.  They  drove  the  rebels  to  Noel's  station, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  Corps  with  the  six  12  pdr.  bat 
teries  crossed.  While  approaching  the  enemy's  line  of  bat 
tle  which  was  discovered  behind  a  ridge,  Griffin's  First 
Division  was  furiously  attacked  on  the  right.  This  attack 
was  repulsed  by  the  aid  of  the  artillery,  and  reinforcements 
of  infantry  coming  up,  the  lines  were  intrenched  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  North  Anna  river. 

The  Second  Corps  also  drove  the  rebels  across  the  river 
from  their  rifle  pits  near  the  Telegraph  road,  but  the  rebels 
held  the  wooden  bridge  across  the  Richmond  and  Fred- 
ericksburg  railroad  during  the  night. 

The  Ninth  Corps  were  in  a  position  to  support  the  Sec 
ond  and  Fifth  Corps  in  the  morning,  but  moved  to  Ox 
Ford  before  night.  The  Sixth  Corps  on  the  236.  were  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  river,  having  crossed  at  Jericho  Ford. 
Now  our  forces  were  part  on  the  north  and  part  on  the 
south  of  the  North  Anna  river,  and  the  enemy's  lines  had 
receded;  their  abandoned  works  being  occupied  by  our 
forces,  but  Lee,  while  retiring  his  Left  flank,  had  strength 
ened  his  Right,  in  the  attempt  once  more  to  get  between  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  and  its  base  of  supplies.  His  Left 
rested  on  Little  River  near  New  Market  and  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad,  his  Right  extending  along  the  North 
Anna  river  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  Ox  Ford,  cover 
ing  an  extensive  swamp,  and  occupying  an  exceptionally 
strong  position,  which  General  Grant  resolved  to  render 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  829 

untenable.  He  determined  to  turn  the  enemy's  Right  flank 
by  crossing  near  Hanover  Town  and  after  securing  his  own 
source  of  supplies,  to  destroy  the  railroads  at  various  points 
and  cut  off  those  of  the  enemy. 

He  issued  the  following  order  to  General  Meade : — 

GRANT    TO    MEADE. 

QUARLES  MILLS,  VA.  May  25,  1864. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  MEADE, 

Commanding  A.  P. : 

Direct  Generals  Warren  and  Wright  to  withdraw  all  their  teams 
and  artillery,  not  in  position,  to  the  north  side  of  the  river  tomorrow. 
Send  that  belonging  to  General  Wright's  Corps  as  far  on  the  road  to 
Hanover  Town  as  it  can  go,  without  attracting  attention  to  the  fact. 
Send  with  it  Wright's  best  Division  or  Division  under  his  ablest  com 
mander.  Have  their  places  filled  up  in  the  line  so  if  possible  the  enemy 
will  not  notice  their  withdrawal.  Send  the  cavalry  tomorrow  after 
noon,  or  as  much  of  it  as  you  may  deem  necessary  to  watch  and  seize, 
if  they  can,  Littlepage's  bridge  and  Taylor's  ford,  and  to  remain  on  one 
or  other  side  of  the  river,  at  these  points  until  the  infantry  and  artillery 
all  pass.  As  soon  as  it  is  dark  tomorrow  night,  start  the  Division 
which  you  withdraw  first  from  Wright's  Corps  to  make  a  forced 
march  to  Hanover  Town,  taking  with  them  no  teams  to  impede  the 
march.  At  the  same  time  this  Division  starts,  commence  withdrawing 
all  of  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  from  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and 
march  them  for  the  same  place.  The  two  Divisions  of  the  Ninth 
Corps  not  now  with  Hancock  may  be  moved  down  the  north  bank  of 
the  river,  where  they  will  be  handy  to  support  Hancock  if  necessary, 
or  will  be  that  much  on  their  road  to  follow  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps. 
Hancock  should  hold  his  command  in  readiness  to  follow  as  soon  as 
the  way  is  clear  for  him.  Tomorrow  it  will  leave  nothing  for  him  to 
do,  but  as  soon  as  he  can  he  should  get  all  his  teams  and  spare  artillery 
on  the  road  or  roads  which  he  will  have  to  take.  As  soon  as  the 
troops  reach  Hanover  Town,  they  should  get  possession  of  all  the 
crossings  they  can  in  that  neighborhood.  I  think  it  would  be  well  to 
maKe  a  heavy  cavalry  demonstration  on  the  enemy's  left  tomorrow 
afternoon  also. 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Lieutenant-General. 

In  the  itinerary  of  Brig.  Gen.  Romeyn  B.  Ayres,  First 


830  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Brigade,  First  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps,  under  date  of 
May  25,  1864,  may  be  found  the  following:— 

"Moved  2  miles  to  the  right,  and  went  into  position  in  front  of  the 
entemy  at  Little  River,  near  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad.  (Our 
forces  were  engaged  in  destroying  the  railroad,  and  scouts  were  sent 
out  towards  Hanover  Junction.)  May  26:  At  8  p.  m.  moved  out  and 
recrossed  the  North  Anna  river,  and  marched  all  night." 

Again  we  swing  around  to  Hanover  Court  House,  and 
on  the  3  ist  of  May  the  position  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
was  as  follows: — The  left  of  the  Fifth  Corps  was  on  the 
Shady  Grove  road,  extending  to  the  Mechanicsville  pike, 
and  about  3  miles  south  of  the  Totopotomoy  Creek.  On 
its  right  were,  first,  the  Ninth  Corps,  next,  the  Second  and 
Sixth  lengthening  out  for  six  miles  southeast  of  Hanover 
Court  House.  The  cavalry  were  in  the  act  of  destroying 
the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  and  fighting  at  Cold  Harbor. 
General  William  F.  Smith  from  the  Army  of  the  James  was 
moving  up  the  York  River  from  White  House  Landing 
where  one  Division  was  left  on  guard.  The  Confederates 
were  represented  at  Cold  Harbor  by  Hoke,  and  Kershaw, 
and  by  Early  and  Anderson  between  Bethesda  Church  and 
Cold  Harbor,  where  the  roads  from  Richmond,  from  White 
House  Landing  now  our  base  of  supplies,  and  from  other 
directions  converged. 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

In  Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton's  Diary  of  May  19,  1864,  he 
has  jotted  down  the  following: — "Off  again  by  daylight. 
Remain  in  park  all  day.  Sharp  skirmish  in  the  afternoon. 
They  try  to  flank  us.  Sleep  out  minus  a  cover. 

May  20,  1864.  I  bring  my  command  back  to  the  others. 
A  luxurious  dinner  of  shad." 

In  a  letter  home  written  on  the  2Oth,  he  says  of  the 
iQth: — "I  received  yesterday  a  big  mail,  the  first  one  since 
we  have  left  Culpeper,  with  a  good  assortment  of  letters, 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  831 

papers,  and  magazines,  all  of  which  were  very  acceptable. 
The  last  few  days  out  here  have  been  comparatively  quiet, 
though  seldom  one  passes  in  which  we  do  not  have  a  big 
skirmish  somewhere  along  the  line.  Yesterday  afternoon 
the  Rebs  tried  to  turn  our  right  flank, — but  they  did  not 
succeed, — and  for  some  time  it  was  quite  exciting.  The 
country  is  more  open  here  than  in  the  'Wilderness,'  so  that 
artillery  comes  considerably  into  play,  but  the  shells,  al 
though  they  frighten  you  terribly  don't  do  much  damage. 
Grant  has  reinforcements  constantly  coming  out,  so  that  our 
Army  here  is,  I  think,  now  about  as  large  as  when  it  left 
winter  quarters,  notwithstanding  its  tremendous  loss. 
There  is  a  beautiful  house  about  a  mile  from  where  we  now 
are,  a  truly  splendid  specimen  of  a  Virginia  mansion;  such 
an  one  as  is  not  often  seen  in  this  part  of  the  country, — 
immense  stables  and  barns,  sheds,  and  darkies'  shanties,  all 
once  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Anderson,  evidently  a  very  rich 
land  owner.  I  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  lately  a 
jolly  young  fellow  whom  I  already  consider  about  my  best 
friend  in  the  Army,  Fordham  Morris  by  name,  an  aide  of 
Colonel  Wainwright  in  command  of  the  Artillery  Brigade. 
The  scenery  around  here  is  the  prettiest  I  have  seen  in  Vir 
ginia,  except,  perhaps,  some  of  the  views  around  the  Blue 
Ridge." 

At  daylight  of  the  iQth  all  the  batteries  were  set  in  mo 
tion.  Started  out  of  park  at  4.30  a.  m.,  crossed  the  Nye 
and  were  put  in  position  in  a  field  on  the  southern  side  near 
the  enemy,  and  remained  hitched  up  all  day.  At  4  p.  m. 
they  made  a  demonstration  on  our  Right  flank  in  the  at 
tempt  to  turn  it,  and  get  possession  of  our  wagon  trains,  but 
they  were  repulsed  and  driven  back  with  considerable  loss. 
Remained  in  position  all  night,  and  all  the  next  day,  but  no 
firing  except  picket  firing  occurred  on  the  2Oth.  In  the 
morning  our  forces  captured  their  pickets,  numbering  1500 


832  HISTORY    OF    THE 

men.  The  men  in  charge  of  Serg't.  Gibbs,  who  went  to  turn 
in  the  guns,  got  back  that  day  from  Belle  Plain. 

LETTER     FROM     QUARTER     MASTER     SERG'T. 

PEACOCK,    WRITTEN    ON    THE    BACK    OF 

A    "RATION    RETURN." 

"FREDERICKSBURG,  VA.  May  21,   1864. 

Here  I  am  all  right  after  three  weeks'  marching,  but  no 
righting.  Most  of  the  time  I  am  with  the  army  train.  The 
Battery  has  fired  1800  rounds  of  ammunition  or  8  tuns;  its 
loss  in  men  is  two  killed  and  seven  wounded.  I  tell  you 
this  is  a  big  battle,  and  the  end  of  it  is  far  off.  I  never  saw 
so  many  wounded  men  from  any  battle  before.  It  is  said 
from  good  authority  that  our  loss  in  wounded  amounts  to 
40,000  men.  I  have  seen  over  ten  thousand  rebel  prison 
ers,  and  17  captured  guns.  The  Rebs  have  some  six  thou 
sand  of  our  men  prisoners,  and  a  few  guns. 

I  came  from  the  front  yesterday;  but  little  fighting  was 
going  on.  I  could  plainly  see  the  rebels  at  work  building 
rifle  pits.  Our  army  will  have  hot  work  to  get  them  out  of 
their  present  position.  Every  house  in  this  city  has 
wounded  in  it, — wounded  men  everywhere.  General 
Grant  orders  room  in  Washington  for  fifty  thousand 
wounded!  It  is  awful,  awful! 

I  am  going  to  the  front  in  about  two  hours.  The  'Jac°b 
Bell'  lays  at  the  wharf  of  this  city;  also  the  'Yankee/  and 
one  other  gunboat. 

I  send  leaves  from  Chancellorsville  battlefield;  one  rose 
from  a  garden  on  Main  street  of  this  city,  and  leaves  from 
the  tomb  of  'Mary'  the  mother  of  George  Washington. 
Her  monument  has  been  disfigured  shamefully  by  soldiers 
breaking  off  pieces.  I  send  a  bit  that  was  picked  up  where 
some  one  had  broken  off  a  large  piece. 

P.  S.     The  tomb  of  Mrs.  Washington  is  on  one  of  the 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  833 

heights  of  Fredericksburg.  A  rifle  pit  was  taken  by  our 
men  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  the  monument  being 
only  fifty  feet  from  it,  and  between  the  two  lines  of  men 
fighting.  It  is  marked  all  over  by  bullets  and  shells.  I 
have  found  the  grave  of  Eddie  Platts,  our  little  gunner  who 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  His  mother  was 
very  anxious  to  find  his  body.  She  lives  in  Boston." 

Note  by  Serg't.  Peacock,  Chicago,  111.  September  7, 
1900: — "This  letter  was  written  while  on  my  way  to  Belle 
Plain  for  supplies.  The  1800  rounds  fired  were  from  the 
time  we  crossed  the  Rapidan  under  Grant,  May  3d,  I  think. 
So  we  did  some  shooting  in  18  days,  if  we  could  not  get 
into  the  Wilderness." 

May  21,  1864.  Moved  with  the  Fifth  Corps  by  the  left 
flank.  Orders  to  be  ready  at  10  o'clock,  marched  at  11.30. 
Lieutenant  Nathan  Appleton  was  ordered  to  report  to 
Colonel  Wainwright  as  an  A.  D.  C. 

Marched  all  day,  crossing  the  Richmond  and  FredericksT 
burg  railroad  at  Guiney's  station,  and  the  bridge  over  the 
Mattapony  River,  and  went  into  camp  for  the  night  at  the 
forks  of  the  road  about  a  mile  beyond  the  bridge.  The 
cavalry  were  in  advance,  and  drove  the  Rebs  from  the 
bridge  the  Battery  crossed.  Its  rear  guard  was  engaged 
with  the  rebels.  Some  of  the  men  went  after  forage  for  the 
horses,  before  turning  in. 

On  the  22d,  aroused  at  3  o'clock,  and  leaving  camp  at  10 
a.  m.  marched  about  7  miles.  Skirmishing  with  the 
rebel  cavalry  reported  on  ahead.  The  rebels  seemed  to 
be  moving  south,  being  driven  before  us,  their  rear  but 
three  miles  distant.  Took  possession  of  the  Telegraph 
road  and  crossed  the  Po  River.  On  the  march  passed  sev 
eral  bodies  of  dead  rebels.  Parked  near  St.  Margaret's 
Church.  Head  Quarters  of  the  Brigade  in  a  fine  white 
house  at  Carmel  Church. 

Dyer's  Notes:  "May  23,  1864.     The  oft  repeated,  wel- 


834  HISTORY    OF    THE 

come  sound  of  'turn  out/  at  5  a.  m.  Started,  passed  Balls 
Church,  and  arrived  at  the  North  Anna  river  at  noon. 
Went  in  park  and  remained  all  day,  to  cover  the  crossing 
of  the  ford.  The  brass  batteries  crossed  the  river  at  3  p.  m. 
At  4  the  fight  (in  the  open  field)  began,  and  continued  very 
heavy  till  after  dark,  but  we  succeeded  in  driving  the  Rebs. 
At  ii  o'clock  we  turned  in." 

The  advanced  guard  of  Hill's  Corps  were  opposed  to  us. 
The  artillery  swept  the  line  firing  over  the  heads  of  the  in 
fantry.  Lieut.  Appleton  calls  this  his  most  exciting  fight. 
He  slept  on  the  field. 

In  the  morning  march  of  the  23d  the  Corps  got  on  the 
wrong  road.  Its  crossing  of  the  North  Anna  was  at  Jeri 
cho  Mills.  Some  of  the  12  pdr.  batteries  crossed  with  the 
infantry,  but  the  Battery  remained  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river  where  the  Rifled  Batteries  were  parked.  The  distance 
from  Jericho  Ford  to  Noel's  Station  on  the  Virginia  Central 
Railroad  was  not  far  from  2  miles. 

The  centre  of  the  part  of  the  line  occupied  by  the  Fifth 
Corps  was  about  half  a  mile  equidistant  from  the  ford  and 
the  railroad.  In  the  morning  of  the  24th,  crossed  the  river 
on  a  canvas  pontoon  bridge  at  Jericho  Mills,  a  bad  ford  to 
cross,  with  steep,  rocky  banks,  and  parked  at  close  intervals 
about  a  mile  from  the  river. 

Remained  till  dark,  then  moved  to  a  position  near  Grif 
fin's  ist  Division.  Dyer  had  some  conversation  with  rebel 
prisoners,  who  he  says,  "  'talked  pretty  spunky,  at  first,  but 
finally  owned  up  to  being  tired  of  the  war.' 

Very  hard  thunder  and  sharp  lightning  towards  night. 
Heavy  fighting  heard  on  the  Left.  We  put  our  guns  in  po 
sition  and  turned  in." 

From  Lieut.  Appleton's  Diary:  "May  24,  1864.  Ride 
along  the  lines.  Lots  of  stragglers  brought  in.  All  the 
Army  together."  His  letter  of  this  date  is  written  at 
"Head  Quarters  Artillery  Brigade  5th  Corps  9  a.  m.  south 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY. 

of  the  North  Anna  River,  and  about  6  miles  from  Hanover 
Junction : 

We  have  been  pushing  on  towards  Richmond  with  skir 
mishes  almost  every  day.  The  weather  is  hot,  and  the  con 
stant  marching  and  firing  is  very  tiresome.  I  am  now  with 
Colonel  Wainwright  an  A.  D.  C.  The  Chief  of  Artillery 
has  to  keep  with  Corps  Hd.  Qrs.  so  that  I  have  a  chance 
to  see  and  hear  all  that  is  going  on  in  the  Corps.  Yester 
day  afternoon  we  had  quite  a  pretty  little  fight,  in  fact  the 
first  one  I  have  been  in  where  bullets  whistled  lively,  and 
we  could  see  what  was  being  done.  One  of  our  staff,  Cap 
tain  Henry  W.  Davis,  was  wounded  the  Dr.  thinks  mortally, 
and  two  Battery  officers  were  hit;  one  of  whom  was  Lieut. 
Cargill  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery.  We  have  been  now 
for  four  weeks  constantly  on  the  go,  with  very  few  luxuries 
in  dress  or  food,  and  begin  to  think  that  comfortable  quar 
ters  in  Richmond,  with  plenty  of  sherry  cobblers,  would 
come  in  well.  General  Meade  is  now  here,  within  a  few 
feet  from  me  talking  to  Gen.  Warren." 

THE  FIFTH  BATTERY  MEN  AS  BARN  MOVERS. 

[Contributed  by  Maj.  Gen.  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  then 
colonel  20th  Maine  Reg't.  Infantry,  3d  Brigade,  ist  Divi 
sion,  Fifth  Corps;  promoted  to  command  of  Brigade,  Au 
gust  15,  1863,  and  of  ist  Brigade  June  6,  1864.] 

The  three  Massachusetts  batteries  long  attached  to  the 
Fifth  Corps  were  great  favorites  with  us  all.  Many  a  time 
we  exchanged  valuable  services, — the  infantry  and  artillery, 
— the  balance  of  honor  being  in  favor  of  the  latter.  We  felt 
pride  and  affection  for  these  men,  and  we  knew  and  loved 
their  guns  almost  as  well  as  they  did. 

Phillips,  the  modest,  faithful  and  brave  commander  of 
the  Fifth,  I  was  much  drawn  to  by  these  qualities  of  his, 
which  made  up  a  character  of  ideal  manliness.  This  bat- 


836  HISTORY    OF    THE 

tery  made  a  great  record  all  the  way  down  through  the 
Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  and  when  our  Corps  was 
crossing  the  North  Anna,  on  the  24th  of  May,  we  were 
glad  to  have  these  old  friends  sent  to  the  First  Division  to 
be  immediately  under  Griffin,  to  whom  this  arm  of  the  ser 
vice  was  a  specialty.  This  itself  was  a  compliment  to  the 
battery. 

We  forded  the  river, — our  brigade  at  the  head  of  the 
column, — and  were  immediately  struck  hard  by  Hill's 
Corps,  close  on  our  front. 

As  an  instance  of  the  ways  of  Phillips  and  his  battery,  I 
recall  an  incident  of  the  second  day's  fighting,  when  we 
were  trying  to  force  Hill  back,  "to  develop  his  position/' 
as  it  was  afterwards  explained. 

I  had  a  hard  time  to  hold  my  advance  steady,  on  account 
of  a  peculiarly  disagreeable  fire  of  sharpshooters  who  had 
secure  positions  behind  knolls,  and  clumps  of  trees  and 
buildings,  from  which  they  made  it  almost  certain  death  for 
any  man  of  ours  to  show  his  head.  The  conditions  were 
such  that  I  could  not  dislodge  them  by  effective  fire,  nor  by 
a  charge;  and  we  were  not  slow  in  throwing  up  some  little 
breastworks  of  logs  and  rails  in  the  edge  of  some  woods, 
as  that  was  a  good  way  to  keep  our  heads  level.  There  were 
some  favoring  trees,  whose  bulky  forms  were  well  propor 
tioned  to  the  size  of  a  man's  body,  and  were  well  patronized 
by  officers  and  others  not  required  on  the  breastworks,  but 
there  were  open  spaces  between  them,  to  allow  the  enemy 
to  draw  a  good  sight  on  us  whenever  we  moved. 

I  didn't  like  the  situation.  I  thought  of  Phillips,  and 
went  over  to  ask  him  to  come  forward  with  me  and  take  a 
look  at  the  landscape.  I  pointed  out  to  him  the  picturesque 
features  of  it,  and  he  seemed  to  be  much  interested.  In  a 
few  minutes  up  he  rushes  with  two  of  his  guns,  whirls  them 
into  "action  front"  in  the  clear  spaces,  the  muzzles  almost 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  837 

up  to  the  breastworks,  and  opens  his  three-inch  iron  hot 
and  heavy,  wherever  he  sees  the  smoke  purring. 

There  was  a  large  barn  out  in  our  front, — I  think  it  had 
a  high  stone  basement, — and  it  was  filled  with  fellows 
grossly  abusing  the  rightful  privileges  of  a  barn,  and  mak 
ing  it  an  instrument  of  decided  offense. 

From  every  opening  and  crevice  and  corner  arched  the 
white  rings  of  smoke,  and  the  bullets  were  spitting  at  us 
like  wild  cats.  Phillips  asked  me  if  he  was  doing  right. 

"Phillips,  I  want  that  barn  moved.  It  doesn't  stand  to 
suit  me."  He  turns  on  his  heel  :— 

"Load  with  percussion!"  he  exclaims  to  his  nearest  gun 
ner,  and  springs  right  upon  the  gun-carriage  to  get  a  fair 
sight  ahead, — and  to  afford  one,  also.  In  another  instant 
he  is  off,  and  at  the  elevating  screw  to  make  sure  of  his  aim. 

Crash !  goes  his  shot.  He  is  on  top  of  the  gun  again 
before  its  recoil  had  slackened  much,  one  hand  on  the  wheel, 
straining  his  gaze  to  see  the  effect  of  the  shot;  neither  he 
nor  his  men  paying  the  least  attention  to  the  serenade  the 
bullets  were  playing.  Shot  upon  shot  bangs  and  bursts 
against  the  walls  of  the  barn,  making  great  shattering  and 
scattering.  Soon  it  is  wrapped  in  its  own  fire.  Out  come 
the  hiders,  and  we  have  fair  returns  on  them  from  our  ex 
cited  line.  The  rest  of  them  are  doing  their  sharpest  on  us, 
but  it  is  short  work.  Artillery  on  the  skirmish  line  and 
Charley  Phillips  on  top  had  done  it ! 

The  enemy  break.  The  barn  is  "moved," — skyward,  in 
flames. 

We  seize  the  moment.  Half  a  dozen  rounds  of  shell 
pursue  the  flying  foe.  We  leap  over  our  works;  the  guns 
follow,  somehow. 

Forward  all :  Phillips  riding  at  my  side,  ready  for  any 
thing. 

We  press  the  enemy  across  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad, 
and  close  upon  Little  River.  But  at  dusk  the  next  day, 


838  HISTORY    OF    THE 

having  "developed  the  enemy's  position,"  we  turned  back, 
recrossed  the  North  Anna  at  Quarles  Mills,  and  marched  all 
night  in  the  drenching  rain,  and  by  forced  marches  days  and 
nights  following,  towards  the  fated  Bethesda  Church  and 
Cold  Harbor.  But  one  cheering  thing  was,  that  on  the  first 
of  June  the  dear  old  Fifth  Battery  with  dear,  brave  Phil 
lips,  were  permanently  assigned  to  our  Division,  where  they 
passed  for  "Griffin's  Pets,"  which  meant  terrible  experiences 
together  and  closer  friendships,  neither  of  which  can  fade 
from  our  minds  and  hearts. 

JOSHUA  L.  CHAMBERLAIN. 
BRUNSWICK,  MAINE, 
February  21,  1900. 


From  a  Letter  of  Captain  Phillips  dated  Camp  near 
Hanover  Town,  May  30,  1864: — 

"On  the  25th  we  marched  with  Griffin's  Division  along 
the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  towards  the  junction  a  few 
miles,  till  we  found  the  enemy,  where  we  went  into  posi 
tion.  Lieut.  Appleton  was  shot  through  the  arm  by  one  of 
the  enemy's  skirmishers,  just  before  the  Battery  came  up. 
He  had  been  on  Colonel  Wainwright's  staff  for  a  few  days. 
We  were  posted  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  with  an  open 
field  in  front  of  us,  and  within  range  of  the  enemy's  skir 
mish  line.  We  shelled  the  woods  a  little,  but  could  not 
wake  up  their  artillery.  The  skirmishers  kept  popping 
away  at  us  all  the  time,  but  did  no  damage  as  we  kept  our 
selves  under  cover." 

From  the  Diary  of  John  E.  Dyer: — "May  25th,  1864. 
Found  this  morning  the  Rebs  had  left  our  front,  and  fell 
back  to  their  breastworks.  Followed  them  up.  Went  in 
position  75  yards  from  Reb.  sharpshooters.  A  hot  place 
for  a  battery.  The  3d  Brigade,  ist  Division,  5th  Corps 
have  been  employed  all  day  in  tearing  up  the  Gordonsville 


FIFTH    MASS.   BATTERY.  839 

railroad.  Lieut.  Appleton  was  wounded  today  in  the  arm 
by  a  Rebel  sharpshooter,  just  before  we  came  up." 

Shackley  writes  on  May  25th : — "We  moved  at  sunrise, 
and  near  the  South  Anna  River  met  the  enemy  intrenched, 
and  had  a  fight  without  decisive  results.  Lieut.  Appleton 
was  wounded." 

The  Battery  fired  12  case  shot,  and  30  percussion. 

John  H.  Welch  transferred  to  the  5th  Mass.  Battery  from 
the  Third  Mass,  was  shot  in  the  right  breast  in  the  battle  of 
the  North  Anna  River,  the  ball  passing  through  his  body 
and  lodging  in  Lieut.  Cargill's  leg.  He  was  taken  to  a  hos 
pital  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  after  his  recovery  returned  to 
the  Battery.  He  had  re-enlisted  in  the  Third  Mass.  Bat 
tery,  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war  in  the  Fifth  Mass. 

William  A.  Martis  was  wounded  in  the  hip. 

Last  entry  in  Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton's  Diary  while  con 
nected  with  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery:— 

"May  25,  1864.  Wounded  in  the  right  arm  and  went 
home." 

LIEUT.  APPLETON'S  NOTES  MAY,  1901. 

"I  was  wounded  the  second  day  after  the  lively  artillery 
engagement  we  had  with  the  Rebs  by  Jericho's  Ford,  just 
over  the  North  Anna  river.  The  line  was  being  pushed 
along,  always  by  the  left  flank,  and  some  of  our  Brigade 
batteries  had  been  sent  on  away  from  the  others,  under  the 
command  of  Major  Robert  H.  Fitzhugh,  General  Wain- 
wright's  chief  of  staff,  who  was  generally  off  with  some  of 
the  batteries  when  the  Brigade  scattered. 

General  Wainwright  asked  me  to  ride  down  the  lines  to 
see  and  report  where  these  batteries  were,  telling  me  not  to 
go  far,  in  case  I  could  not  find  them,  and  not  to  be  gone 
long.  I  thought  I  should  only  be  absent  a  few  minutes, — 
a  half  hour  at  most, — and  so  started  off,  not  even  taking  my 
sabre,  a  rare  occurrence  with  me,  but  which  in  this  case 


840  HISTORY    OF    THE 

proved  not  inconvenient,  and  unaccompanied  by  an  orderly. 
So  I  rode  on  and  on,  without  coming  across  the  batteries,— 
always  expecting  to, — along  by  the  lines  of  the  Sixth  Corps, 
where  I  saw  General  Horatio  G.  Wright  in  command,  and 
met  Colonel  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  Jr.,  and  had  a  chat 
with  him.  On  and  on,  several  miles,  until  at  last  I  came  up 
with  Major  Fitzhugh  and  the  others. 

Skirmishing  with  the  enemy  was  going  on,  and  it  seemed 
as  if  there  would  soon  be  work.  I  asked  Fitzhugh  if  he 
would  like  to  have  me  remain  with  him,  as  he  was  quite 
alone  in  command,  and  as  he  said  he  would,  I  decided  to 
take  upon  myself  the  responsibility  of  staying.  So  we  bus 
tled  about  to  find  some  good  places  to  put  the  batteries  in 
position.  I  remember  going  up  to  General  Romeyn  B. 
Ayres,  commanding  the  2d  Division  of  our  Corps,  and  ask 
ing  his  advice,  for  he  was  an  old  artillery  officer, — which 
he  gave  me.  I  dismounted  from  my  horse,  and  went  into 
the  woods  with  General  Griffin,  in  command  of  the  ist  Di 
vision,  and  we  dodged  behind  the  big  trees  to  keep  clear  of 
the  Confederate  bullets,  which  seemed  to  me  almost  absurd, 
as  they  were  firing  so  lightly  and  irregularly.  One  of  his 
staff,  however,  Captain  Case  of  Cincinnati,  was  badly 
wounded  in  the  right  arm  about  this  time.  [This  was  Cap 
tain  Thomas  C.  Case,  /ist  Ohio  Volunteers.] 

At  length  we  found  a  fair  place  to  put  in  one  of  the  bat 
teries,  a  little  in  from  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  close  be 
hind  our  skirmish  line.  The  Virginia  Central  Railroad  was 
not  far  distant  in  f^ont,  and  the  nearest  station  on  it  was 
called  'Noel's.'  I  was  directed  to  stay  out  there  to  look 
after  the  work  of  felling  the  trees,  and  throwing  up  some 
hasty  breastworks  for  our  men. 

The  order  was  given  for  our  infantry  skirmishers  not  to 
fire  in  front,  so  as  not  to  attract  fire  from  the  enemy  in  re 
turn  while  we  were  at  work.  But  still,  every  now  and  then 
a  shot  would  come  whizzing  along,  with  its  peculiar  sound. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  841 

ending  with  a  thud,  or  a  crash  against  some  tree.  Sharp 
shooters  were  supposed  to  be  firing  from  the  tree  tops  or 
branches,  and  we  were  told  to  be  careful  not  to  expose  our 
selves  suddenly.  I  recollect  just  then  one  of  our  artillery 
boys  was  hit  in  the  shoulder  by  a  musket  ball,  and  this  I  can 
say  was  the  only  person  I  actually  saw  struck.  He  threw 
up  his  arms,  exclaiming,  'My  God,  I  am  hit.'  He  went  to 
the  rear,  but  his  wound  proved  to  be  no  more  than  a  bad 
flesh  wound,  as  I  met  him  afterwards  on  the  boat  going  to 
Washington. 

At  length  my  time  arrived. 

I  was  reclining  on  the  ground  against  a  small  tree,  watch 
ing  our  men  at  work.  My  right  arm  and  leg  were  exposed, 
and  suddenly  I  felt  through  them  both  a  tremendous  shock, 
as  if  a  big  galvanic  battery  had  been  let  loose  upon  me.  I 
knew  at  once  I  was  shot, — it  seemed  to  be  all  over  me, — 
and  I  saw  the  blood  spirting  in  a  stream  from  my  right  arm. 
I  was  rather  surprised  to  discover  that  I  could  walk.  The 
ball  had  gone  clean  through  my  arm  and  had  stopped  at  the 
calf  of  my  leg,  striking  and  glancing  off  from  my  boot.  It 
gave  my  leg  a  hard  concussion,  which  later  became  inflamed 
into  quite  a  wound,  but  at  first  it  did  not  trouble  me.  If  I 
had  only  thought  of  it,  and  preserved  my  presence  of  mind, 
I  might  have  picked  up  the  bullet  and  kept  it  as  a  souvenir ! 

I  suppose  the  ball  came  from  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile, 
and  might  be  called  a  spent  shot,  but  it  went  through  my 
arm  without  any  difficulty.  One  of  the  artillery  boys  came 
to  me  at  once,  and  tied  a  handkerchief  tightly  round  my 
arm  above  the  wound,  which  stopped  the  bleeding  very 
much,  and  then,  leaning  upon  him,  I  walked  through  the 
woods  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  rear,  where  the  ist  Divi 
sion  staff  was  assembled  at  a  turn  in  the  road. 

There  was  a  curious  jumble  of  thoughts  in  my  mind  as 
we  hobbled  along. — Here  was  I,  actually  wounded,  having 
gone  through  that  experience  every  soldier  thinks  of  so 


842  HISTORY    OF    THE 

much  and  wonders  how  he  will  take  it  when  it  comes.  Was 
my  wound  a  serious  one,  would  I  lose  my  arm  by  amputa 
tion,  would  I  die  from  the  effects  of  it  by  mortification  or 
otherwise,  as  many  did?  And  so  and  so,  strange  reflections 
dashed  through  my  brain  during  that  short  walk  of  ten 
minutes.  As  I  met  the  ist  Division  staff  they  laid  me  softly 
on  the  grass,  and  the  surgeon  came  up,  a  nice  young  fel 
low,  ist  Lieut.  Dr.  John  Ryan,  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Qth 
Mass.  Infantry,  the  famous  Irish  regiment,  'the  bloody 
9th/  which  I  knew  so  well.  He  bared  my  arm,  and  put 
ting  his  thumb  and  finger  through  the  hole  until  they  met 
in  the  middle,  to  see  just  what  was  the  matter,  he  said  heart 
ily,  'You  are  all  right,  the  bone  is  not  touched,  the  arm  is 
safe,  and  you  have  got  before  you  a  pleasant  "leave  of  ab 
sence,"  and  a  chance  to  get  out  of  this  for  several  weeks  at 
least.  It's  an  elegant  flesh  wound.'  I  cannot  express  how 
relieved  I  felt  at  this,  and  then  the  other  officers  began  pok 
ing  fun  at  me,  and  congratulating  me  upon  my  great  luck, 
and  I  could  see  that  indeed  I  was  not  an  object  of  commisera 
tion  in  those  dangerous  times.  A  stretcher  was  brought  for 
me,  and  on  it  I  was  carried  some  ways  back  to  where  there 
was  a  temporary  field  hospital,  filled  with  all  kinds  of 
wounded  men.  Before  leaving  the  ground  where  I  was 
lying  with  the  ist  Division  staff,  two  or  three  of  the  boys 
of  our  Battery  came  up  to  find  out  what  was  the  matter 
wih  me,  and  I  was  much  gratified  at  the  interest  they  took 
in  me.  I  did  not  see  General  Wainwright,  but  I  heard  that 
he  was  annoyed  at  my  having  gone  off  so  far,  contrary  to 
his  directions,  and  then  staying  there,  by  which  I  got  my 
wound.  However,  it  was  done  in  good  intent  and  could 
not  be  helped.  At  the  hospital  I  was  soon  made  tolerabh 
comfortable  for  the  night.  My  servant  Joe  appeared  then 
to  take  care  of  me,  and  accompany  me  home,  and  Case  and 
myself  bunked  in,  side  by  side,  on  the  ground  under  a  large 
hospital  tent. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  843 

It  was  a  hard  sight  to  see  all  the  other  wounded,  and  hear 
their  groans,  but  we  passed  the  night  and  the  next  day  at 
this  field  hospital.  About  dusk,  a  long  train  of  ambulances 
and  wagons  for  the  wounded  was  made  up,  to  take  us  to 
Washington,  though  I  do  not  think  we  at  all  knew  how  we 
were  to  get  there,  but  supposed  it  would  be  mostly  by  boat. 
Case  and  I  had  an  ambulance  between  us,  in  which  we  could 
lie  down  and  were  quite  comfortable.  I  felt  rather 
ashamed,  at  being  so  well  off  with  my  slight  flesh  wound, 
when  there  were  so  many  serious  cases  who  were  so  badly 
provided  for  in  the  rough,  springless  wagons,  but  still  I  was 
happy  enough  to  take  the  place  allotted  me. 

By  the  early  grey  of  the  morning  we  passed  through  the 
little  town  of  Bowling  Green,  some  of  the  inhabitants  gaz 
ing  at  us  through  the  windows,  and  then  on  and  on,  the 
next  day,  until  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  we 
reached  the  Rappahannock  River  at  Port  Royal,  where  our 
train  went  into  park  near  the  water.  In  the  stream  was 
the  old  Sound  steamer  'Connecticut'  of  the  Stonington 
line,  ready  to  take  a  boat  load  of  the  wounded  from  the 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  and  other  fights,  to  Washing 
ton,  and  from  there  to  the  hospitals  or  their  homes.  The 
wounded  all  got  on  the  boat  during  the  afternoon,  but  it 
took  a  long  while  to  carry  many  of  them  on  board,  and  we 
started  off  during  the  evening.  I  had  a  decent  berth,  and 
walked  around  and  talked  with  the  others  during  the  pas 
sage.  There  were  a  good  many  doctors  and  nurses  who 
tried  to  do  their  best,  but  it  was  no  easy  thing  to  look  after 
so  many,  and  here  I  must  say  that  my  boy  Joe  Hunter  per 
formed  most  efficient  service,  making  himself  generally  use 
ful  to  all  on  board.  I  remember  meeting  the  artillery  man 
who  was  shot  just  before  me,  and  also  a  soldier  who  showed 
me  a  bible  he  had  through  which  a  bullet  had  gone,  while 
in  his  pocket  or  knapsack.  As  this  is  one  of  those  unusual 
shots  you  often  read  of  in  tracts  during  war  times,  I  am 


844  HISTORY    OF    THE 

glad  to  verify  it,  and  say  unhesitatingly  that  I  recollect 
perfectly  seeing  this  one. 

On  the  after  deck  of  the  steamboat  a  sheet  was  spread 
across,  and  behind  this  surgical  operations  and  amputations 
were  going  on  all  the  time  of  our  passage.  We  were  two 
nights  and  one  day  going  down  the  Rappahannock  and  up 
the  Potomac  to  Washington,  where  we  arrived  the  morn 
ing  of  the  second  day  after  our  departure,  which  must  have 
been  May  29th. 

Case  and  I  went  right  up  to  a  small  hotel,  the  Owen 
House,  alongside  of  Willard's,  and  set  to  work  without 
delay  obtaining  leaves  of  absence,'  without  which  we  could 
not  get  out  of  Washington,  and  to  arrange  which  just  then 
required  a  good  deal  of  time  and  red  tape  formality.  At 
the  end  of  about  three  days  I  received  the  following 
order : — 

HEAD  QUARTERS 
DEPARTMENT  OF  WASHINGTON, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.  May  30,  1864. 
Special  Order  No.  133. 

Leave  of  absence  for  Thirty  (30)  days  is  granted  to  Lieutenant 
Nathan  Appleton  A.  D.  C.  of  the  Artillery  Brig.  5th  Corps,  on  sur 
geon's  certificate  of  disability  arising  from  wound,  to  proceed  to  his 
home.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  will  report  in  person  at 
his  command  (or  hospital),  thence  notifying  these  Headquarters  by 
letter. 

By  command  of  Major  General   Augur. 

CHAS.    RAYMOND, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

By  this  time  my  arm  was  frightfully  swollen,  sloughing 
freely,  and  I  was  beginning  to  feel  feverish  from  it  all.  I 
was  glad  to  be  off.  I  engaged  my  berth  in  the  sleeping-car, 
and  a  little  before  dusk  I  drove  down  with  Joe  to  the  old 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  station.  The  jolting  of  the 
hack  was  painful.  I  was  feeling  far  from  well,  though 
happy  enough  at  the  prospect  of  returning  home,  when 
whom  should  I  meet  in  the  street  but  Professor  Eben  N. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  845 

Horsford  of  Harvard  University,  whose  aid  to  the  Union 
cause  was  strong,  and  who  soon  after  the  war  was  ap 
pointed  by  Governor  Andrew  on  the  commission  for  the 
defence  of  Boston  Harbor,  and  prepared  a  report  of  the 
plans  to  be  pursued  in  the  event  of  the  approach  of  Confed 
erate  cruisers.  He  devised  a  marching  ration  for  the  army 
which  reduced  transportation  to  a  very  low  figure.  He 
stopped  the  carriage,  gave  me  a  warm  and  pleasant  greet 
ing,  and  I  started  off  on  my  journey  encouraged  by  his 
cheery  words  and  sympathetic  presence. 

We  were  soon  en  route,  but  the  official  would  not  allow 
Joe  to  stay  in  the  sleeping  car,  simply  because  he  was  a 
negro,  and  negroes  were  not  then  allowed  to  travel  in  these 
cars,  quite  ignoring  the  fact  that  he  was  the  servant  of  a 
sick  and  wounded  officer  of  the  Union  army.  I  had  not 
been  long  in  the  car  when  a  gentleman,  a  stranger  came 
to  me  and  asked  if  I  would  not  like  to  go  to  bed.  He  called 
up  the  porter,  had  my  bed  made  up  at  once,  and  told  me 
his  berth  was  over  mine.  After  helping  me  undress  he  said 
if  during  the  night  I  wanted  water  or  anything  I  must  call 
upon  him.  I  availed  myself  several  times  of  his  kindness, 
and  thanked  him  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart.  The  next 
morning  he  explained  to  me  that  he,  himself,  had  once  been 
wounded,  in  South  America,  and  knew  what  it  was,  and 
that  he  had  been  incapacitated  by  bad  health  from  taking 
part  in  the  war.  I,  stupidly,  did  not  think  at  the  time  of 
asking  his  name,  but  I  shall  never  forget  him,  and  I  shall 
only  be  too  glad  if  he  can  know  through  these  lines  of  my 
gratitude  for  what  he  did  for  me  during  that  long  night 
railroad  journey. 

On  arrival  in  New  York  I  drove  to  the  Astor  House 
where  my  friends  were  sent  for  and  a  surgeon  to  dress  my 
wound.  I  went  to  Boston  that  night  by  the  Stonington 
line  driving  up  to  39  Beacon  street  about  seven  o'clock  the 
next  morning.  Again  at  home  with  all  its  comforts  and 


8-16  HISTORY    OF    THE 

attentions  which  had  been  prepared  for  me,  I  was  attended 
by  Dr.  Henry  J.  Bigelow,  and  later  by  Dr.  John  Mason 
Warren. 

A  month  after  I  was  wounded  I  was  given  the  following 

CERTIFICATE    OF    EXAMINATION. 

Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton,  A.  D.  C.  of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery,  having 
applied  for  a  certificate  on  which  to  ground  an  application  for  leave 
of  absence,  I  do  hereby  certify  that  I  have  carefully  examined  this 
officer,  and  find  that  he  is  invalided  in  Boston,  Buffering  from  a  gun 
shot  wound  in  right  arm  received  in  action  May  25,  1864.  The  wound 
is  still  suppurating.  And  that  in  consequence  thereof  he  is  in  my 
opinion  unfit  for  duty.  I  further  declare  my  belief  that  he  will  not 
be  able  to  resume  his  duties  in  a  less  period  than  twenty  days  from 
June  29th,  1864,  and  is  unable  to  travel  without  increasing  the  risk 
of  permanent  disability. 

Dated  at  Boston  the  25th  day  of  June,    1864. 

ANSON  P.  HOOKER,  M.  D. 
Approved 
A.  N.  MCLAREN, 

Surgeon  U.  S.  A. 
Med.  Director. 

At  the  summer  residence  of  my  family  at  Lynn  I  had  a 
doctor  look  after  me  who  did  not  at  all  comprehend  the  case. 
My  arm  was  bent  at  almost  a  right  angle,  from  carrying  it 
in  the  position  it  was  held  in  the  sling,  and  he  proposed  to 
cut  the  cords  to  let  it  down  straight.  Fortunately  this  ex 
periment  was  not  tried,  and  Dr.  Warren,  as  Dr.  Bigelow 
was  on  his  vacation,  later  took  hold  of  it  and  straightened 
it  in  a  great  degree,  simply  by  pulling  it  down  by  main 
force  every  few  days,  and  getting  it  out  a  little  straighter  at 
each  trial,  even  today  (1901)  it  is  not  perfectly  so,  and 
never  will  be,  and  two  scars  are  plainly  marked  on  it  with 
a  loss  of  flesh  and  muscle  between  them,  otherwise  it  is  all 
right.  On  the  25th  of  July,  1896,  I  had  a  Roentgen  X  Ray 
photograph  taken  of  my  arm  by  Professor  Clinton  E.  Dol- 
bear,  at  20  Tremont  street,  Boston;  about  7  minutes  expos 
ure.  It  shows  that  the  flesh  has  never  filled  up  in  the  line 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  847 

of  the  wound.     The  bone  was  not  touched  by  the  bullet. 

The  wound  on  the  leg  made  quite  a  sore  for  a  time,  but 
dressing  and  plaster  soon  cured  it,  as  it  was  merely  a  shock 
against  the  skin  and  the  flesh  beyond. 

In  August,  1864,  I  received  another 

CERTIFICATE    OF   EXAMINATION   OF  GUNSHOT   WOUND. 

Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton  A.  D.  C.  of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery,  having 
applied  for  a  certificate  on  which  to  ground  an  application  for  leave  of 
absence,  I  do  hereby  certify  that  I  have  carefully  examined  the  officer, 
and  find  that  he  is  invalided  in  Boston,  Mass.,  suffering  from  the 
effects  of  Anchylosis  of  the  right  elbow  joint,  the  result  of  a  gunshot 
wound  received  in  action  May  25th,  1864,  and  in  consequence  thereof, 
he  is,  in  my  opinion,  unfit  for  duty.  I  further  declare  my  belief  that  he 
will  not  be  able  to  resume  his  duties  in  a  less  period  than  twenty  days 
from  August  28,  1864,  and  is  unable  to  travel  without  incurring  the 
risk  of  permanent  disability.  Prospect  of  recovery — not  remote. 
Dated  at  Boston  this  2/th  day  of  August,  1864. 

WM.  J.  DALE,  A.  S.,  U.  S.  A. 
Approved 

A.  N.  MCLAREN, 

Surgeon  U.  S.  A., 
Mcd.  Director. 

But  in  the  mean  time  I  had  sent  in  my  resignation,  and 
the  circumstances  of  my  promotion  and  subsequent  dis 
charge  from  the  service  were  peculiar. 

By  Blake's  death  at  the  Battle  o-f  Petersburg  (see  p.  877) 
I  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  and  this  of  course 
made  a  vacancy  for  another  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Bat 
tery.  Hamblet  was  promoted  and  commissioned,  but,  by 
some  stupid  red  tape  arrangement,  it  was  impossible  for 
either  he  or  I  to  be  mustered  in  to  our  new  positions  except 
actually  in  the  field,  and  from  the  date  of  muster  only  could 
pay  be  drawn.  This  was  of  no  importance  to  me,  but  it 
was  to  him  in  the  matter  of  pay,  and,  as  I  did  not  wish  to 
return  to  the  army  until  my  arm  was  quite  well,  I  found  I 
was  keeping  the  other  lieutenant  out.  So,  I  resigned  and 
was  honorably  discharged  for  disability,  though  all  the  time 


848  HISTORY    OF    THE 

I  had  the  fixed  intention  of  rejoining  after  a  short  trip 
abroad. 

ORDER    OF   DISCHARGE. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT  ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,   Aug.   25,    1864. 
Special   Order 

No.    280  Extract. 

19.  2d  Lieut.  Nathan  Appleton  5th  Mass.  Battery,  having  tendered 
his  resignation,  is  hereby  honorably  discharged  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  on  account  of  physical  disability  from  wounds  received 
in  action,  with  condition  that  he  shall  receive  no  final  payments  until 
he  has  satisfied  the  Pay  Department  that  he  is  not  indebted  to  the 
Government. 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

(Signed)    E.   D.   TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
Official : 

(Signed)   FORD.  MORRIS, 

Lieut,  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 
Official : 

(Signed)    CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS,  Capt. 
5th  Mass.  Battery. 

In  a  letter  dated  Hd.  Qrs.  Art'y  Brigade,  5th  Corps,  Sept. 
8,  1864,  General  C.  S.  Wainwright  wrote  me: — 

'I  was  very  sorry  to  get  your  resignation,  though  I  think  that  it 
was  perhaps  the  best  thing  you  could  do,  as  your  wound  continued  to 
trouble  you  so  much.  I  had  anticipated  a  good  deal  of  pleasure  in 
having  you  with  me.  As  it  is  I  have  not  got  any  one  in  your  place. 
Matthewson  has  been  made  a  captain  and  commands  his  company. 
Morris  is  still  A.  A.  G.  and  Canfield  my  only  aide.' 


While  writing  this  sketch  several  men  of  the  Battery 
come  to  my  remembrance  with  peculiar  distinctness  on  ac 
count  of  their  positions  in  the  Battery.  There  was  Winters 
the  bugler,  much  older  than  most  of  the  members  of  the 
Battery  when  he  enlisted  with  some  of  the  first  recruits,  and 
the  other  bugler,  Tucker,  and  also  Hayden  the  Battery 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  849 

guidon.  The  letter  carrier  too  was  important  in  the  expe 
rience  of  the  Battery.  The  young-  fellow  who  used  to  shave 
me  was  Niles.  The  forms  of  the  farriers  and  teamsters  too 
come  back  to  me,  and  there  were  two  cooks,  Burt  and 
Phippen,  the  latter  waited  at  our  mess,  and  also  drove  on 
the  march  the  two-wheeled  battery  cart  we  officers  had  for 
our  own  personal  effects,  and  which  was  of  the  greatest 
convenience  and  comfort. 

On  the  1 8th  of  March,  1865,  I  was  commissioned  As 
sistant  Inspector  General  on  the  staff  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  Governor 
John  A.  Andrew,  and  duly  took  the  oath  as  Captain  on 
March  27th.  I  immediately  started  for  the  front  to  report 
to  General  Wainwright  still  in  command  of  the  Artillery 
Brigade,  Fifth  Army  Corps,  to  whom  I  was  detailed  as 
Volunteer  aide  de  camp. 

I  was  present  at  the  Battle  of  Five  Forks  and  at  the 
Surrender  at  Appomattox,  and  marched  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  in  the  Grand  Review  of  May  22d,  1865,  riding 
my  favorite  horse  Tolko,'  who  had  been  left  with  General 
Wainwright  while  I  was  away  from  the  Army,  the  little 
one  remaining  with  the  Battery. 

COPY  OF  A  BREVET. 

THE 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED   STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

[Seal  of  the 
U.  S.  A.  War  Office.] 
(Picture    of    an    eagle    with    outspread    wings    beneath    the    motto 

'E  Pluribus  Unum.') 

To  All  who  shall  see  These  Presents  Greeting. 
Know  ye,  That  I  do  hereby  confer  on  Nathan  Appleton,  of  the 
United  States  Volunteers,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  the  rank  of  Captain  By 
Brevet,  in  said  service,  to  rank  as  such  from  the  thirteenth  day  of 
March,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-five,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the  battle  on  Virginia 
Central  Railroad. 


850  HISTORY    OF    THE 

And  I  do  strictly  charge  and  require  all  officers  and  soldiers  under 
his  command,  to  obey  and  respect  him  accordingly,  and  he  is  to  observe 
and  follow  such  orders  and  directions  from  time  to  time,  as  he  shall 
receive  from  me,  or  the  future  President  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  other  officers  set  over  him,  according  to  law,  and  the 
rules  and  discipline  of  War,  this  Commission  to  continue  in  force 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  the  time 
being. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  the  City  of  Washington  this  twenty-fifth 
day  of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-five,  and  in  the  ninety-first  year  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States. 

By  the  President.  ANDREW  JOHNSON, 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON 

Secretary  of  War. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  document  is  an  elaborate  drawing, 
representing  the  arms,  munitions,  and  emblems  of  the  ser 
vice,  and  on  the  upper  left  hand  corner  the  words : — 

"Recorded  Volume  5,  Page  47,  Adj't.  General's  Office,  August  25, 
1865.  E.  D.  TOWNSEND,  Ass't  Adj't.  General. 


October  30,  1866,  a  letter  was  sent  me  from  the  War 
Department,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  Washington,  as 
follows : — 

Sir :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  to  you  herewith,  your  commission 
of  Brevet  Captain,  the  receipt  of  which  please  acknowledge. 
I  am  sir,  very  respectfully 

Your  obedient  servant 

J.  C.  KELTON, 
Assistant  Adjutant  Gen'l. 
Brevet  Captain  NATHAN  APPLETON 
U.  S.  Volunteers. 


This  letter  did  not  reach  me  in  regular  course,  for  I  had 
set  out  on  my  third  voyage  across  the  Atlantic." 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-THREE 

THE    BATTLE    OF    BETHESDA    CHURCH. 

June  3,  1864. 

'Thou    shouldst   die   as    he    dies 

For  whom  none  sheddeth  tears; 
Filling  thine   eys 

And  fulfilling  thine  ears 

With  the  brilliance  of  battle,  the  bloom  and  the  beauty, 
the  splendor  of  spears." 

— SWINBURNE. 

It  has  been  seen  that  General  Grant's  order  to  General 
Meade  dated  Quarle's  Mills,  Va.,  May  25,  1864,  directed 
him  to  observe  the  following  explicit  instructions  viz., 

"As  soon  as  it  is  dark  tomorrow  night,  start  the  Division  which  you 
withdraw  first  from  Wright's  (Sixth)  Corps,  to  make  a  forced  march 
to  Hanover  Town  (within  20  miles  of  Richmond)  taking  with  them  no 
trains  to  impede  the  march.  At  the  same  time  this  Division  starts,  com 
mence  withdrawing  all  of  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  from  the  south 
side  of  the  river  and  march  them  for  the  same  place.  ...  As  soon  as 
the  troops  reach  Hanover  Town  they  should  get  possession  of  all  the 
crossings  they  can  in  that  neighborhood." 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1864,  the  base  of  supplies  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  was  ordered  to  be  established  at 
White  House  on  the  Pamunkey  River.  The  relative  posi 
tion  of  the  two  armies  was  as  follows : — 

The  Right  of  the  Confederate  Army  rested  on  a  swamp 
east  of  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  railroad  and  south 
of  the  North  Anna  River,  their  Centre  on  the  river  at  Ox 
Ford  and  their  Left  at  Little  River.  The  Second  Corps  of 
the  Union  Army,  with  one  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps, 

851 


852  HISTORY    OF    THE 

had  crossed  at  Chesterfield  Ford,  and  covered  the  Right 
wing  of  Lee's  Army.  One  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps 
was  on  the  north  bank  of  the  North  Anna  at  Ox  Ford,  con 
venient  for  reinforcing  either  wing  of  our  army.  From  a 
point  at  a  short  distance  above  Ox  Ford  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  river  to  Little  River  parallel  to  the  enemy's  lines, 
were  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  and  one  Division  of  the 
Ninth  Corps.  The  line  during  the  26th  was  extended  to  the 
Left  to  join  the  Ninth  Corps.  The  three  batteries  with 
Major  Robert  H.  Fitzhugh, — 4th  U.  S.  Battery  B,  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  and  the  I5th  N.  Y.  Independent  Bat 
tery,  were  engaged  at  times  on  the  skirmish  line  of  the  front 
of  the  First  Division  Fifth  Corps  under  Griffin,  but  could 
elicit  no  response  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  although  the 
1 5th  N.  Y.  and  the  Fifth  Mass.  Batteries  suffered  consid 
erably  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  The  artillery,  how 
ever,  accomplished  the  object  for  which  it  was  posted,  by 
silencing  in  a  measure  the  enemy's  skirmishers  in  front  of 
the  First  Division. 

The  Sixth  Corps,  commanded  by  General  H.  G.  Wright, 
had  all  reached  Cold  Harbor  at  2  p.  m.  of  June  ist,  and 
General  W.  F.  Smith,  with  his  command  from  the  Army  of 
the  James,  arrived  there  an  hour  after.  General  Warren 
was  then  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  the  enemy 
with  all  its  Corps  consolidated,  were  intrenched  in  line  of 
battle  in  front  of  him.  At  night  Hancock  with  the  Second 
Corps  arrived,  and  was  placed  on  the  left  of  the  Sixth 
Corps,  across  the  Mechanicsville  road.  In  order  to  unite 
with  the  right  of  Smith's  command,  the  left  of  the  Fifth 
Corps  was  obliged  to  hold  a  line  three  miles  in  extent,  from 
Bethesda  Church  to  Smith's  position.  The  ist  Division 
Fifth  Corps  under  Griffin,  was  massed  at  Bethesda  Church. 
The  cavalry  were  ordered  to  protect  the  Right  of  the  Army 
from  Bethesda  Church  to  the  Pamunkey  River. 

On  the  afternoon  of  June  2d,   the  confederate  general 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  853 

Early  attacked  the  Right  flank  of  our  army  and  the  other 
divisions  of  their  army  moved  forward,  attacking  ours  at 
various  unprotected  points,  ending  with  a  desperate  charge 
along  the  whole  line,  but  were  forced  back  to  the  road  by 
our  infantry.  A  part  of  the  Ninth  Corps  was  driven  in  and 
the  enemy  got  in  the  rear  of  the  Fifth  Corps  skirmish  line, 
but  at  dark  their  advance  was  checked,  and  the  enemy  re 
mained  \vhere  they  were  at  nightfall  and  intrenched.  Gen 
eral  Grant  says  of  the  action  of  our  troops  that  "the  at 
tacks  were  repulsed  but  not  followed  up  as  they  should  have 
been," — the  old  complaint,  but  General  Grant  went  farther. 
He  says : — "I  was  so  annoyed  at  this  that  I  directed  Meade 
to  give  orders  to  his  corps  commanders  that  they  should 
seize  all  such  opportunities,  when  they  occurred,  and  not 
wait  for  orders,  all  of  our  movements  being-  made  for  the 
very  purpose  of  getting  the  enemy  out  of  his  cover." 

On  the  3d  the  enemy's  lines  extended  from  the  Totopot- 
omoy  to  New  Cold  Harbor :  the  Union  lines  from  Bethesda 
Church  by  Old  Cold  Harbor  to  the  Chickahominy.  That 
day  the  troops  under  Generals  Hancock,  Wright  and  Smith 
assaulted  the  enemy's  works  at  Cold  Harbor  and  captured 
some  rifle  pits,  while  the  Ninth  Corps  under  Burnside  and 
part  of  the  Fifth  Corps  attacked  the  Confederate  position 
near  Bethesda  Church  in  order  to  clear  the  Mechanicsville 
turnpike,  and  carried  an  advanced  line  under  a  galling  fire 
of  artillery  and  musketry,  the  enemy's  batteries  being 
securely  posted  under  cover.  This  closed  the  offensive  oper 
ations  of  our  forces  at  that  point. 

The  rebels  left  our  front  in  the  night  June  4th. 

On  June  7th  our  lines  were  extended  from  the  Chicka 
hominy  River  to  which  the  Second  Corps  line  reached,  to 
Despatch  Station  on  the  York  River  railroad,  and  the  cav 
alry  were  sent  to  Charlottesville  and  Gordonsville  to  destroy 
the  Virginia  Central  railroad  and  its  connections;  Grant's 
plan  being,  after  having  the  Army  supplied  with  rations 


854  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  once  more  move  the  Army  to  the  south  side  of  the 
James  River.  This  movement  commenced  after  dark  on  the 
1 2th  of  June.  Griffin's  ist  Division  with  4th  U.  S.  Battery 
B,  ist  N.  Y.  Battery  D,  and  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  led 
the  column. 

The  Fifth  Corps  followed  by  the  Second  Corps  withdrew 
from  Cold  Harbor,  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Long 
Bridge,  passed  through  Charles  City  county  and  reached 
the  James  River  on  the  evening  of  the  I3th;  the  cavalry 
protecting  the  movement  over  the  White  Oak  Swamp.  The 
Sixth  and  Ninth  Corps  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Jones 
Bridge  and  General  W.  F.  Smith  took  his  troops  of  the 
Eighteenth  Corps  back  to  the  White  House  and  thence  to 
City  Point.  The  enemy  were  in  possession  of  the  ground 
from  Malvern  Hill  to  White  Oak  Swamp.  In  the  wake  of 
our  Army  moved  3000  head  of  beef  cattle  and  50  miles 
of  wagon  trains. 

Looking  back  along  the  track  over  which  they  had 
fought  their  way  from  the  banks  of  the  Rapidan,  they  could 
count  forty-three  days  of  almost  continuous  fighting,  with 
the  loss  of  fifty-four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-six 
men.  The  list  of  casualties  in  the  Artillery  Brigade  of  the 
Fifth  Corps  in  the  operations  about  Cold  Harbor  and 
Bethesda  Church  numbered  35.  Of  this  loss  25  was  suf 
fered  by  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  ist  N.  Y.  Battery  D,  and 
4th  U.  S.  Battery  B.  As  to  the  effect  on  the  enemy  Gen 
eral  Grant  says  in  his  report : — 

'The  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  and 
Cold  Harbor,  bloody  and  terrible  as  they  were  on  our  side,  were  even 
more  damaging  to  the  enemy,  and  so  crippled  him  as  to  make  him  wary 
ever  after  of  taking  the  offensive." 

On  June  I4th  General  Grant  had  determined  to  transfer 
the  Army  south  of  the  James  River,  and  the  Eighteenth 
Corps  under  General  Smith  having  arrived  back  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  50  miles  south  of  Cold  Harbor,  General  Grant 
personally  visited  that  point  and  gave  orders  for  General 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  855 

Smith  with  all  available  troops,  to  move  directly  upon 
Petersburg  where  at  that  time  the  intrenchments  were  held 
by  only  a  few  troops,  and  General  Smith  moved  as  ordered 
and  reached  Petersburg  before  daylight  of  the  I5th  of  June, 
1864. 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

At  daylight  of  the  26th  of  May,  returned  to  our  position. 
During  the  day  fired  4  percussion  shell.  Marched  all  that 
night  with  Griffin's  Division,  recrossing  the  North  Anna 
River  at  Quarle's  Mills :  then  marched  south  along  the  river. 
The  object  of  this  movement  was  by  flanking  him  again  to 
turn  the  position  from  which  Lee  could  not  be  forced.  The 
whole  Fifth  Corps  crossed  the  North  Anna  River  having 
accomplished  destroying  the  railroad. 

May  27,  1864.  Passed  Carmel  Church  on  the  way  down 
the  Pamunkey  River,  halting  for  an  hour  at  noon.  Plenty 
of  forage  through  the  country,  pigs  in  droves  and  flocks  of 
turkeys  and  poultry.  Marched  all  the  night  of  the  26th, 
and  all  day  of  the  27th.  The  infantry  were  pretty  well 
used  up,  having  very  sore  feet.  At  4  o'clock  halted  for  a 
short  time.  Passed  a  plantation  owned  by  a  widow  Carle- 
ton,  containing  34  buildings  and  50  slaves. 

May  28,  1864.  Reveille  at  3  a.  m.,  started  at  5,  marched 
about  12  miles.  Passed  Hebron  Church,  Corinth  Church, 
Enfield,  and  having  crossed  the  Pamunkey  River,  went  into 
line  and  remained  for  the  night.  Beautiful  spring  weather. 
The  Battery  marched  ahead  of  the  Artillery  Brigade  at 
tached  to  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  crossed  the  Pamunkey  at 
Hanover  Town  about  noon. 

Found  the  cavalry  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  were 
placed  in  position  in  a  road  on  the  left  flank  of  the  Fifth 
Corps,  which  formed  line  of  battle  at  3  p.  m.,  and  built 
breastworks  with  the  batteries  in  position  behind  them,  the 


856  HISTORY    OF    THE 

enemy  having  been  found  entrenched  in  our  front.  The 
left  of  the  Fifth  Corps  rested  on  Totopotomoy  Creek,  and 
the  right  crossed  the  main  road  to  what  was  called  "Hawes's 
Store."  The  positions  of  the  batteries  from  right  to  left, 
were  Battery  B,  ist  Penn.,  4th  U.  S.  Battery  B,  Ninth 
Mass.  Battery,  Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y.,  Batteries  E  and  L,  ist 
N.  Y.,  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

May  29th,  came  out  of  position  and  advanced  about  2 
miles  by  way  of  "Hawes's  Store,"  on  a  very  dusty  road,  to 
the  left  of  our  line  which  reached  across  and  a  short  distance 
beyond  Totopotomoy  Creek :  the  same  ground  from  which 
the  enemy  was  driven. 

"At  dark  (Dyer's  Notes)  unhitched  and  unharnessed, 
got  supper  and  turned  in  for  the  night.  It  is  six  months 
since  the  horse  fell  upon  me,  and  I  think  I  shall  always 
remember  him,  also  James  Kay,  who  did  all  he  could  for 
me." 

Our  fortifications  were  being  strengthened.  The  men 
caught  a  calf  and  killed  it.  They  found  it,  they  said,  very 
nice  veal. 

May  3Oth,  1864,  advanced  about  a  mile  and  a  half  over 
ground  which  the  enemy  had  just  left.  They  attacked  our 
forces  in  the  afternoon,  and  were  driven  back.  The  men 
made  a  stew  of  veal  and  went  to  bed  at  n  p.  m. 

May  3 ist  the  Battery  was  roused  at  daylight.  Oppor 
tunity  was  given  during  the  day  for  a  change  of  clothes. 
Very  hot  day.  The  horses  remained  in  harness  all  day, 
from  6  a.  m.  Heavy  firing  came  up  from  our  forces  a  long 
distance  to  the  left.  This  was  the  attack  made  upon  the 
Fifth  Corps,  General  G.  K.  Warren  commanding,  by  the 
rebel  general  Early  who  was  attempting  to  turn  Warren's 
left.  To  relieve  this  pressure  General  Meade  ordered  an 
attack  along  the  whole  line. 

June  ist.  Boots  and  saddles  were  sounded  at  8  o'clock. 
Moved  to  the  front.  Stopped  in  the  woods  till  3  p.  m.,  then 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  857 

went  into  position  on  the  left  of  the  5th  Corps,  on  the 
Mechanicsville  road.  Dyer  wrote,  "The  heaviest  fighting 
there  has  been,  both  of  artillery  and  infantry,  occurred  from 
4  p.  m.  till  9  p.  m.  At  10  turned  in,  with  orders  to  get  up 
at  2." 

Halted  for  the  night  at  Barnett's  Tavern. 

June  2cl,  General  Meade  ordered  the  Ninth  Corps  to  re 
lieve  the  Fifth  Corps,  but  the  Ninth  Corps  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major-General  A.  E.  Burnside,  was  attacked  while 
moving  to  the  rear  of  Warren's  right  to  protect  that  flank, 
and  the  Fifth  Corps  was  involved  in  the  battle  that  followed. 

June  2cl,  1864,  a  new  arrangement,  believed  to  be  perma 
nent,  was  made  with  the  artillery.  The  Fifth  Mass.  Bat 
tery,  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S.,  Lieut.  James  Stewart,  and  Bat 
tery  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  Lieut.  L.  I.  Richardson,  were  assigned 
to  the  First  Division,  Fifth  Corps,  commanded  by  General 
Charles  Griffin  then  massed  at  Bethesda  Church,  and  dur 
ing  the  night  orders  were  received  by  Captain  Charles  A. 
Phillips  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  placing  him  in  command 
as  chief  of  the  Division  Artillery.  Senior  First  Lieutenant 
Peleg  W.  Blake  was  left  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Mass. 
Battery. 

Captain  Phillips  reported  at  Division  Head  Quarters  at 
daylight  of  the  2d,  and  in  the  afternoon  he  placed  Lieut. 
Stewart's  Battery  in  position  on  the  Mechanicsville  road, 
and  at  dark  changed  his  position,  and  brought  up  Lieut. 
Richardson's.  At  daylight  of  the  3d  he  placed  Lieut. 
Blake's  with  the  others. 

"June  2cl.  (Shackley's  Notes)  Captain  Phillips  com 
mands  the  artillery  of  the  ist  Division,  5th  Corps.  Fred 
D.  Alden  was  wounded  through  the  lower  part  of  the  body. 
Died.  William  Reynolds  had  thigh  broken  near  the  hip." 


858  HISTORY    OF    THE 

DEATH   OF  F.   D.   ALDEN. 
NOTES  OF  CORPORAL  SHACKLEY. 

"While  the  Battery  was  in  close  order  awaiting  Orders, 
William  Reynolds  was  inside  the  left  wheel  of  the  Gun,  his 
back  against  the  wheel.  F.  D.  Alden,  with  his  elbows  on 
the  Gun,  was  facing  Reynolds.  Alden's  back  towards  the 
enemy.  Corporal  Shackley  was  sitting  on  the  caisson  eating 
hard  tack,  when  a  rebel  shell  struck  the  ground  some  50 
yards  away,  ricocheted,  and  struck  Alden  at  the  base  of  his 
spinal  column,  going  completely  through,  and  smashing 
the  pelvis  bone,  making  the  most  terrible  wound.  Alden 
lived  nearly  two  hours  after  being  wounded.  Reynolds  had 
one  of  his  legs  broken  near  the  hip,  but  recovered  from  his 
hurt.  Both  the  sponge  staves  were  broken,  and  the  muzzle- 
sight  was  knocked  off  the  piece.  Corporal  Shackley  saw 
the  shell  strike  the  ground  and  watched  its  course  until  it 
stopped.  It  did  not  explode." 


Dyer  says  on  June  2d: — "Hitched  up  at  2j  o'clock,  got 
breakfast  and  left  park  at  daybreak.  Went  off  to  the  right, 
stopped  till  10,  went  back  to  our  old  position,  unhitched 
and  unharnessed.  At  2  p.  m.  hitched  up,  formed  line  of 
battle.  Fighting  commenced  at  3,  and  continued  with  a 
continual  roll  till  9  p.  m.  Fred  D.  Alden  mortally  wounded, 
and  Wm.  Reynolds  badly  wounded.  Allen  Almy  came  to 
see  me." 

From  Shackley's  of  June  3d : — "W.  H.  H.  Lapham  was 
killed  and  buried  in  a  box  near  a  small  tree,  and  his  name 
marked  on  a  piece  of  board  nailed  to  the  tree.  The  Battery 
took  position  and  fired  about  400  rounds.  The  Battery 
charged  half  way  across  the  field  and  drove  a  rebel  battery 
from  their  position." 

Bethesda  Church  is  about  five  miles  from  Mechanicsville, 
Va.,  by  the  Old  Church  Road,  and  about  three  miles  from 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  859 

Gaines  Mills,  the  scene  of  the  battle  of  June  27,  1862. 
There  was  a  belt  of  woods  in  front  of  the  church,  which  at 
the  narrowest  was  about  three-eighths  of  a  mile,  but  broad 
ened  out  to  the  width  of  half  a  mile  at  the  widest  part.  The 
advanced  position  of  the  rebel  intrenchments  faced  this 
widest  portion  of-  the  woods  a  few  hundred  yards  away,  and 
were  built  on  a  line  parallel  to  and  a  little  in  advance  of  an 
other  road  southeast  of  Bethesda  Church,  which  was  at 
right  angles  with  Old  Church  Road. 

REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  L.  I.  RICHARDSON. 

''June  2. — Marched  out  at  IT  a.  m.  to  near  the  position  of  the  3Oth: 
went  in  park  near  Bethesda  Church.  While  here  I  received  orders  to 
put  my  battery  in  position,  faced  to  the  rear.  Moved  out  of  position 
about  5  p.  m.,  and  went  into  park,  where  I  remained  until  dark.  I 
then  received  orders  to  move  my  battery  out  to  the  front, — our  rear, — 
where  I  was  assigned  my  position  by  Captain  Phillips.  I  then  went  in 
camp  for  the  night. 

June  3d :  The  enemy  opened  upon  us  this  morning  to  which  we  re 
plied, — my  position  was  the  left  of  the  three  batteries.  B,  Fourth  United 
States  on  my  right,  and  E,  Fifth  Massachusetts  on  the  right  of  that, — 
and  silencing  them,  they  soon  moved  to  another  position,  and  again  we 
silenced  them,  but  this  time  it  cost  me  dearly.  It  was  here  I  lost  the 
brave  and  efficient  officer  Lieutenant  (Charles)  de  Mott,  he  being 
struck  with  a  piece  of  case-shot,  which  passed  through  him,  killing  him 
instantly ;  I  also  lost  i  man  killed  and  4  wounded,  at  this  place. 

At  this  time  the  enemy  had  an  enfilading  fire  upon  us,  as  well  as  the 
fire  in  our  front ;  we  could  do  nothing  with  them  only  in  our  front. 

Our  line  of  battle  soon  advanced,  and  I  was  ordered, — with  the  other 
batteries, — to  advance  on  the  open  plain  in  my  front.  As  I  moved  up, 
the  enemy  opened  on  us  with  canister,  but  with  little  effect.  I  soon 
got  my  position,  and  we  silenced  the  enemy's  battery,  so  much  so  that 
one  hour  after  getting  this  position,  not  a  shot  was  fired  from  them.  In 
this  position  I  lost  I  man  killed  and  2  wounded." 

ACTION   OF   STEWART'S   FOURTH   U.    S. 

Augustus  Buell  of  this  battery  says  of  its  action  at 
Bethesda  Church,  in  his  book  entitled  "The  Cannoneer," 
"Story  of  a  Private  Soldier": — 

"In  our  front,  where  the  Mechanicsville  Pike  entered  the  grove  or 


860  HISTORY    OF    THE 

woods,  west  of  the  Bethesda  Church,  there  was  a  clearing  which  ex 
tended  some  distance  into  the  woods,  forming  a  sort  of  pocket  or  recess. 
This  clearing  may  have  been  10  or  15  acres  in  extent,  and  was  of  a  tri 
angular  shape,  so  that  it  was  commanded  by  the  woods  on  both  flanks. 
It  was  in  this  clearing,  about  at  the  base  of  the  triangle,  that  the  enemy 
came  in  battery.  Between  us  and  the  enemy  there  was  a  stretch  of  low 
ground,  somewhat  grown  up  with  small  brush,  and  the  old  pike  was 
graded  up  to  some  extent  through  this  low  ground.  .  .  .  When  the 
Rebel  battery  came  into  position,  we  were  'standing  at  ease'  in  column 
just  back  of  Bethesda  Church.  The  battery  was  halted  in  column  of 
pieces,  left  in  front.  The  Old  Man  (Stewart)  was  lounging  on  his 
saddle,  near  the  right  gun,  with  his  elbow  on  the  pommel  and  his  chin 
resting  on  his  hand.  .  .  .  Suddenly  Gen.  Griffin  beckoned  to  Stewart, 
who  left  us  and  rode  over  toward  the  General.  ...  A  few  words 
passed  between  the  General  and  Stewart,  which  I  did  not  hear,  of 
course,  being  at  that  moment  in  the  act  of  mounting  the  limber-chest, 
but  afterward  learned  that  Gen.  Griffin  said :  'James' — he  usually  called 
Stewart  by  his  first  name  in  that  way — 'can  you  go  in  battery  under 
that  fire?' 

'Yes,  sir;  where  shall  I  unlimber?' 

'Suit  yourself  about  that,  but  keep  an  eye  to  your  supports.  I  would 
like  tOt  see  that  battery  silenced.' 

'I  will  shut  it  up,  sir.'  " 

Of  the  appearance  of  the  battery  in  the  charge,  he  says : — 

"Every  Driver  lying  forward  on  his  horse,  whipping  and  yelling; 
every  Gunner  and  Cannoneer  hanging  on  for  life  to  the  guard-rods  of 
the  limber-chests,  and  bounding  six  inches  high  from  the  springless 
seats  as  the  huge  wheels  flew  over  the  ruts  ;  a  long  trail  of  dust  stream- 
mg  behind,  and  the  very  earth  made  to  smoke  and  tremble  under  the 
fierce  tramp  of  the  flying  steeds  !  Speed  was  everything  here,  because 
it  was  necessary  to  get  there  quick  and  get  to  work,  before  the  enemy 
rould  get  many  rounds  into  us.  .  .  We  had  13  or  14  men  hit  altogether 
in  this  affair,  of  whom  10  or  n  went  down  in  the  single  minute  that  it 
took  us  to  unlimber  and  get  in  the  first  load.  .  .  .  The  day  being  hot 
and  sultry,  with  no  air  stirring,  the  smoke  hung  right  in  front  of  us, 
so  that  after  the  second  or  third  round  we  could  not  see  the  enemy  at 
all,  but  we  could  hear  his  canister  rattling  among  our  guns  and  wheels 
like  big  hail-stones,  or  whizzing  past  our  heads,  or  whirring  through 
the  grass  and  bushes.  But  we  had  the  exact  direction  by  the  well- 
defined  tracks  of  the  wheels  in  the  first  recoil,  so  there  was  no  difficulty 
in  pointing,  and  all  we  had  to  do  was  'keep  her  muzzle  down.'  In  three 
minutes  we  could  feel  the  enemy's  fire  slacken.  In  seven  or  eight  min 
utes  more  he  ceased  entirely,  and  then,  as  the  smoke  lifted,  we  saw  his 
deserted  guns  standing  silent  in  the  field !" 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  861 

FROM    THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    THIRD    MASS. 
BATTERY. 

In  his  account  of  the  part  taken  in  the  Battle  of  Bethesda 
Church  by  the  Third  Mass.  Battery,  the  historian  says : — 

"The  three  batteries  of  Griffin's  Division  were  placed  in  an  open 
field  just  across  the  road  from  Bethesda  Church  the  enemy  being 
strongly  intrenched  in  front.  Early  in  the  morning  the  Ninth  Corps 
advanced  on  our  right,  and  soon  after  an  advance  was  made  by  the 
Second  Brigade  of  Griffin's  Division.  This  brigade  was  annoyed  in  its 
advance  by  the  fire  of  a  rebel  battery,  and  our  artillery  was  ordered  to 
follow  it  up  to  silence  the  enemy's  guns. 

The  three  batteries, — the  3d,  5th,  and  9th  Mass. — then  advanced  'by 
battery,'  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  leading,  across  the  open  field  inter 
vening,  until  within  canister  range,  where  we  were  obliged  to  halt  by 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  A  heavy  fire  was  poured  into  the  rebel 
battery,  which  effectually  silenced  it,  and  the  next  morning,  when  the 
enemy  abandoned  their  works  twenty-two  dead  horses  were  found 
where  their  battery  had  stood." 


MAJ.  GEN.  BURNSIDE  TO  MAJ.  GEN.  WARREN. 

"12.30  p.  m.  June  3,  1864:  General  Griffin  is  ready  to  do  what  he  can 
with  Sweitzer's  brigade  and  his  batteries.  Colonel  Sweitzer  reports  the 
enemy  moving  to  our  left." 


Post  Script  to  letter  of  Brig.  Gen.  Robert  B.  Potter,  com 
manding  the  2d  Division  Ninth  Army  Corps,  2.25  p.  m. 
June  3,  1864:— 

"Griffin  I  fear,  will  make  nothing.  The  enemy's  works  are  across 
an  open  field  and  extend  beyond  his  right.  He  does  not  think  he  can 
carry  them." 


Gen.  Jacob  B.  Sweitzer,  colonel  commanding  Brigade,  to 
General  C.  Griffin  June  4,  1864,  5  a.  m.  :— 

"General :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  my  pickets  have  advanced, 
and  are  now  in  the  rebel  earthworks  in  my  front.  The  enemy  have 
left." 

CAPTAIN    PHILLIPS'    REPORT. 
Captain  Phillips  in  his  Report  to  Lieut.  Fordham  Morris, 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  Artillery  Brigade 


862  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  dated  Aug.  6,  1864,  and  embrac 
ing  the  period  between  May  4,  1864,  and  that  date,  contains 
the  following  reference  to  the  Battle  of  Bethesda  Church  :— 

"After  crossing  the  Pamunkey  we  were  not  engaged  until 
the  3d  of  June.  On  the  ist  of  June,  Stewart's  (B,  4th 
U.  S.)  Winslow's  (D,  ist  N.  Y.)  and  my  own  Battery 
were  assigned  to  Griffin's  Division  and  remained  with  it 
during  the  rest  of  the  campaign.  On  the  3d  of  June,  my 
Battery  was  placed  in  line  with  Sweitzer's  Brigade  and  on 
the  right  of  Lieut.  Stewart  on  the  right  of  the  Mechanics- 
ville  pike  opposite  Bethesda  Church. 

Early  in  the  morning  the  three  batteries  of  the  Division 
engaged  a  rebel  battery  in  our  front,  and  silenced  it.  In  the 
forenoon  Sweitzer's  Brigade  advanced  across  the  open  field 
in  our  front,  whereupon  the  rebel  battery  reopened,  annoy 
ing  them  very  much,  as  its  fire  nearly  enfiladed  the  brigade. 
The  three  batteries  at  once  advanced,  firing  by  battery, 
until  within  600  yards  of  the  rebel  battery,  which  was  soon 
silenced.  The  next  morning  we  discovered  about  20  dead 
horses  in  the  position  occupied  by  the  rebel  battery,  showing 
the  accuracy  of  our  fire:  casualties  one  killed. 

Casualties  during  the  epoch  2  killed,  one  wounded." 

At  the  close  of  this  Report  Captain  Phillips  again  refers 
to  this  action  as  follows:— 

"I  desire  to  bear  testimony  to  the  ability  and  uniform 
good  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  command. 
While  attached  to  General  Griffin's  Division  I  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  Division  Artillery,  leaving  the  Battery  under 
the  immediate  command  of  my  senior  officer.  Lieut.  Blake 
was  in  command  at  Bethesda  Church  and  until  his  death  on 
the  1 8th  of  June  at  Petersburg,  and  handled  the  battery 
with  marked  ability  and  bravery." 

NOTES  OF  LIEUT.  T.  E.  SPEAR,  JULY  24,   1901. 
"The  killing  of  one  man  and  the  wounding  of  Reynolds 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  863 

by  a  ricochet  shot,  the  terrible  enfilading  fire  we  were  under, 
and  the  charge  made  by  the  Battery  from  the  rifle  pits 
across  an  open  field  to  a  position  not  over  five  hundred 
yards  from  the  enemy's  position  or  earthworks,  is  my  re 
membrance  of  this  fight." 

NOTES  OF  PRIVATE  WM.  H.  DUNHAM,  MARCH 

29,  1901. 

"On  June  ^d,  1864,  occurred  one  of  the  most  daring 
things  of  the  war,  the  charge  of  the  5th  Mass.  Battery. 
This  was  the  first  instance  ever  known  of  any  battery  mak 
ing  a  charge  unprotected  by  infantry.  The  position  of  the 
rebel  battery  was  such  that  it  was  able  to  annoy  our  infan 
try,  without  receiving  any  check.  General  Griffin  saw  that 
if  a  battery  could  advance  to  a  knoll  within  400  yards  of 
them,  the  advantage  would  then  be  ours.  He  came  to 
Captain  Phillips  and  said,  'Dare  you  take  your  battery 
to  yonder  knoll?' 

Captain    Phillips   answered, — 

T  dare  take  my  men  anywhere.' 

General  Griffin  then  said :  'I  want  a  battery  on  that  knoll, 
but  I  do  not  order  you  there.' 

However,  orders  were  immediately  given  by  Captain 
Phillips. 

I,  as  No.  I,  took  my  sponge  staff  and  bucket,  William 
Carsley  as  No.  2,  a  round  of  ammunition,  and  so  on.  The 
order  was  then  given, — 

'Limber  to  the  front,  double  quick.     March !' 

We  started  in  on  the  yell  under  a  heavy  fire.  The  1411 
New  York  were  in  our  rear,  they  told  us  they  did  not  ex 
pect  to  see  a  man  or  horse  standing. 

As  soon  as  we  came  in  battery,  there  was  rapid  work 
until  the  rebels  were  silenced.  Our  only  casualty  was  the 
loss  of  Comrade  W.  H.  H.  Lapham,  who  was  killed  during 
the  charge  in  the  open  field. 


864  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  next  day,  on  the  spot  which  the  rebels  had  occupied, 
were  found  10  new  graves  marked  4th  Georgia  Battery; 
also,  22  dead  horses,  showing  the  effect  of  our  guns." 

From  John  E.  Dyer's  Notes  of  June  3d,  1864: — 

"Hitched  up  at  daylight  and  went  in  position.  Soon  the 
ball  opened,  and  continued  without  intermission  till  n  a.  m., 
when  General  Griffin  ordered  the  Battery  to  charge  with  the 
infantry.  We  went  in  with  a  yell,  driving  the  Rebs,  and 
came  in  position  a  ^  of  a  mile  in  advance  of  our  breast 
works.  One  of  our  comrades,  W.  H.  H.  Lapham,  was 
killed.  Kept  firing  at  intervals.  The  sharpshooters  kept 
pegging  all  day." 

The  mention  in  Appleton's  Diary  is : — "At  Bethesda 
Church,  Lapham  (of  Quincy)  our  best  dressed  man,  one 
of  the  service  of  the  piece,  was  killed." 

Fired  172  case  shot,  224  Percussion. 

Quarter  Master  Sergeant  Peacock's  memoranda  for 
June  2d  shows,  "2  sponge  staffs  broken  by  a  shell." 

June  4,  1864,  the  supplies  came  up.  The  Battery  re 
mained  all  day  in  position,  and  withdrew  at  night.  The 
Rebs.  attacked  our  Right  Centre  to  gain  the  road,  but  were 
repulsed.  The  Ninth  Corps  moved  to  the  left  at  dark,  and 
Griffin's  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  formed  the  extreme 
Right  of  the  line  crossing  the  Mechanicsville  road  in  front 
of  Bethesda  Church,  and  extending  about  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  from  the  road.  At  9  o'clock  p.  m.  turned  in.  The 
morning  of  Sunday  the  5th  hitched  up  at  daylight,  fed, 
watered,  and  then  unharnessed.  All  that  day  remained 
in  position  near  Bethesda  Church. 

Corporal  Shackley  notes  on  June  5th,  1864: — "A  part 
of  our  company  fund  was  used  to  buy  some  cheese." 

THE    COMPANY    FUND. 

In  a  letter  written  to  Captain  Henry  D.  Scott  by  Serg't. 
William  H.  Peacock  in  Chicago,  Sept.  7,  1900,  he  says :— 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  865 

"In  my  old  book  you  will  notice  some  sums  collected  for 
Company  Fund.  I  think  I  was  the  only  Quarter  Master 
in  the  Battery  that  ever  got  pay  for  the  rations  we  saved 
on,  or  did  not  draw.  From  my  recollection  now  we  were 
unable  to  make  a  fund  after  leaving  Winter  Quarters,  but 
we  had  this  winter  saved  money  to  use  during  the  summer. 

COMPANY  SAVINGS,  1864. 

January    $76.05 

February   167.30 

March   125.87 

April    99.68 


$468.90 

I  think  this  was  the  only  'savings'  by  us  made  during  the 
war.  It  was  used  mostly  while  in  camp  at  Rappahannock 
Station,  yet  a  portion  was  kept  for  the  Grant  campaign." 

Shackley's  Notes  of  June  5,  1864,  resumed: — "About 
sunset  had  orders  to  move.  Just  then  the  Rebs  made  a  vio 
lent  attack  on  our  Left  which  soon  extended  along  the 
whole  line.  We  got  on  the  road  about  10  p.  m.  and  halted 
a  little  after  sunrise,  having  moved  about  four  miles  during 
the  night." 

At  5  p.  m.  hitched  up,  and  at  dark  received  orders  to  fall 
in  behind  the  ist  Division.  The  Fifth  Corps  started  to  go 
to  the  left.  Marched  all  night.  At  daylight  of  the  6th 
passed  Allen's  Mills  and  camped  a  mile  beyond,  about  two 
miles  from  Cold  Harbor. 

In  camp  made  coffee  and  then  lay  down  to  rest.  At  n 
a.  m.  unharnessed.  Remained  in  park  all  day.  The  Second 
Corps  did  some  shelling. 

Among  Dyer's  memoranda  for  this  day,  is  a  mention  of 
Lute  Shaw's  coming  up :  "Got  some  butter  and  pickles  of 
Stephen  Townsend.  Went  to  bed  at  9  p.  m.  The  bands 
all  playing  in  big  style.  June  7th  packed  up  and  hitched 


866  HISTORY    OF    THE 

up  at  2  a.  m.  At  daylight  started  with  the  ist  Division,  and 
after  marching  5  miles  went  into  camp.  The  infantry  went 
into  position,  there  being  no  place  for  artillery.  Our  skir 
mishers  were  put  along  the  Chickahominy  by  Sumner's 
Bridge.  The  Rebs  shelled  us  at  intervals  all  day.  At  dark 
they  threw  a  few  64  pounders." 

Shackley,  June  7th : — "Moved  at  sunrise  and  halted  near 
Despatch  Station.  The  enemy  shelled  us  slowly  all  day  till 
near  midnight,  but  no  great  damage  was  done." 

LETTER  OF   CAPTAIN   PHILLIPS. 

"ON  THE  CHICKAHOMINY  NEAR 

SUMNER'S  LOWER  BRIDGE, 

June  8,  1864. 

.  .  .  Yesterday  Griffin's  and  Cutler's  Divisions  marched 
at  3^  a.  m.  for  this  place.  General  Bartlett's  Brigade  put 
pickets  on  the  Chickahominy  at  Sumner's  Lower  Bridge, 
after  a  little  skirmishing,  and  one  of  Cutler's  Brigades 
gained  possession  of  one  end  of  the  R.  R.  bridge.  While 
doing  it  the  Rebs  fired  at  them  from  a  5  inch  rifled  gun, 
mounted  on  an  iron  clad  R.  R.  car.  I  saw  one  of  the  shells 
at  General  Griffin's  Hd.  Qrs.,  which  weighed  empty  57^ 
pounds.  We  then  went  quietly  into  camp,  and  are  now 
holding  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy.  We  occupy  the 
ground  occupied  by  the  2d  Corps  before  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  and  General  Griffin's  Hd.  Qrs. — close  by  us, — are  in 
a  house  occupied  by  General  Sumner  2  years  ago.  The 
rebels  have  some  guns  across  the  river,  and  occupy  their 
leisure  moments  in  shelling  us.  However,  as  they  cannot 
see  us,  their  shells  are  rather  a  harmless  kind  of  fireworks. 
We  are  very  pleasantly  placed  now  that  we  are  attached  to 
Griffin's  Division.  Griffin  is  a  good  general,  and  has  one  of 
the  best  Divisions  in  the  Army;  acknowledged  to  be  by  all 
odds  the  best  Division  in  this  Corps.  General  Griffin  under- 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  867 

stands  artillery,  and  I  suppose  selected  the  batteries  to  be 
assigned  to  him.  Our  Battery  is  very  well  liked  in  the 
Division,  and  all  the  officers  I  have  seen  seem  well  pleased 
at  having  us  with  them.  I  am  now  Division  Chief  of  Artil 
lery  and  command  3  batteries.  I  have  had  a  captain  as 
signed  to  duty  on  my  staff.  I  would  be  very  willing  to 
yield  my  position  if  Captain  Martin  would  come  back  with 
a  double-breasted  coat  and  take  it,  as  I  hope  he  will. 

June  9,  1864.  P.  S.  I  am  sorry  to  have  to  add  a  list 
of  killed  and  wounded  after  I  finished  yesterday  June  8. 
Killed  Charles  P.  Carling,  Wm.  J.  Sheergold.  Wounded, 
Henry  D.  Crapo  leg,  will  lose  his  leg,  perhaps,  and  life, — 
David  McVey  right  side  severely.  Edward  F.  Smith  neck 
and  chest  severely,  but  not  dangerously.  The  three  last 
are  from  New  Bedford.  P.  Emerson  slightly. 

P.  S.  Henry  D.  Crapo  died  on  reaching  the  hospital." 

From  Phillips'  Diary:  "June  8,  1864.  Carling  and 
Sheergold  were  buried  just  across  the  road.  June  9. 
Buried  Crapo  with  the  other  two  men." 

Notes  of  Corporal  Shackley:  "June  8,  1864.  While 
quietly  eating  our  supper  the  Rebs  run  a  car  on  the  railroad 
out  towards  White  House  Landing,  with  a  piece  of  artillery 
on  the  car,  and  without  coming  in  sight  of  us  fired  three 
shells,  one  of  which  fell  short  of  us,  the  third  passed  beyond 
us,  but  the  second  fell  right  in  our  midst.  (Dyer  says  it  was 
a  ten  pound  Parrott  shell)  and  exploded,  killing  Charles  P. 
Carling,  Wm.  J.  Sheergold,  fatally  wounding  Henry  D. 
Crapo,  and  seriously  wounding  E.  F.  Smith,  David  McVey, 
Mortier  Gale,  Paesiello  Emerson.  The  three  dead  were 
enclosed  in  boxes  and  buried  under  a  large  oak  tree.  Their 
names  were  placed  over  their  graves,  and  all  enclosed  with 
a  simple  fence.  Rev.  Mr.  Sage  of  the  4th  Michigan  Infan 
try  performed  the  funeral  service." 

In  Q.  M.  Serg't.  Peacock's  Account  Book  is  the  following 
entry: — "June  8,  1864.  Make  certificate  for  41  havresacks 


868  HISTORY    OF    THE 

unserviceable,  and  33  canteens  abandoned.  3  shelter  tents 
destroyed  by  bursting  of  shell.  John  G.  Hiller." 

June  loth  received  10  new  horses.  Remained  in  camp 
all  day.  Grained  horses  twice  during  the  day.  The  4th 
Division  Fifth  Corps  moved  down  on  the  left.  Some 
shelling  towards  night.  A  hot  day. 

June  n,  1864.  Aroused  at  5  o'clock.  Fed,  watered, 
grained.  Laid  out  the  camp  in  order  and  pitched  the  tents 
in  line.  String  beans  for  dinner.  The  Fifth  Corps  moved 
by  the  left  flank.  Several  deserters  passed  by  from  the 
rebel  army.  No  picket  firing  between  the  ist  Division  and 
rebel  pickets.  Dyer  slept  on  a  bed  of  magnolias.  At  dark 
of  June  1 2th  the  Division  moved  to  Petersburg  in  the  fol 
lowing  order: — 2d  Brigade,  ist  Brigade,  Battery  D,  ist 
N.  Y.  Art'y;  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S.  Art'y;  Battery  E,  Mass. 
Art'y,  3d  Brigade. 

Marched  until  2  a.  m.  of  the  I3th  and  halted  till  sunrise. 
Crossed  the  Chickahominy  on  two  bridges,  one  of  four 
boats  and  one  of  two  boats,  and  moved  forward  about  three 
miles.  Went  into  park  in  the  rear  of  White  Oak  Swamp 
Bridge  where  there  was  cavalry  fighting  to  retain  posses 
sion  of  the  road.  Later,  about  dark,  came  in  sight  of  the 
James  River  with  its  gunboats  and  transports.  June  I4th, 
1864.  Marched  at  5  a.  m.  for  Charles  City  C.  H.,  and 
arrived  there  about  7  o'clock.  Halted  till  noon,  and  then 
marched  up  the  road  two  miles.  Marched  past  Grant's  and 
Meade's  Head  Quarters.  Reached  Wilcox's  Landing  at  3 
p.  m.,  and  went  into  position.  The  left  of  the  ist  Division 
rested  on  the  James  River,  the  right  on  the  road. 

Phillips  in  his  Diary  of  June  I4th  says : — "Placed  Blake 
on  the  road,  Stewart  a  little  to  the  left."  Were  placed  in 
position  to  guard  the  crossing  of  the  James  for  the  rest 
of  the  Army. 


PETERSBURG. 


/.  First  position  of  the  5^-Mass.  Battery  June  / 7™-  2. Headquarters  of 
General  Warren.  3. Low  ground.    4.  High  Ground.   5. Place  where,  the. 
5f* Mass. Battery  cam -ped  from  June  Z4*77  fo   July  30™    6.  The  p7 ace. 
where   the  e-nemy'3  fortifications    were  destroyed     by   fhe 
mine   oj  July  30™ 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE  BATTLE   OF   PETERSBURG. 

JUNE  18,  1864. 

"Over  the  camp-fires 
Drank  I  with  heroes. 
Up  to  the  star-roof 
Rang  out  their  song." 

— Ballads,   CHARLES    KINGSLEY, 

"It  is  the  signal  that  demands  dispatch." 

—YOUNG,  On  the  Value  of  Time  to  a  Man. 

At  Petersburg  the  enemy's  lines  consisted  of  redans  occu 
pying  commanding  positions,  with  rifle  pits  connecting 
them,  and  ditches  in  front  of  them.  To  the  east  side  from 
the  Appomattox  the  intrenched  lines  extended  a  mile,  to 
the  City  Point  railroad;  another  line  south  three  miles 
to  a  point  a  mile  west  of  the  Weldon  railroad,  and  from  the 
Norfolk  railroad  west  to  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  a  mile 
and  a  half.  The  country  surrounding  the  city  was  uneven, 
and  extremely  difficult  ground  for  assaulting  columns. 

At  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  June  I5th  General  W.  F. 
Smith  with  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  had  captured  five  of  the 
enemy's  redans,  and  the  morning  of.  the  i6th  Hancock  with 
the  Second  Corps  captured  one.  In  the  afternoon  he  took 
possession  of  one  more,  to  their  right,  and  two  to  their  left; 
all  having  guns  in  them. 

On  the  1 7th  of  June,  1864,  the  remainder  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  had  crossed  the  James  River,  and  advanced 
upon  Petersburg;  the  Fifth  Corps  on  the  left  of  the  Ninth 
Corps/ 

Some  of  the  intrenchments  defending  the  enemy's  interior 


870  HISTORY    OF    THE 

lines,  which  had  been  captured  by  our  forces,  had  been 
retaken  by  a  charge  from  the  Confederates,  when  an  order 
was  issued  by  General  Meade,  for  an  assault  at  4  a.  m.  of  the 
i8th  by  the  Second,  Fifth,  and  Ninth  Corps.  Brigadier 
General  Lysander  Cutler,  with  the  4th  Division  of  the  Fifth 
Corps,  was  sent  to  the  extreme  left,  with  orders  to  intrench. 
The  3d  Division  under  General  Crawford,  formed  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  left  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  while  the  remainder 
of  the  Corps  was  held  in  reserve.  General  Butler,  at  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  was  reinforced  from  the  Sixth  Corps  and 
troops  from  the  same  corps  were  sent  to  the  Eighteenth. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i8th  it  was  found  that  the  Con 
federates  had  fallen  back  to  a  line  of  intrenchments,  still 
nearer  Petersburg,  scarcely  a  mile  from  the  city.  General 
D.  B.  Birney  with  the  Second  Corps  was  only  300  yards  from 
this  new  line.  The  Ninth  Corps,  while  covering  the  distance 
of  a  mile  which  they  had  to  go,  met  a  force  of  the  enemy 
at  a  ravine  near  a  cut  on  the  Norfolk  Railroad,  over  which 
the  enemy  had  control  by  holding  the  northern  end.  The 
Fifth  Corps  also  advanced  over  a  greater  distance  broken  by 
deep  ravines,  and  thf  same  cut  in  the  railroad.  The  assault 
was  postponed  to  12  o'clock  noon,  in  consideration  of  these 
obstructions  to  a  swift  advancement,  and  the  order  was 
carried  out  by  General  Birney  with  one  Division  of  the 
Second  Corps  which  was  nearest  to  the  enemy,  and  which 
was  repulsed,  with  great  loss. 

Then  the  order  was  given  for  all  the  corps  to  assault, 
and  the  Second  Corps  was  again  driven  back,  but  the  Ninth 
Corps  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the  railroad  cut,  and  began 
intrenchments  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  main 
line. 

The  Fifth  Corps,  exposed  to  a  raking  fire  from  the  enemy, 
passed  over  every  obstacle  in  the  way,  and  approached  to 
within  20  feet  of  the  enemv's  works  which  had  onlv  held  a 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  871 

few  troops  until  their  commander  Beauregard  had  been  re 
inforced  by  Lee's  Army. 

The  men  of  ours  who  were  in  advance,  were  the  ist  and 
2ct  Brigades  of  the  ist  Division,  and  Colonel  Joshua  L. 
Chamberlain,  then  in  command  of  the  ist  Brigade,  fell, 
desperately  wounded,  and  was  promoted  by  General  Grant 
on  the  field. 

General  Grant  in  his  reference  to  this  in  his  Memoirs, 
says : — 

"He  had  several  times  been  recommended  for  a  brigadier-generalcy 
for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct.  On  this  occasion,  however,  I  pro 
moted  him  on  the  spot,  and  forwarded  a  copy  of  my  order  to  the  War 
Department  asking  that  my  act  might  be  confirmed  and  Chamberlain's 
name  sent  to  the  Senate  for  confirmation  without  delay." 

General  Cutler  with  the  4th  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps 
secured  a  redoubt  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned,  and 
brought  his  left  up  into  line  with  the  other  corps. 

The  result  of  the  three  days'  operations  was  the  capture 
of  two  lines  of  intrenchments,  four  guns,  four  colors,  and 
about  500  prisoners. 

LIEUT.  GEN'L  GRANT  TO  MAJ.  GEN'L  MEADE. 

CITY  POINT,  VA. 
June  1 8,  1864. 

10  p.  m. 
MAJOR  GENERAL  MEADE: 

I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that  all  has  been  done  that  could  be  done, 
and  that  the  assaults  today  were  called  for  by  all  the  appearances  and 
information  that  could  be  obtained.  Now  we  will  rest  the  men,  and  use 
the  spade  for  their  protection  until  a  new  vein  can  be  struck.  .  .  . 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Lieutenant  General. 

It  was  thus  determined  to  settle  down  for  a  siege  of 
Petersburg  in  the  same  manner  as  the  investiture  of  York- 
town  was  carried  on,  with  long  lines  of  breastworks,  mortar 
batteries,  redoubts  and  field  works  of  every  kind,  the  bomb 
proof,  the  covered  way,  the  countermine  and  a  mine  the 


«72  HISTORY    OF    THE 

story  of  the  explosion  of  which  has  been,  like  a  famous 
shot,  "heard  round  the  world." 

The  engineers  called  it  the  "Investment  of  Petersburg"  as 
it  was  not  strictly  speaking  a  siege  any  more  than  the  invest 
ment  of  Yorktown  was  a  siege,  but  General  Grant,  while 
carefully  explaining  the  distinction,  invests  the  movement 
with  the  title  by  courtesy,  and  constantly  refers  to  it  as  the 
"Siege  of  Petersburg." 

When  the  siege  commenced  the  Ninth  Corps  was  placed 
upon  the  right,  the  Fifth  next,  the  Second  next,  and  then 
the  Sixth  Corps. 

In  order  to  completely  encircle  Petersburg  it  was  neces 
sary  that  the  Weldon  and  the  Lynchburg  railroads  should 
be  controlled  by  the  Union  forces.  The  Sixth  Corps  was 
ordered  to  perform  that  duty,  and  the  Second  and  Fifth 
Corps  being  in  line,  the  left  of  the  Second  Corps  was  ex 
pected  to  swing  around  and  connect  with  the  Sixth  Corps, 
but  delay  was  caused  by  a  change  of  orders,  and  the  rebels 
taking  advantage  of  the  space  between,  prevented  the  com 
pletion  of  the  circuit  and  frustrated  the  attempt  of  the  Sixth 
Corps  to  take  possession  of  the  Weldon  railroad.  So  the 
Sixth  Corps  intrenched  themselves  facing  the  railroad  and 
watched  it;  the  corps  pickets  being  stationed  on  the  railroad 
itself. 

In  the  direct  front  of  Petersburg  were  pressed  the  Fifth 
and  Ninth  Corps  clear  up  to  the  Confederate  works.  Then 
and  there  was  the  Fifth  Corps  again  reorganized.  It  was 
still  to  be  commanded  by  "General  G.  K.  Warren  and  the  ist 
Division  was  still  to  be  commanded  by  General  Charles 
Griffin,  but  there  were  important  changes  in  the  Divisions, 
and  several  additions  were  made  to  the  Artillery  Brigade 
with  Colonel  Charles  S.  Wainwright  still  in  command.  It 
consisted  of  13  batteries,  all  light;  2  regular,  and  the  re 
mainder  from  New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  Pennsylvania. 
The  Third  Mass.  Battery  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Aaron 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  873 

F.  Walcott,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  by  Lieut.  J.  E.  Spear, 
the  Ninth  Mass.  Battery  by  Captain  John  Bigelow. 


The  Fourth  of  July,  1864,  was  celebrated  by  the  playing 
of  the  bands  and  the  firing  of  salutes.  At  night  the  first 
ground  was  broken  by  the  pioneers  of  the  ist  Brigade  for 
the  work  afterwards  known  as  Fort  Sedgwick  and  called 
by  the  men  'Tort  Hell"  on  account  of  the  continual  burst 
ing  of  the  enemy's  shells  within  the  enclosure.  It  was  built 
under  the  supervision  of  an  engineer  officer;  the  execution 
of  the  work  being  under  a  field  officer  detailed  daily  for  this 
purpose.  The  working  parties  consisted  of  three  hundred 
or  four  hundred  men  who  practically  completed  it  in  about 
three  weeks.  It  consisted  of  a  large  redan,  a  portion  of 
fortification  included  in  a  single  salient  angle,  with  another 
smaller  redan  at  its  right,  connected  by  curtains  with  front 
and  flanking  ditches;  the  larger  had  eighteen  embrasures, 
the  smaller  four.  It  was  connected  with  the  rear  by  a  zig 
zag  covered  way,  and  had  bombproofs  and  traverses, — 
masses  of  earth  thrown  up  at  short  distances  to  screen  the 
troops  from  shot  and  shells  fired  in  ricochet, — to  complete 
the  work. 

Orders  were  given  on  the  Qth  of  July  to  the  Fifth  and 
Ninth  Corps,  to  conduct  regular  siege  operations  under  di 
rection  of  the  chief  of  engineers  and  the  chief  of  artillery 
for  the  Army.  The  Rebel  and  Union  lines  were  here  but 
about  100  yards  apart,  the  pickets  but  fifty  yards,  but  our 
men  walked  behind  the  breastworks  in  perfect  safety. 

On  the  night  of  July  I3th  the  number  of  batteries  of 
light  artillerv  was  increased  on  the  line  near  the  Jerusalem 
Plank  Road,  to  which  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  marched  on 
the  2 ist  of  June.  The  lines  of  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps 
had  been  destroyed,  and  our  lines  made  shorter.  The  siege 
of  Petersburg  was  actively  begun.  Working  parties  of  the 
Fifth  Corps  were  building  two  strong  redoubts,  defensible 


874  HISTORY    OF    THE 

on  all  sides,  on  the  line  running  south  on  the  Jerusalem 
Plank  Road.  One  of  these  was  the  aforementioned  Fort 
Sedgwick,  the  other  Fort  Davis.  They  were  about  a  half- 
mile  apart.  The  batteries  furnished  many  working  parties. 
As  time  passed  many  covered  ways  were  constructed  for  the 
use  of  our  trains,  six  feet  deep,  12  feet  wide  with  a  barricade 
of  logs  four  feet  high  and  four  feet  thick.  From  our  forts 
we  could  see  the  effect  in  the  city  of  the  bombs  thrown  by 
our  mortars  and  hear  the  ringing  of  the  fire  alarm  bells. 

THE   MINE. 

The  design  of  undermining  a  confederate  fort  known  as 
"Elliott's  Salient"  in  front  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  originated 
with  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  a  regiment  composed  of  miners, 
the  48th  Pennsylvania,  of  the  name  of  Henry  Pleasants. 
He  was  encouraged  to  undertake  it,  and  an  assault  was 
ordered  to  follow  the  explosion  of  the  mine  which  was  set 
for  the  30th  of  July.  It  was  ready  to  be  charged  on  the  23rd 
and  several  eight  and  ten  inch  siege  guns  had  been  placed 
so  as  to  secure  a  cross-fire  and  keep  down  their  flank  fire. 
On  the  night  of  the  29th,  the  day  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
was  placed  in  Battery  Number  Eight,  the  troops  were  at 
work  all  night  getting  ready  for  the  bombardment.  Gen 
eral  Warren's  orders  were  to  concentrate  his  troops  on  his 
right  and  prepare  to  support  the  assault  of  Burnside  and 
the  Ninth  Corps.  Pioneers  and  intrenching  tools  were  to 
be  ready  to  follow  up  the  advantage  gained.  The  artillery 
was  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  move,  with  pontoons  at  hand 
for  crossing  the  Appomattox  River,  with  good  supplies  of 
fascines, — bundles  of  long  twigs, — to  make  firm  footing 
on  marshy  ground.  The  ist  Division  under  command  of 
General  J.  J.  Bartlett,  in  the  absence  of  General  Griffin  at 
home  sick,  was  to  hold  the  intrenchments  in  front,  and  keep 
up  a  continuous  fire  of  musketry.  The  gallery  to  the  mine 
was  over  500  feet  long,  with  a  cross  gallery  of  over  80  feet. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  875 

There  were  8  chambers,  requiring  a  tun  of  powder  each  to 
charge  them. 

The  mine  was  to  explode  at  break  of  day,  but  the  fuze 
was  wet  by  water  from  the  bed  of  a  small  creek,  unde~ 
which  the  gallery  was  built,  and  it  did  not  go  off  till  it  was 
broad  daylight. 

The  explosion  was  eminently  successful,  throwing  every 
thing  within  reach  of  the  blast  high  into  the  air,  and  open 
ing  a  space  in  the  ground  about  150  feet  long,  60  feet  wide, 
and  25  feet  deep.  Following  the  explosion  no  cannon  and 
50  mortars  went  off  at  the  right  and  left  of  the  position 
wrhich  the  infantry  were  to  cross.  The  surprise  was  mostly 
on  the  Confederate  side  but  the  effect  of  the  shot  was  shared 
by  the  attacking  party,  for  the  assault  did  not  take  place  as 
ordered,  nor  was  the  crest  of  the  hill  commanding  the 
city  of  Petersburg  seized,  but  some  rifle  pits  were  taken  by 
our  troops  before  the  enemy  got  his  guns  planted  in  a  posi 
tion  to  rake  the  ground  over  which  our  men  had  to  pass. 
They  were  afterwards  retaken  notwithstanding  the  heavy 
fire  of  our  batteries,  for  after  our  first  attacking  party  our 
infantry  refused  to  advance.  For  various  reasons  relating 
to  the  orders  given  and  to  the  difficulty  of  carrying  them 
out,  time  enough  was  lost  to  enable  the  Confederates  to 
train  their  guns  on  the  pit,  which  made  an  advance  impos 
sible.  The  moment  for  successful  action  was  that  imme 
diately  following  the  blast  and  with  the  loss  of  that  moment 
the  entire  plan  failed. 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY 
LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  ON  THE  JAMES  RIVER, 

2   MILES  ABOVE  CHARLES   ClTY     C.    H. 

June  15,  1864. 
.  .  .  Our  Battery  is  on  the  road  from  C.  C.  C.  H.  to 


876  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Har.  Ldg.  Part  of  the  Army  is  over  the  river,  and  I  sup 
pose  the  whole  will  cross.  General  Meade's  Hd.  Qrs.  are 
between  us  and  the  Court  House.  As  we  passed  them 
yesterday  I  counted  33  tents  in  the  front  row,  which  does  not 
look  as  if  our  generals  were  reducing  their  baggage  to  the 
famous  tooth-brush  we  hear  so  much  of  in  the  Vicksburg 
campaign.  ...  I  hear  indirectly  that  Lieut.  Appleton's 
wounds  are  turning  out  worse  than  was  expected. 

Rifle  pits  are  dug  all  along  our  front,  and  I  do  not  think 
there  is  much  chance  of  the  rebels  coming  down  here  to 
attack  us.  Grant  has  an  interesting  way  of  putting  the  bag 
gage  wagons  about  20  miles  in  the  rear  and  keeping  them 
there.  I  have  seen  my  valise  once  since  the  6th  of  May." 


Dyer's  Notes:  uJune  *5>  1864,  we  were  still  in  position. 
The  team  went  to  Harrison's  Landing  after  forage.  Several 
gunboats  passed  up  and  down  the  river.  General  Ewell's 
Corps  made  great  preparations  to  receive  us  at  Malvern 
Hill,  but  was  mistaken  in  our  destination.  A  splendid  day. 
June  1 6th.  Aroused  at  i^  o'clock.  Broke  camp  at 
2^.  Marched  down  the  bank  of  the  river  6  miles,  crossed  it, 
and  went  in  park  6  miles  beyond.  At  9  a.  m.  left  camp, 
marched  till  9  p.  m.,  and  went  in  park  for  one  hour.  Got 
supper,  then  marched  to  near  Petersburg,  and  went  into 
camp  at  10  p.  m.  Found  the  9th  and  2d  and  i8th  Corps  en 
gaged  with  the  enemy." 

Shackley's  Notes:  "June  J6,  1864.  Moved  at  daylight, 
crossed  the  James  River  at  Powhattan  Point,  over  a  pon 
toon  bridge  (made  of  101  pontoons)  and  marched  towards 
Petersburg,  coming  near  that  place  a  little  past  midnight." 
They  crossed  with  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  landed  on  the 
Point  opposite  Fort  Powjiattan,  not  far  below  Windmill 
Point.  Roads  very  dusty.  Serg't.  Peacock's  account  book 
has  the  entry  June  i6th:  "i  caisson  stock  broken  by  turn 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  877 

over  the  carriage.     Ordnance  lost  in  Battle;  spurs,  straps, 
and  belts." 

"On  the  1 7th  (Dyer)  turned  out  at  5^  o'clock.  The  men 
fed  and  watered  the  horses,  and  then  went  to  sleep  again. 
In  the  afternoon  and  evening  heavy  firing  was  heard  in 
our  front  and  on  our  left,  which  we  afterwards  learned 
was  the  Ninth  Corps  taking  the  rebel  pits.  As  we  turned 
in,  orders  came  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice, 
it  was  presumed  to  assault  the  works.  A  hot  day.  At 
night  the  rebels  abandoned  their  lines,  and  fell  back  about 
a  mile.  The  Second  Corps  had  captured  17  pieces  of  artil 
lery." 

THE   ASSAULT. 

June  1 8,  1864,  at  daylight  Griffin's  First  Division 
marched  from  Windmill  Point  to  the  front,  and  carried  the 
Norfolk  and  Petersburg  Railroad.  The  three  light  batteries 
attached  to  the  Division  advanced  in  an  open  field  and  si 
lenced  the  rebel  guns.  Earthworks  had  been  thrown  up  for 
the  guns  at  500  yards  from  the  enemy.  Shot  and  shell 
were  fired.  The  Battery  was  under  heavy  artillery  fire  all 
the  afternoon. 

Private  Benjamin  S.  Kanuse  of  New  Bedford,  was  killed 
by  a  shell,  and  about  5  o'clock  p.  m.  Lieut.  Peleg  W.  Blake 
was  killed  by  a  rifle  shot.  Private  Alexander  N.  Atwood 
of  Fairhaven,  Joseph  L.  Knox  of  Boston,  and  John  G. 
Hiller  of  Marblehead,  were  wounded. 

The  Report  of  the  Adjutant  General  of  Massachusetts 
for  1864,  has  the  following  in  relation  to  the  action  of  the 
Battery  in  this  assault : 

"Heavily  engaged  in  front  of  Petersburg.  The  batteries  of  Grif 
fin's  Division  as  at  Bethesda  Church,  advanced  'by  battery/  and  engaged 
the  Rebel  batteries  in  their  works.  We  lost  quite  heavily,  our  greatest 
loss  being  in  the  death  of  First  Lieutenant  Peleg  W.  Blake,  a  brave  and 
efficient  officer,  who  was  instantly  killed  by  a  rifle-shot  late  in  the  after 
noon." 


878  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Dyer's  Notes: — "June  J8,  1864.  Hitched  up  at  5  o'clock. 
Advanced  with  the  ist  Division  about  \\  miles,  when  the 
Rebs  opened  upon  us.  Went  in  position  under  a  terrible 
fire.  Soon  advanced,  and  within  an  hour  we  advanced  3 
times.  Having  gained  the  Norfolk  and  Petersburg  railroad 
we  established  our  lines.  We  lost  Lieut.  Peleg  Blake  and 
Benjamin  Kanuse  killed.  Joseph  Knox  badly  wounded. 
Alex.  Atwood,  Henry  Fitzsimmons  and  Atkins  slightly 
wounded." 

FROM  "THE    CANNONEER,"  BY    AUGUSTUS 
BUELL, 

Historian  of  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S.  Lieut.  James  Stewart 
commanding,  attached  to  the  ist  Division,  Fifth  Corps: — 

"During  the  night  (of  June  I7th)  General  Griffin  got  his  batteries 
up  into  the  Norfolk  Railroad  cut,  which  at  that  point  curved  to  the 
north,  and  ours  was  disposed  so  that  we  could  rake  the  cut  for  a  con 
siderable  distance.  Richardson's  took  position  to  our  right,  and  near 
the  Avery  house,  while  Phillips  came  up  on  the  left.  This  position  was 
about  600  yards  from  the  enemy's  main  works  at  that  point.  Thest 
were  new  works  in  a  second  line,  and  the  outer  intrenchments  that  he 
had  abandoned  on  the  day  before,  ran  along  near  our  position.  As  far 
as  we  could  see  to  the  right  were  long  lines  of  infantry  toward  the 
works.  The  ground  was  much  broken,  and  as  the  lines  conformed  to 
the  ground,  it  had  the  appearance  of  great  waves  of  men. 

In  our  front  the  infantry  had  farther  to  go  than  those  to  the  right  of 
us,  but  we  were  too  busy  to  see  much  of  it. 

As  both  our  guns  and  the  Rebel  works  were  on  the  highest  ground, 
we  could  easily  fire  over  the  heads  of  our  infantry  until  they  got  pretty 
close  up.  The  Rebel  infantry  in  the  works  reserved  their  fire,  and  only 
a  few  guns  that  they  had  back  of  their  trenches  replied  to  us  slowly; 
but  we  fired  very  fast,  and  our  practice  was  the  best  in  our  history. 
Our  work  here  was  literally  that  of  an  artillery  skirmish  line,  as  we  first 
onened  the  assault,  and  then  covered  the  retreat  of  the  infantry  when 
repulsed.  Nearly  every  shot  grazed  their  works,  and  we  knocked  off  a 
good  many  of  their  head  logs.  But  the  ammunition  was  some  that  we 
had  got  out  of  the  barges  at  Windmill  Point  and  .  .  .  not  more  than 
half  of  our  case  exploded,  though  the  common  shell  did  better.  How 
ever,  our  three  batteries  soon  silenced  the  guns  the  enemy  had  in  his 
works.  The  practice  of  Phillips'  Battery, — three  inch  rifles, — was 
superb  on  this  occasion.  Twice  in  succession  he  hit  their  guns  plum 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  879 

centre,  by  firing  into  the  embrasures,  and  the  way  his  percussion  shell 
made  the  sand  bags  fly  was  a  caution.  Of  course  our  smoothbores 
could  not  compete  with  Phillips's  rifles,  but  we  kept  our  little  end  up 
somehow.  As  they  had  made  these  works  hastily,  and  there  was  little 
or  no  brush  in  the  neighborhood,  they  were  not  much  abatised ;  but  the 
infantry  said  the  ditches  were  unusually  wide  and  deep.  The  last  shot 
we  fired  could  not  have  cleared  Bartlett's  men's  heads  by  more  than  20 
feet,  if  that,  which  is  pretty  risky  practice  with  smoothbore  guns.  We 
remained  silent  here  for  nearly  an  hour,  when  the  infantry  having  been 
repulsed  and  taken  cover  in  the  ravine  and  the  low  ground  in  our  front, 
we  commenced  a  slow  cannonade  which  we  kept  up  till  near  dark.  The 
infantry  meanwhile  straightened  out  the  old  rebel  works,  refaced  them, 
and  by  midnight  were  securely  established  in  the  lines  which  we  held 
at  that  point  during  the  whole  siege  that  followed. 

We  were  withdrawn  after  dark  behind  the  railroad,  and  the  siege  of 
Petersburg  was  begun. 

Caotain  Stewart  writes  me  concerning  the  operations  of  the  i8th  of 
June  as  follows  : — 

'When  the  Corps  reached  Petersburg  the  morning  of  the  i8th  of 
June,  General  Griffin  came  to  me  and  told  me  that  he  wanted  me  to 
move  my  battery  forward,  and  that  he  would  cover  my  advance  by  the 
other  two  batteries.  After  moving  a  certain  distance,  and  Phillips  and 
Richardson  having  joined  me,  I  was  directed  to  move  forward  again, 
the  General  pointing  out  the  place  where  he  wished  me  to  form  the  line 
of  batteries,  but  when  I  reached  the  place  I  found  there  was  no  protec 
tion  for  either  men  or  horses,  but  that  there  was  a  good  position  about 
200  yards  in  advance  of  it.  I  moved  forward  to  that  point,  the  other 
batteries  coming  up  on  my  left.  You  will  recollect  the  place.  It  was 
in  the  front  and  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  Avery  house,  where  General 
Warren  had  his  headquarters.  The  enemy  had  substantial  works  in  our 
front  with  embrasures  for  their  guns.  While  advancing  to  our  posi 
tion,  the  enemy  opened  upon  us  with  a  very  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and 
infantry,  but  our  artillery  fire  was  so  very  effective,  that  they  closed  up 
their  embrasures  with  bags  of  sand  and  withdrew  their  guns.  I  do  not 
remember  how  many  men  I  lost  that  day,  but  it  was  not  many.  Cap 
tain  Phillips's  Battery  lost  pretty  heavily,  his  First  Lieut,  being  killed. 
Phillips  was  one  of  the  best  artillery  officers  I  ever  met;  a  thorough 
gentleman,  and  an  officer  who  always  looked  out  for  the  best  interests 
of  his  men.  After  that  attack  of  June  i8th  it  was  quite  a  common  say 
ing  that  the  batteries  assigned  to  Griffin's  Division  were  always  used  as 
skirmishers,  and  such  was  the  fact.' 

THE  FORTIFICATIONS. 

At  first  the  guns  of  the  light  batteries  were  mounted  in  the  redoubts, 
but  as  soon  as  the  siege  trains  came  up  our  guns  were  gradually  replaced 
by  the  20-pounder  Parrotts  and  four-and-a-half  inch  Rodmans. 


S80  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Meantime  the  caissons  were  parked,  and  a  caisson  camp  established 
some  distance  back  from  the  main  lines,  which  at  this  point  were  only 
a  few  hundred  feet  apart.  It  was  in  the  edge  of  a  grove,  on  high,  dry 
ground,  where  there  was  a  good  shade.  Our  left  flank  rested  on  the 
bank  of  a  little  ravine,  formed  by  one  of  the  headwater  brooks  of  the 
Blackwater,  and  in  our  rear  at  some  distance,  was  the  'fresh  beef  cor 
ral,'  or  herding  ground  of  the  Fifth  Corps. 

The  artillery  furnished  gun  crews  for  their  own  guns  or  the  siege 
pieces  in  position,  or  helped  to  strengthen  the  redoubts.  This  work 
was  always  done  at  night  ...  to  see  their  rifles  flash  in  the  darkness 
a  few  hundred  feet  away,  was  the  most  trying  thing  I  had  ever  expe 
rienced.  .  .  .  This  work  of  log  cutting  and  digging  was  done  between 
June  i8th  and  July  I5th.  The  Fifth1  and  Ninth  Corps  held  the  line, 
from  the  Appomattox  on  the  right,  beginning  with  Fort  McGilvery,  to 
the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  on  the  left,  a  distance  of  over  four  miles, 
our  Fifth  Corps  resting  its  left  flank  on  the  heavy  redoubt  known  after 
wards  as  Fort  Davis,  in  front  of  the  Cheever  house,  and  its  right  join 
ing  the  left  of  the  Ninth  at  the  Suffolk  Road. 

Fort  Rice  was  half  way  between  the  Avery  house  and  Fort  Sedg- 
wick.  ...  It  was  then  the  nearest  point  to  the  Rebel  main  line  on  the 
Fifth  Corps  front,  though  the  Ninth  Corps  line  at  Fort  Morton  was 
still  closer.  .  .  .  These  earthworks  finally  formed  one  continuous  forti 
fication  from  Fort  McGilvery  on  our  extreme  right  at  the  Appomattox 
River  round  to  Fort  Fisher  on  our  extreme  left,  between  n  and  12 
miles  long,  or  perhaps  15  miles,  measuring  along  the  top  of  the  parapet, 
besides  heavy  reverse  works  to  our  rear,  extending  from  the  Blackwater 
Creek  round  to  the  Weldon  Railroad  at  Globe  Tavern,  a  distance  of 
seven  or  eight  miles ;  thence  south  a  mile  and  a  half  to  Fort  Dushane, 
covering  that  portion  of  the  Weldon  Railroad  which  we  used  as  an 
adjunct  to  our  'military  railway,'  and  thence  westward  from  Fort 
Dushane  to  Armstrong's  mill,  near  the  Vaughan  Road  Bridge,  across 
Hatcher's  Run,  a  distance  of  about  8  miles  more, — in  other  words,  32 
to  35  miles  of  earthworks  that  it  would  be  absurd  to  call  mere  'field 
entrenchments,'  but  which  were  on  the  whole  regular  fortifications,  quite 
equal  to  those  I  have  since  seen  in  Europe  at  places  on  the  Franco- 
German  and  German-Russian  frontiers,  which  their  engineers  consid 
ered  permanent  strongholds.  .  .  . 

THE  ARTILLERY  BRIGADE. 

« 

Up  to  this  time  the  batteries  of  the  Corps  had  been  distributed  among 
the  Divisions ;  ours,  Phillips's  and  Richardson's,  having  been  with  Grif 
fin  since  about  the  last  of  May.  But  as  soon  as  the  siege  operations 
began,  the  Artillery  Brigade  was  massed  together  again,  and  put  into 
camp.  .  .  The  Norfolk  Railroad  cut  was  the  key  of  the  position  in 
our  front  when  the  assault  was  made.  It  is  the  cut  by  which  that  road 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  881 

gets  through  the  ridge  on  which  the  Avery  house  stands;  this  little 
ridge  forming  the  watershed  between  the  brook  that  forms  the  head  of 
the  Black  water  flowing  eastward,  and  a  small  creek  that  heads  just 
south  of  the  old  Blackwater  Road,  and  flows  northward,  emptying  into 
the  Appomattox  just  in  front  of  Fort  McGilvery,  its  entire  course 
being  between  the  two  lines  and  its  sloping  banks  forming  the 
elevations  from  which  the  two  sets  of  earthworks  frowned  at  each 
other  during  the  rest  of  the  war. 

This  cut  is  about  one-third  of  a  mile  long,  its  deepest  part  being 
directly  in  front  of  the  Avery  house,  and  not  more  than  200  yards  dis 
tant  from  it,  at  which  point  it  may  be  30  to  35  feet  deep  perpendicularly. 

It  was  in  this  cut  that  Griffin  massed  his  Division  for  the  last  assault 
about  4  o'clock  p.  m.  June  i8th,  and  from  the  southeast  end  of  it  our 
battery,  with  Richardson's  and  Phillips'  debouched  on  to  the  knoll 
above  to  fire  over  the  heads  of  our  charging  infantry.  Our  line  of 
works  curved  round  the  head  of  the  little  brook  flowing  into  the  Appo 
mattox,  and  then  crossed  the  cut  at  a  point  about  due  west  from  the 
Avery  house." 

Corporal  Shackley's  Notes: — "June  18,  1864,  went  into 
line  about  8  a.  m.  ...  Fired  375  rounds." 

FROM     THE    REPORT   OF   CAPTAIN     PHILLIPS. 

To  Lieut.  Fordham  Morris  A.  A.  A.  G.  Art'y  Brigade 
5th  A.  C.  August  6,  1864. 

"FIFTH   EPOCH. 

The  Battery  was  first  engaged  on  the  i8th  of  June  in 
front  of  Petersburg.  Griffin's  Division  having  been  or 
dered  to  advance,  Sweitzer's  Brigade  was  placed  on  the 
right  of  the  road  crossing  the  Norfolk  and  Petersburg 
R.  R.  and  advanced  across  the  railroad.  The  batteries  of 
the  Division  were  placed  on  the  left  of  the  road,  my  own 
being  the  right  battery,  and  advanced  'by  battery'  evenly 
with  Sweitzer's  Brigade.  After  advancing  about  400  yards 
we  reached  the  crest  of  the  ravine,  and  remained  there  the 
rest  of  the  day.  During  our  advance  we  were  constantly 
engaged  with  the  rebel  batteries,  but  suffered  very  little 
as  their  fire  was  uniformly  high,  and  our  constant  change  of 


882  HISTORY    OF    THE 

position  prevented  them  from  getting  the  range.  After 
reaching  our  final  position  we  were  much  annoyed  by  mus 
ketry  fire,  and  about  4  p.  m.  ist  Lieut.  Peleg  W.  Blake  was 
killed  by  a  rifle  shot.  Casualties:  i  officer  killed,  4  men 
killed,  four  wounded." 

In  another  portion  of  this  report  he  says  of  Blake  and 
Spear: — "In  his  (Blake's)  death  we  have  lost  one  of  the 
best  officers  in  the  service.  After  his  death  the  Battery  was 
commanded  by  Lieut.  J.  E.  Spear,  who  filled  the  position 
ably,  and  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  The  enlisted  men, 
without  exception,  behaved  admirably,  showing  bravery  and 
coolness  in  action,  and  a  patient  endurance  of  the  hardships 
of  the  campaign." 

In  a  letter  dated  Camp  before  Petersburg,  June  25,  1864, 
Captain  Phillips  says : — 'The  death  of  Lieut.  Blake  on  the 
1 8th  was  the  saddest  event  we  have  had  happen  in  the 
battery,  and  the  greatest  loss  we  have  ever  had.  The  body 
has  been  embalmed  and  sent  home."  .  .  . 

NOTES  OF  CAPTAIN  NATHAN  APPLETON. 
MAY  n,  1901. 

"I  write  this  at  the  Fort  Monroe  Club,  and  the  light 
comes  through  an  embrasure,  where  doubtless  years  ago 
there  was  a,  for  the  time,  big  gam,  but  now  a  small  glass 
window. 

I  have  referred  in  my  recollections  of  the  first  day  of 
Spottsylvania,  to  the  32d  Mass.  Regt.  Infantry  and  having 
made  the  acquaintance  of  its  commander  Colonel  George  L. 
Prescott.  He  was  killed  at  the  first  attack  on  Petersburg, 
June  1 8,  1864,  the  very  day  that  Lieut.  Peleg  W.  Blake,  my 
old  comrade,  was  killed.  I  have  seen  Colonel  Prescott'^: 
grave  at  Concord,  Mass.,  and  have  often  thought  of  him 
in  connection  with  his  namesake  who  commanded  the  Yan 
kee  troops  at  Bunker  Hill,  both  of  them  of  the  same  true 
American  type.  I  have  met  a  veteran  of  the  320!  Mass. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  883 

who  has  given  me  the  details  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Pres- 
cott.  He  was  just  mounting  up  the  side  of  the  railroad  cut 
when  he  was  shot,  as  also  the  color-bearer  of  the  regiment 
whose  place  was  at  once  taken  by  this  soldier  whose  name 
is  Henry  K.  Ellis,  a  resident  of  Middleboro',  Mass. 

It  was  not  until  Grant  secured  the  Danville  and  also  the 
Southside  railroads  south  of  Petersburg,  that  it  was  all  up 
with  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  (Confederate  forces) 
Lee,  Jeff  Davis,  and  all  the  confederacy  at  Richmond  and 
thereabouts,  and  this  was  not  done  until  the  beginning 
of  the  campaign  of  1865,  which  finished  it  up  quickly.  The 
investment  of  Petersburg  had  not  accomplished  it." 


In  the  forenoon  of  the  iQth  all  three  batteries  were  moved 
to  the  rear  and  went  into  camp.  Sunday,  June  iQth,  1864, 
Corporal  Shackley  made  the  following  entry  in  his  Diary : — 
'Took  the  gun  out  of  line.  Short  of  ammunition." 

Dyer  wrote :  "Heavy  picket  firing  all  night.  Soon  after 
dark  last  night  the  Rebs  attacked  us,  but  were  repulsed. 
This  morning  we  took  our  Battery  out  of  position,  with 
drawing  one  piece  at  a  time,  running  it  off  by  hand.  Went 
in  park  f  of  a  mile  to  the  rear.  In  the  evening  2  mortars 
opened  upon  the  Rebs  from  the  9th  Corps.  June  2Oth. 
Aroused  from  peaceful  slumber  at  5^  a.  m.  Remained  in 
park  all  day.  Batteries  in  our  front  were  shelling  through 
out  the  day.  At  two  hours  before  dark  the  Rebs  opened 
and  kept  up  a  fire  till  dark.  Lieut.  O.  B.  Smith  (Then 
Lieut.  O.  B.  Smith  Battery  E,  3d  U.  S.  Heavy  Artillery  in 
Gillmore's  loth  Corps)  visited  our  Battery.  On  guard 
tonight." 

Corporal  Shackley:  "June  20,  1864.  Received  a  supply 
of  ammunition.  June  2ist  moved  about  4  miles  to  the  left 
and  went  into  camp." 

The  Second  and  Fifth  Corps  were  being  relieved  by  the 
Ninth,  and  all  night  of  the  2Oth  the  latter  corps  was  moving 


884  HISTORY    OF    THE 

past  them.  Left  camp  at  12  m.  on  a  very  dusty,  warm  day, 
with  Griffin's  ist  Division,  which  was  placed  on  the  left 
of  Ayres,  the  right  resting  on  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road. 
Camped  in  the  edge  of  the  woods. 

June  22d  the  men  dug  a  well  for  water  and  a  guard  was 
posted  near  it.  In  the  evening  the  Second  Corps  were 
attacked  while  straightening  their  lines.  The  Battery 
hitched  up  and  went  into  position,  but  soon  limbered  up, 
and  was  back  to  camp  by  dark.  The  next  day  the  rebels 
made  several  demonstrations  along  the  line,  and  at  dark 
there  was  some  cannonading.  On  the  24th  received  orders 
from  Corps  Head  Quarters  that  a  heavy  attack  was  appre 
hended  on  our  right.  Tents  were  struck,  and  the  men 
packed  up  ready  for  a  move,  and  remained  ready,  lying  in 
the  hot  sun.  At  dark  they  repitched  their  tents.  The  Rebs 
in  making  the  attempt  to  force  back  our  right  were  repulsed. 

LETTER   OF  CAPTAIN   PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

June  25,  1864. 

We  are  now  encamped  in  a  field  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  i.  e.  the  Plank  Road  which 
goeth  from  Petersburg  unto  Jerusalem,  passing  througa 
Sussex  C.  H.  on  the  way.  We  are  about  equidistant  from 
Petersburg  and  Blackwater  Creek  at  the  place  where  the 
Creek  crosses  the  Plank  Road  aforesaid.  Our  camp  is  quite 
pleasant  being  far  enough  removed  from  the  road  to  escape 
the  clouds  of. dust  which  now  form  a  prominent  feature  in 
the  landscape.  We  are  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  guns, 
thanks  to  the  topography  of  the  country,  the  trees  being  SD 
thick  in  front  of  our  Division  that  there  is  no  chance  to  put 
in  a  battery.  So  for  the  last  three  days  we  have  been 
enjoying  a  rest  from  the  troubles  and  turmoils  of  war. 
There  seems  to  be  a  little  lull  at  present,  as  if  we  were  wait- 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  885 

ing  for  something  to  turn  up.  The  weather  is  very  hot  and 
the  dust  is  becoming  intolerable.  It  is  nearly  three  weeks 
since  we  had  any  rain,  and  the  whole  country  is  drying  up. 
Our  horses  have  to  go  a  mile  and  a  half  to  water  and  it  is 
often  hard  to  get  water  enough  for  the  men.  However, 
dust  is  better  than  mud,  and  the  dryness  of  the  season  has 
been  of  the  greatest  assistance  to  us.  We  did  not  visit 
the  place  of  our  former  sojourn  at  Harrison's  Landing,  but 
struck  the  James  River  at  a  much  pleasanter  spot." 

Dyer's  Notes:  "Sunday,  June  26,  1864.  A  warm,  hot, 
sultry  day.  Considerable  cannonading  occurred  off  to  the 
right.  Towards  night  it  commenced  raining  and  we  had 
quite  a  shower.  Two  years  ago  today  we  bid  good  bye 
to  our  camp  at  Gaines  Mills.  It  is  also  the  anniversary  of 
the  fight  of  Mechanicsville.  June  27,  1864.  Anniversary 
of  Gaines  Mills  fight.  On  guard  today.  Not  much  firing 
occurred.  The  Battery  has  been  digging  a  large  spring 
for  watering  horses,  and  with  good  success." 

On  the  night  of  the  28th  they  had  three  feet  of  water  in 
the  well.  This  was  the  second  well  dug  and  it  was  curbed 
with  planks  like  the  first. 

LETTER    OF    Q.    M.    SERG'T.    PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  PETERSBURG,  VA. 

June  28,  1864. 

This  campaign  beats  everything  I  have  seen,  so  far,  in 
war, — continual  fighting  and  marching  for  two  months, 
and  still  the  fighting  continues.  I  cannot  go  away  from 
the  Battery  at  any  time  without  meeting  loads  of  dead  and 
wounded  men.  So  far  our  Battery  has  lost  9  men  killed  and 
1 6  wounded;  i  lieutenant  killed,  and  i  wounded.  We  suffer 
much  from  the  heat,  and  no  rain  for  so  long  a  time  ffiakes 
the  dust  awful.  Every  other  day  I  am  at  City  Point,  10 
miles  from  here." 


886  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"June  29,  1864,  (Dyer's  Notes)  everything  remained 
quiet  throughout  the  day,  the  pickets  having  agreed  to  not 
fire  at  one  another.  General  Wilson's  cavalry  got  sur 
rounded  as  they  were  returning  from  destroying  the  rail 
road,  and  cut  their  way  out. 

June  30,  1864.  We  sent  Benjamin  Kanuse's  body  home 
today  with  money  raised  by  the  company.  July  ist. 
Reveille  at  the  usual  camp  hour  5  o'clock  a.  m.  Received 
something  from  the  Sanitary  Commission  for  the  4th  of 
July.  Clark  came  up  with  some  sutlers'  goods." 

July  2d,  they  built  an  arbor  out  of  brush  over  the  com 
pany  street,  and  Gorham  brought  up  the  rest  of  the  sutler's 
goods.  The  next  day  the  men  helped  the  sutler  fix  his  tent. 
They  heard  shelling  on  the  right,  and  some  more  things 
came  from  the  Sanitary  Commission. 

July  4,  1864,  the  entry  in  Serg't.  Peacock's  Account  Book 
is, — "Fourth  of  July,  1864.  In  camp  near  Petersburg,  Va. 
enjoying  an  excellent  dinner  furnished  by  the  U.  S.  Sani 
tary  Commission.  A  beautiful  day." 

They  did  not,  however,  all  fare  alike.  Captain  Phillips 
wrote  July  5th :  "Our  soldiers  had  a  fine  dinner  yesterday, 
provided  by  the  Sanitary  Commission.  There  were  toma 
toes,  mutton,  beef,  in  cans,  and  a  barrel  of  porter."  Dyer's 
entry  is  as  follows : — "On  guard  today.  Some  firing  at  in 
tervals  of  five  minutes.  Had  roast  chicken,  toast,  mutton, 
fried  eggs,  and  crackers,  for  dinner,  also  porter  to  wash  it 
down,  presented  to  us  by  the  Sanitary  Commission."  But 
Shackley  writes: — "The  canned  stuff  is  divided,  i  can  to 
each  man  in  the  ist,  2d  and  3d  Detachments,  but  the  men 
are  not  satisfied,  and  make  it  very  unpleasant.  The  4th 
and  5th  Detachments  made  soup  of  their  share  and  paid  15 
cents  per  pound  for  potatoes." 

*         MANNING  THE  HEAVY  GUNS. 

To  quote  again  from  The  Cannoneer  the  words  of  the 
historian  of  Battery  B,  Fourth  U.  S.  (Stewart's)  :— 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  887 

"The  Avery  house  redan  was  finished  and  mounted  with  two  siege 
guns  ready  for  action  about  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  July  4,  1864; 
General  Warren  being  present  in  person  when  the  gun  detachments 
were  told  off  for  the  heavy  guns,  and  superintended  the  replacing  of 
the  gabions  after  the  siege  guns  were  placed  in  their  proper  position 
and  the  hanging  of  the  mantlet  of  coiled  rope  to  protect  the  can 
noneers  from  sharpshooters.  Our  fire  was  very  slow  and  deliberate 
that  first  day,  the  men  were  to  be  drilled  who  had  neve'r  handled  siege 
guns.  The  Rebels  did  not  reply  with  much  vigor.  .  .  .  The  dry  weath 
er  facilitated  the  building  of  the'  works,  the  construction  of  which  was 
said  by  the  veterans  to  be  a  picnic  compared  to  the  digging  in  the 
trenches  before  Yorktown  two  years  before." 


On  July  5th  a  fort  or  square  redoubt  was  laid  out  di 
rectly  in  front  of  the  camp,  on  the  ground  occupied  by  Bat 
tery  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  (Richardson's)  and  they  were  obliged 
to  leave.  One  corner  was  in  close  proximity  to  the  cook 
house  which  was  built  on  the  5th  and  covered  with  brush. 
At  night  half  a  ration  of  whiskey  was  dealt  out  to  the  men. 

Note  in  Peacock's  Account  Book : — "Ammunition  on 
hand  in  Battery,  percussion,  case  and  canister — 4  guns  and 
2  extra  caissons,  July  5th,  1864,  of  the  ist,  2d,  3d  and  4th 
Detachments." 

The  infantry  worked  on  the  redoubt  on  the  6th  and 
threw  up  a  large  pile  of  dirt.  On  the  7th  they  worked  all 
day  and  all  night.  Captain  Phillips  rode  down  to  the  i8th 
Corps  with  Captain  Bigelow,  Captain  Dow  of  the  6th  Maine 
Battery,  and  Lieut.  Stewart. 

July  8th  the  men  dug  two  wells.  At  half  past  4  heavy 
shelling.  Our  battle  line  was  advanced  to  the  picket  line, 
and  the  Rebs  opened  upon  us,  but  we  held  the  ground  gained 
and  at  night  intrenched. 

THE  ARMY  RATION. 

The  regulation  Army  Ration  issued  by  the  War  Depart 
ment,  and  copied  from  Peacock's  Account  Book  was  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"12  oz.  Pork  or  Bacon  or 

154  Ibs.   Salt  or  Fresh  Beef. 


888  HISTORY    OF    THE 

18  oz.  Soft  Bread  or  Flour  or 

12  oz.  Hard  Bread  or 

20  oz.  Corn  Meal, 
and  to  every  100  Rations 

15  Ibs.  Beans,  or  Pease  or 

10  Ibs.  Rice  or  Hominy 

10  Ibs.  Green  Coffee  or 

8  Ibs.  Roasted        "       " 

il/2  Ibs.  Tea 

15  Sugar 

4  qts.  Vinegar 

il/4  Ibs.  Candles 

4  Ibs.  Soap 

31/4  Ibs.  Salt 

Y4  Ib.  Pepper. 

On  a  campaign  or  march  the  Ration  of  Hard  Bread  is  one  pound. 
Desiccated  compressed  potatoes  or  compressed  mixed  vegetables  at 
the  rate  of  one  and  a  half  ounce  of  the'  former  and  one  ounce  of  the 
latter  to  the  ration,  may  be  substituted  for  beans,  pease,  rice  or 
hominy.  July  8,  1864,  Per  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  M.  STANTON." 


July  Qth  the  carriages  and  harnesses  were  all  cleaned  up 
for  inspection  which  took  place  next  day.  Captain  Phillips 
inspected  the  batteries  of  the  Division.  The  Battery  was 
inspected  at  7.30  a.  m.  As  soon  as  it  was  over  Dyer  went 
up  to  the  23d  Mass.  Regt.  and  saw  a  number  of  New  Bed 
ford  boys :  among  them  Charles  Thompson  who  looked 
pretty  sick.  July  nth  the  infantry  were  still  at  work  build 
ing  forts.  1 2th  Dyer  was  on  guard  at  the  well,  and  had  his 
hands  full  keeping  the  infantry  away  from  it.  At  12 
o'clock  orders  came  to  move,  and  they  went  one  mile  to  the 
right  and  went  into  camp  in  the  rear  of  General  Griffin's 
Head  Quarters.  Here  they  dug  two  more  wells. 

''July  13,  1864.  (Dyer's  Notes.)  Pitched  our  tents  in 
line  and  put  up  harness  racks.  The  Rebs  shell  pretty  near 
us,  but  as  yet  none  have  entered  our  camp.  On  fatigue. 
Helped  dig  a  well.  The  sutler  ordered  to  City  Point.  July 
1 4th.  Some  shelling  all  along  our  lines.  Towards  night 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  889 

one  of  our  teams  went  for  baskets  to  build  breastworks  of. 
July  1 5th.  Reveille  at  5^  o'clock.  The  first  I  heard  was  the 
musical  sound  of  a  shell  whirring  through  the  air.  Con 
tinued  throughout  the  clay;  also  a  great  deal  of  mortar  fir 
ing.  The  teams  went  to  City  Point  for  sanitary  goods  to 
day." 

LETTER    OF    O.    M.    SERG'T.    PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  PETERSBURG,  VA.. 

July  15,  1864. 

I  an?  writing  only  1200  yards  from  a  large  rebel  fort  of 
1 6  Guns.  A  strip  of  woods  conceals  us  from  them.  If 
they  only  knew  we  were  here,  it  would  not  be  long  before 
they  opened  on  us.  They  fire  at  the  right  and  left  of  us, 
but  no  shells  have  burst  nearer  than  300  or  400  yards.  The 
Battery  is  not  in  position  at  present,  but  a  work  is  now 
building  for  it  only  500  yards  from  the  rebel  works  and  ii 
will  go  into  it  in  a  night  or  so.  They  can  work  on  it  only 
nights,  as  the  rebels  keep  up  a  continual  fire.  As  I  write 
the  bullets  of  the  rebel  pickets  can  be  plainly  heard  going 
whiz !  whiz !  through  the  air.  Not  a  day  passes  without 
more  or  less  fighting.  The  gth  and  i8th  Corps  are  en 
gaged,  mO'Stly.  They  are  on  the  right  of  us.  We  get 
plenty  to  eat  this  season;  particularly  vegetables,  thanks  to 
the  Sanitary  Commission.  I  received  some  socks  excellent 
ones  from  them  this  afternoon,  with  the  enclosed  mark  on 
them.  If  you  know  any  of  the  Society  give  them  my 
thanks.  The  Government  socks  are  so  poor  they  only  wear 
me  two  weeks.  (The  mark  is  a  small  piece  of  white  cot 
ton  cloth  about  two  inches  square  bearing  the  half  obliter 
ated  stamp  of  a  society  in  Dorchester,  Mass.)  They  supply 
us  with  all  kinds  of  pickles,  onions,  potatoes,  dried  apples, 
soft  crackers,  lemons,  clothing,  cabbage,  'pickled/  some 
tobacco,  and  many  little  things.  I  assure  you  we  all  feel 


890  HISTORY    OF    THE 

very  grateful  to  them  for  all  of  their  good  things,  particu 
larly  at  this  time  of  the  year. 

I  think  the  Commission  does  more  to  keep  up  the  courage 
and  spirits  of  the  Army  than  any  other  one  thing.  Let  no 
one  say  the  Sanitary  Commission  is  not  doing  a  great  work 
for  us. 

I  send  some  leaves  I  got  while  at  Charles  City  Court 
House. 

I  suppose  there  is  great  excitement  about  the  Raid  into 
Maryland.  Well,  I  think  our  side  will  come  out  all  right 
finally.  They  cannot  draw  Grant's  Army  from  this  place: 
he  is  continually  fortifying  here.  He  is  bound  to  stick  to 
all  he  has  gained. 

I  suppose  you  have  something  of  a  panic  about  the  cur 
rency;  gold  taking  such  a  rise.  This  Army  will  bring  that 
out  all  safe  before  the  year  ends.  I  feel  almost  discouraged 
sometimes  about  the  rebels  holding  out  so  well,  but  they 
must  kneel  sooner  or  later;  there  is  not  a  doubt  of  it.  The 
thing  has  gone  so  far  now  that  not 'an  inch  must  be  given 
up  to  them  until  they  are  conquered. — Candle  going  out." 


In  July,  1864,  the  "Memorial"  was  published  which  has 
been  framed  and  preserved  by  many  members  of  the  Bat 
tery.  It  was  compiled  from  the  company  records  at  Rap- 
pahannock  Station  in  the  winter  of  '63  and  '64,  and  has  a 
complete  list  of  the  members.  It  was  published  by  J.  C. 
Fuller  &  Co.  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  lithographed  by  Major 
and  Knapp  449  Broadway,  New  York. 

Of  the  produce  of  the  Sanitarv  Commission,  Dyer  wrote 
July  1 6th.  "Had  a  big  dinner  consisting  in  part  of  roast 
mutton,  potatoes,  onions,  beets,  pickles,  and  condensed  milk 
for  tea  and  coffee.  Had  lemonade  to  drink  as  a  beverage. 
1 7th.  At  night  Battery  B,  4th  U.  S.,  Lieut.  Stewart,  went 
in  position  beside  the  83d  Penn.  Regt.  Taps  at  9  o'clock 
p.  m." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  891 

News  had  come  to  the  camp  that  an  attack  was  intended, 
so  all  the  troops  were  put  in  the  front  line,  but  scarcely  a 
gun  was  fired  the  whole  length  of  the  line.  On  the  i8th 
Quarter  Master  Sergeant  Peacock  had  the  entry:  "Sent 
Winters'  instruments  to  Washington.  (Winters  was  one 
of  the  buglers.)  July  I9th.  Sent  company  Saving  Paper 
for  March  to*  Washington  for  payment." 

July  20,  1864,  Dyer  made  the  note,  "The  i8th  Mass. 
Regt.  started  for  Washington  today." 

In  relation  to  Lieut.  Aaron  F.  Walcott  then  in  command 
of  Martin's  Third  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  Phillips  wrote  in 
a  letter  dated  "Camp  before  Petersburg  July  20,  1864: — 
I  went  to  see  Lieut.  Walcott  the  other  day,  and  found  him 
living  undergound,  the  roof  of  his  apartment  being  level 
with  the  surface,  and  being  covered  with  several  feet  of 
earth.  We  had  a  shower  of  rain  yesterday  for  the  first 
time  since  the  2d  of  June.  It  was  needed,  as  the  dust  had 
become  very  disagreeable,  and  the  springs  were  getting  dry. 
We  are  very  lucky  in  our  location  in  one  respect  i.  e.  in  re 
gard  to  our  supply  of  water.  Although  the  long  drought 
had  exhausted  all  the  springs  and  brooks,  there  is  no  diffi 
culty  in  digging  a  well  and  finding  water  anywhere  round 
here.  We  have  a  well  about  20  ft  deep,  provided  with  a 
pump,  which  furnishes  excellent  water  abundantly  enough 
for  the  men  and  horses.  And  there  are  wells  all  along  our 
lines.  The  Rebel  deserters  who  come  in  are  much  aston 
ished  to  see  us  so  well  supplied,  as  they  have  thought  we 
had  to  go  to  the  river  for  water.  .  .  .  We  have  changed 
our  position  a  little.  We  are  at  present  camped  in  an  open 
field  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  shells. 

Nothing  very  stirring  is  going  on,  though  a  few  shots 
may  be  heard  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night.  The  lines  are 
now  quite  near  each  other,  but  each  party  is  so  strongly 
entrenched  that  there  is  no  danger  of  an  assault  on  either 
side.  From  the  right  of  our  Division  we  can  see  both  lines, 


892  HISTORY    OF    THE 

from  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  on  the  left,  to  the  i8th 
Corps  on  the  right.  The  lines  are  about  600  yards  apart 
and  skirmishers  in  small  pits  thrown  out  in  front.  Along 
the  front  of  the  5th  Corps  the  skirmishers  are  quite  friendly, 
and  do  not  fire  at  all.  I  was  at  the  works  the  other  day, 
and  saw  plenty  of  Rebel  pickets  so  near  that  I  could  have 
recognized  them  if  I  had  known  them.  Our  front  line  of 
battle  is  placed  behind  a  strong  parapet  and  ditch  with  an 
abatis  in  front.  The  Rebels  are  similarly  protected,  and 
so  we  look  at  each  other.  Each  side  is  constantly  engaged 
in  putting  in  guns,  and  every  morning  shows  new  em 
brasures.  Both  sides  have  a%  lot  of  mortars  in  position 
which  keep  up  a  slow  fire  all  the  time,  necessitating  the  con 
struction  of  bomb  proofs  all  along  the  line.  .  .  .  The  Rebels 
desert  now  very  constantly.  About  5  a  night,  on  an  av 
erage,  come  into  our  lines  in  front  of  our  Division,  and  the 
same  proportion  in  the  Army  would  give  over  50  a  night." 


July  2  ist  the  air  was  cool  and  bracing  after  the  shower, 
and  the  men  cleaned  up  the  park  and  stable,  and  went  after 
a  load  of  rails  for  the  cook-house.  There  was  pretty  lively 
shelling  and  mortar  firing. 

22d.  Dyer  wrote  "Everything  remained  quiet  until  .1 
little  before  dark,  when  several  volleys  of  musketry  were 
exchanged  between  the  darkies  and  Rebs.  This  brought  on 
lively  shelling,  which  continued  all  the  evening.  23d. 
Hitched  up  horses  and  had  a  drill  today.  After  we  came 
in  cleaned  harnesses  and  carriages  for  inspection  tomorrow. 
Sunday  24th.  Inspection  this  morning  at  9  'o'clock  by 
Lieut.  Spear.  The  2d  caisson  had  considerable  trouble  in 
getting  out  of  park  with  their  horses,  and  broke  some  of 
their  harnesses.  At  6  p.  m.  it  commenced  raining.  25th. 
Considerable  shelling  occurred  towards  night,  the  shell 
striking  mostly  about  300  yards  from  our  camp.  26th. 
Corporal  Wilson  woke  us  up  rather  early,  it  being  but  4 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  893 

o'clock.  Some  growling  about  it  but  it  soon  ceased. 
Drill  on  manual  of  the  piece  this  forenoon,  but  as  I  was  on 
fatigue  I  did  not  drill.  27th.  Drill  on  the  manual  of  the 
piece  at  9  a.  m.  The  Sanitary  Commissioner  brought  us  up 
some  potatoes,  beets,  turnips,  milk,  pickles,  and  under 
clothing.  28th.  Battery  drill  at  9  a.  m.  In  the  evening 
having  nothing  to  do  I  took  a  stroll  along  the  picket  line. 
The  infantry  advanced  their  line  today;  the  lines  of  battle 
now  being  but  500  yards  apart." 

THE  MINE. 

In  his  report  to  Lieut.  Morris  of  August  6,  1864,  Cap 
tain  Phillips  states  that  on  the  29th  of  July  the  Battery  "was 
placed  in  a  4  gun  battery  in  the  line  of  the  3d  Brigade  ist 
Division,  and  took  part  in  the  bombardment  of  the  3Oth, 
making  some  accurate  shooting." 

July  29,  1864.  Corporal  Shackley  has  thus  recorded: — 
"Worked  on  magazine  till  past  midnight,  and  deposited  8 
chests  of  ammunition  in  anticipation  of  the  explosion  of 
General  Burnside's  mine." 

Captain  Phillips  in  his  Diary  of  the  29th  observes:— 
"All  the  batteries  placed  under  Colonel  Wainwright.  Went 
into  position  about  sunset  on  General  Bartlett's  front  in 
Battery  No.  8 — No.  9  Winslow's  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  No.  10, 
Fort  Tilton — 18  guns;  viz.,  6,  4^  in.  Rifled,  4,  12  pdr.,  and 
8,  3  inch  or  Parrotts." 

Battery  No.  8  was  on  the  front  line. 

"July  3°>  1864.  (Corporal  Shackley.)  Packed  up 
ready  to  move,  then  all  but  the  guards  went  to  the  front. 
At  about  5  a.  m.  the  mine  was  exploded,  and  we  commenced 
firing  all  along  our  lines.  The  Rebel  fort  was  destroyed, 
and  the  position  was  taken  and  occupied  by  our  troops,  but 
about  2  p.  m.  the  Rebels  attacked  and  recaptured  the  posi 
tion,  and  a  large  number  of  our  Army.  The  Battery  fired 
246  rounds,  but  sustained  no  loss  by  the  enemy's  fire. 


894  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Serg't.  Stiles  (Charles  F.  Stiles  of  Charlestown)  was  in 
jured  by  concussion  of  the  gun.  July  31,  1864,  withdrew 
from  the  line  of  battle  and  returned  to  camp." 

LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

Aug.  i,  1864. 

On  Friday  I  was  ordered  into  position  with  Griffin's 
Division,  and  from  the  signs  I  judged  that  the  ball  might 
open.  The  batteries  took  position  at  dark,  and  by  mid 
night  there  were  16  mortars  and  60  or  70  guns,  12  of  them 
4^  siege,  along  the  front  of  the  5th  Corps.  I  kept  the  men 
at  work  till  midnight,  building  a  magazine,  and  then  turned 
in.  The  orders  received  before  we  went  to  bed,  were  to  be 
at  our  posts  before  daylight. 

About  daylight  the  mine  in  Burnside's  front  was  to  ex 
plode,  and  this  was  to  be  the  signal  for  us  to  open,  so  at 
daylight  we  were  all  ready  and  were  waiting. 

All  was  still  and  quiet,  our  men  were  all  waiting,  behind 
the  parapets,  while  on  the  Rebel  side  a  few  men  were  seen 
along  the  works. 

About  4  o'clock,  while  I  was  looking,  the  mine  went  up : 
an  immense  column  of  dust  and  smoke,  rising  slowly  and 
majestically  into  the  air! 

The  artillery  opened  at  once,  and  the  simultaneousness  of 
the  discharges,  and  the  contrast  with  the  stillness  which 
had  prevailed,  had  a  grand  effect. 

The  Rebel  artillery  hardly  fired  a  shot,  and  after  an  hour 
of  steady  fire,  we  slacked  up  a  little.  The  mine  was  a  com 
plete  success,  but  the  charge  would  be  a  ridiculous  farce 
were  it  not  for  the  unpleasant  results. 

I  do  most  sincerely  hope  that  somebody  will  be  court 
martialed  for  the  failure,  which  can  only  be  attributed  to 
the  utter  carelessness  and  incompetence  of  somebody  in 
charge  of  the  affair.  We  probably  shall  not  have  such  a 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  895 

good  chance  again.     We  might  have  taken  the  place  as  well 
as  not." 

SECRETARY  STANTON  TO  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  December  2,  1864. 

Sir: — You  are  hereby  informed  that  the  President  of  the  United 
States  has  appointed  you  for  gallant  services  at  the  battle  of  Bethesda 
Church  and  during  the  present  campaign  before  Richmond  Va.,  a 
Major  of  volunteers  by  brevet  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to 
rank  as  such  from  the  First  day  of  August  one'  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  sixty-four. 

Should  the  Senate  at  their  next  session  advise  and  consent  thereto, 
you  will  be  commissioned  accordingly.  Immediately  on  re'ceipt  here 
of  please  to  communicate  to  this  Department,  through  the  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Army,  your  acceptance  or  non-acceptance,  and,  with  your 
letter  of  acceptance  return  the  oath  herewith  enclosed,  properly  filled 
up,  subscribed  and  attested,  and  report  your  age,  birthplace,  and  the 
state  of  which  you  were  a  permanent  resident. 

You  will  report  for  duty  to 

E.  M.  STANTON, 
Secretary  of  War. 

(152) 
BVT.  MAJOR  CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS, 

U.  S.  Volunteers 
Thro.  Comdg  Genl  Army  Potomac. 


GENERAL  CHALFIN  TO  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

WASHINGTON,  June  12,  1865. 
Sir: 

I     have    the    honor   to    enclose    to    you    herewith    your    commis 
sion  of  Major  by  Brevet,  the  receipt  of  which  please  acknowledge. 
I  am  sir 

Very  respectfully 

Your  obedient  servant 

S.  F.  CHALFIN, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

(158) 
BVT.  MAJOR  CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS, 

U.  S.  Volunteers,  Capt.  5th  Mass.  Batt'y, 
5th  Corps  Wash.,  D.  C. 


806  HISTORY    OF    THE 

MAJOR  C.  A.  PHILLIPS  BY  BREVET. 
THE  COMMISSION. 

Across  the  upper  corner  at  the  left,  written  in  red  ink 
these  words : — "Recorded  Volume  4,  page  26,  Adjutant 
General's  Office  April  20,  1865. 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Ass't  Adj't.  Gen'l 

The  American  Eagle  at  the  top  resting  on  heavy  clouds 
streaked  with  lightning.  Over  it 

"THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA" 
and  set  in  the  midst  of  stars  the  motto  "E  Pluribus  Unum." 
At  the  left  the  blue  seal  of  the  United  States.     Under  the 
Eagle : — 

"To  all  who  shall  see  these  presents  greeting: 

Know  ye,  That  I  do  hereby  confer  on  Charles  A.  Phillips  of  the 
U.  S.  Volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  the  rank  of  Major  By  Brevet  in  said 
service,  to  rank  as  such  from  the  First  day  of  August,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-four,  for  gallant  ser 
vices  at  the  battle  of  Bethesda  Church,  and  during  the  present  cam 
paign  before  Richmond,  Virginia.  And  I  do  strictly  charge  and  re 
quire  all  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command,  to  obey  and  respect 
him  accordingly,  and  he  is  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  di 
rections  from  time  to  time  as  he  shall  receive  from  me,  or  the  future 
President  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  other  officers  set  over 
him  according  to  law,  and  the  rules  and  discipline  of  war.  This 
commission  to  continue  in  force,  during  the  pleasure  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  for  the  time  being. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  the  City  of  Washington  this  Twentieth  day 
of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-five,  and  in  the  eighty-ninth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States. 

By  the  President,  ANDREW  JOHNSON. 

E.    M.    STANTON, 
Secretary  of   War. 

At  the  bottom  an  elaborate  drawing  in  which  the  colors, 
the  implements  of  the  service,  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
are  represented. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  897 

It  was  rumored  on  August  ist  that  the  enemy  was  under 
mining  Fort  Tilton,  and  on  August  3d  that  a  mine  under  the 
1 8th  Corps  was  suspected,  and  the  Army  was  under  arms 
before  daylight. 

Q.  M.  Serg't.  Peacock  on  August  3d.  "Received  of  Cap 
tain  Phillips  $20.00  from  Company  Fund  to  be  used  in  the 
purchase  of  vegetables."  [See  p.  865  Company  Fund.] 

Aug.  6,  1864,  by  order  of  Colonel  Wainwright  the  guns 
of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  were  placed  in  position  on  the 
second  line  i  a  entrenchment  in  rear  of  Fort  Tilton  on  the 
left  of  Colonel  Nathan  T.  Dushane's  Maryland  Brigade. 

On  this  day  Lieut.  Samuel  H.  Hamblet  reported  for 
duty. 

Aug.  7,  1864,  Lieut.  Hamblet  joined  the  Battery  and  in 
the  evening  the  guns  were  moved  to  the  right  of  the  Mary 
land  Brigade. 

With  reference  to  the  possible  undermining  of  Fort  Til- 
ton  Major  Phillips  says  in  a  letter  dated  Aug.  9,  1864:— 

"The  hot  weather  is  causing  a  great  deal  of  sickness 
among  the  men.  Last  Sunday  we  put  our  guns  in  position 
in  a  second  line  which  has  been  formed  in  rear  of  Fort  Til- 
ton  to  guard  against  the  contingency  of  the  rebels  blowing 
it  up,  and  I  live  partly  in  camp  and  partly  with  the  guns  in 
front.  The  weather  -is  very  hot  and  I  long  for  a  breath  of 
fresh  air.  The  Sanitary  Commission  reaches  us  here." 

He  sent  home  for  a  pair  of  shoulder  straps  with  the  fol 
lowing  directions,  and  received  them  all  right  by  mail  as  he 
ordered  them : — 

"Send  me  a  pair  of  shoulder  straps, — Captain  of  Artil 
lery. — Let  the  straps  be  gold  embroidered,  not  stamped 
sheet  brass.  Let  the  embroidery  be  only  one  row,  so  that 
the  straps  will  not  be  too  large  and  showy, -as  I  only  want 
them  for  fatigue  uniform.  Let  the  cloth  of  the  straps  be 
broadcloth  and  not  red  velvet." 

August  loth,  1864,  Private  John  S.  Doane  was  appointed 


808  HISTORY    OF    THE 

acting  corporal.     A  few  shots  from  the  Rebs  about  10.30 
p.  m. 

Aug.  12,  1864,  the  Battery  was  inspected  by  Lieut.  G.  W. 
Dresser  Acting  Ass't  Inspector  General  Art'y  Brigade. 
Eight  men  from  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  joined  the  Fifth. 
They  were  J.  R.  Robinson,  Geo.  Brown,  J.  Waterson,  T. 
Flanagan,  J.  Hayes,  W.  G.  Boutwell,  G.  S.  Hunt,  I.  J. 
Hunt. 

The  names  are  from  Peacock's  Account  Book  which  has 
also  under  date  of  Aug.  12,  the  following: — 

"Provision  return  for  n  men  from  August  12  to  20  in 
clusive,  9  days,  99  rations.  Same  time  Return  from  Aug. 
21  to  31  inclusive  n  days,  for  no  men.  Rations  for  100 
horses." 

Note  by  Serg't  Peacock,  Sept.  7,  1900: — "We  had  dur 
ing  the  Grant  campaign  two  extra  caissons,  that  were  kept 
at  the  rear  most  of  the  time,  and  I  think  rations  were  drawn 
separate  for  the  men  with  them,  as  my  book  shows  rations 
drawn  for  no  men  &  n  men." 

August  1 3th  three  more  men  joined  the  Battery.  August 
14,  1864.  Faunce  (Alvin  Faunce  of  Boston)  sent  to  hos 
pital.  Orders  were  received  to  withdraw  the  guns  as  soon 
as  relieved  by  a  battery  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  about  day 
light  of  the  1 5th,  the  Fifth  Corps  having  been  relieved  by 
the  Ninth  about  daylight,  their  place  was  taken  at  4  a.  m. 
by  the  nth  Mass.  Battery,  Captain  Edward  J.  Jones. 

All  day,  and  the  next  day,  and  the  next,  they  remained 
in  readiness  to  move,  and  marched  on  the  i8th  to  the  Wei- 
don  Railroad. 

On  the  red  field  in  conflict  meet  the  ranks, 

With  mingled  shout  and  groan  ; 
And  hearts  at  home  are  swayed  by  hope  and  fear. 

Intent  on  war  alone. 
The  eyes  of  all  the  world  are  turned  to  us, 

To  learn  the  lesson  taught, 
And  Europe's  kings  now  totter  on  their  thrones, 

Until  the  battle  's  fought :  — 

2D.  LIEUT.  MORTON  D.  MITCHKLL, 

MASS.  ;,STH  REGT.  INF. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  WELDON  RAILROAD. 
AUGUST  18-30,  1864. 

"For  tho'  I  fought,  and  overcame, 
And  Quarter  gave,  'twas  in  your  Name, 
For  great  Commanders  always  own 
What's  prosperous  by  the  Soldier  done." 

Hudibras,  SAMUEL  BUTLER. 

On  the  1 4th  of  August,  1864,  the  Fifth  Corps  intrench- 
ments  were  occupied  by  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  General  War 
ren  was  ordered  to  make  use  of  the  Fifth  Corps  in  the  work 
of  acquiring  and  holding  the  Weldon  Railroad. 

It  rained,  and  the  roads  and  fields  were  in  bad  condition, 
the  atmosphere  was  sultry,  but  Griffin's  Division  led  the 
advance  out  of  these  impregnable  lines  of  entrenchments 
which  they  had  fortified  with  so  much  labor,  in  order  to 
cover  our  communications  as  well  as  to  facilitate  our  ap 
proach  to  the  beleaguered  city  of  Petersburg. 

On  the  morning  of  August  i8th  they  marched,  and  met 
the  rebel  cavalry  at  Dr.  Gurley's  house.  The  ist  Division 
having  been  formed  in  line  by  brigades  and  skirmishers 
deployed,  the  line  advanced,  and  the  rebel  pickets  were  cap 
tured  or  fell  back,  and  the  Division  pushed  on  to  Globe  Tav 
ern,  three  miles  from  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  which  they 
reached  at  9  a.  m.  The  Division  was  disposed  to  cover  the 
position  toward  the  south  and  west,  northward  dense  woods 
filled  the  distance  from  the  railroad  to  the  Plank  Road. 

North  and  south,  parallel  to  the  railroad  runs  the  road  to 
Halifax,  and  a  mile  west  of  that  the  Vaughan  road,  whicii 

899 


900  HISTORY    OF    THE 

joins  the  Halifax  road  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Globe 
Tavern  towards  Petersburg. 

From  the  Gurley  house  to  the  railroad  there  was  consid 
erable  open  country. 

Griffin's  front  faced  west  and  began  to  intrench.  The 
2d  Division,  General  Ayres,  had  reached  the  same  southern 
point  on  the  railroad  and  then  moved  up  alongside  it  to 
wards  Petersburg.  At  the  point  where  the  Vaughan  and 
Halifax  roads  joined,  they  found  the  rebels  in  line  of  battle, 
ready  to  contest  the  passage  of  the  roads. 

Crawford's  3d  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  came  to  the 
support  of  Ayres  with  the  design  of  outflanking  the  enemy. 
Ayres  formed  his  line  of  battle  and  advanced  into  the  edge 
of  the  woods  about  100  yards,  and  soon  found  himself  out 
flanked  by  a  Division  of  the  enemy  coming  from  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Vaughan  road.  The  Union  brigades  fell  back 
100  yards,  and  formed  on  a  line  with  the  I5th  New  York 
Heavy  Artillery,  which  had  accompanied  Ayres,  and  a  part 
of  Cutler's  4th  Division  was  sent  to  reinforce  the  Second. 
The  Confederates  were  driven  back.  Rifle  pits  were  then 
constructed  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  railroad. 

Previous  to  August  i8th  our  lines  of  intrenchments  were 
built  on  the  east  and  southeast  of  Petersburg,  but  after  the 
possession  of  the  Weldon  Railroad  was  secured,  new  lines 
were  built,  not  of  regular  siege  works  like  the  others,  but  of 
earthworks  to  cover  our  movements  against  the  enemy's 
right  flank.  These  works  not  being  strongholds  did  not 
consume  so  much  time  in  building  as  the  old  lines,  and  the 
distance  was  so  much  greater  that  the  labor  on  them  was 
much  less  dangerous. 

But  it  is  not  all  of  war  to  fight  or  to  build  breastworks. 
The  integrant  portions  of  the  great  Army  were  ever  shift 
ing  from  trench,  to  field,  to  hospital,  and  back  again  to 
picket,  tent,  and  trench,  and  while  these  stirring  scenes  of 
busy  preparation  which  embraced  the  soldier  as  an  essential 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  901 

element,  reckoned  mostly  in  the  abstract,  were  being  en 
acted,  there  had  been  a  steadily  increasing  proportion  of 
men  who  had  never  been  drilled  in  the  manual  of  arms, 
never  had  fired  a  gun,  and  who  were  rather  better  fitted  for 
this  sort  of  thing  than  for  the  battle  field. 

The  men  of  responsibility,  absorbed  in  their  schemes  and 
plans,  suddenly  awakened  to  the  flight  of  time,  and  became 
aware  that  into  the  common  conversation  of  the  well-dis 
ciplined  and  thoroughly  accomplished  army  of  veterans  of 
three  years'  service,  never  so  well  equipped  as  now,  never 
with  so  much  at  hand  to  make  the  soldier  comfortable  and 
contented,  in  this  year  of  1864  there  had  crept  a  new  sub 
ject  of  much  too  general  interest,  that  of  speedy  "expiration 
of  term  of  service."  The  terms  of  the  "three  months'  men," 
and  the  "nine  months'  men,"  and  terms  for  special  service 
had  expired  like  all  other  episodes  of  the  War,  as  of  no 
more  special  purport,  it  was  good  and  we  wanted  more  of  it, 
but  to  the  officers  and  men  whose  military  career  of  three 
years,  1861-1864,  was  now  drawing  to  a  close  the  phrase 
had  an  extraordinary  meaning.  They  had  come  to  the  ex 
piration  of  a  period  in  the  threatened  life  of  the  nation 
which  formed  a  novitiate  through  which  no  other  genera 
tion  of  men  had  ever  been  or  ever  could  be  called  upon  to 
pass.  They  had  been,  as  we  know  who  have  followed  them 
day  by  day,  the  right  hand  of  the  Government,  the  main 
stay,  the  nucleus  of  this  mighty  military  growth,  the  men 
at  the  front  who  inspired  confidence  by  their  example  and 
stimulated  progress  in  all  directions;  but  their  time  had  ex 
pired,  and  written  against  every  name  on  the  mustering 
out  rolls,  these  words  "at  expiration  of  term  of  service" 
would  forever  bear  a  certifying  value  of  their  own,  subject 
to  no  one's  estimate  or  opinion.  The  men  who  answered 
to  these  names  had  survived  a  long  and  familiar  intimacy 
with  the  art  and  the  practice  of  War,  and  the  experience  had 
become  a  part  of  their  natures  and  moulded  their  characters 


1)02  HISTORY    OF    THE 

on  a  new  model  of  a  man.  They  would  in  time  crystallize 
into  a  new  class  in  society  who  would  inaugurate  in  Amer 
ica  the  wearing  of  a  distinctive  military  badge,  to  stand  as  a 
memorial  of  individual  sacrifice,  and  as  security  for -the  fu 
ture  safety  of  the  nation. 

But  there  were  other  members  of  these  retiring  organiza 
tions  who  had  re-enlisted  or  who  were  new  recruits,  and 
provision  was  made  for  these  among  the  regiments  and  bat 
teries  whose  terms  had  not  expired.  In  this  way  a  large 
number  of  men  came  to  the  Fifth  Mass,  from  the  Third 
Mass.  Battery. 

CIRCULAR. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

WASHINGTON,  August  18,  1864. 
Circular 

No.  64 

When  it  becomes  necessary,  under  the  orders  from  this  Depart 
ment,  to  make  transfers  of  enlisted  men  from  one'  regiment  or  com 
pany  to  another,  as  in  the  case  of  consolidation  of  two  or  more  com 
panies  or  regiments,  or  when  the  transfer  of  men  may  be  authorized 
from  this  office,  except  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  the  following 
papers  should  be  made  out,  that  the  officers  and  soldiers  may  not 
suffer  by  such  transfer. 

Quadruplicate  muster  and  descriptive  rolls  of  the  men,  with  a  copy 
of  the  order  transferring  them  attached  to  each  roll,  one  copy  to  be 
forwarde'd  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army;  one  copy  to  the  Pay 
master  General  of  the  Army;  one  copy  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the 
state  to  which  the  men  belong, — the  roll  to  be  divided  for  this  purpose 
if  men  from  more  than  one  state  appear  on  it, — and  one  copy  to  be 
sent  with  the  me'n  to  the  respective  regiments  to  which  they  are  trans 
ferred.  These  rolls  will  contain  all  the  information  indicated  by  the 
blanks  for  muster  and  descriptive  rolls,  including  date,  place  and  by 
whom  mustered  into  service.  Each  copy  will  be  examined,  verified 
and  countersigned  by  the  Commissary  or  Assistant  Commissary  of 
Musters  for  the  command,  and  will  be  when  completed,  evidence  of 
muster-in  and  proper  transfer. 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Ass't  Ajt.  General 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  903 

In  the  meantime  the  right  of  Crawford's  3d  Division 
was  moving  up  through  the  thick  woods,  and  at  4  p.  m.  ot 
August  19,  1864,  the  rear  of  Crawford's  skirmish  line  was 
attacked  by  the  enemy  and  were  compelled  to  fail  back  to 
gether  with  the  right  of  Ayres'  Division,  but  subsequently 
Ayres  moved  forward,  recovered  his  old  line,  and  repulsed 
a  second  attack  of  the  enemy.  In  these  movements  he  was 
assisted  by  the  i87th  Pennsylvania  Infantry  of  Griffin's 
Division.  A  part  of  the  Ninth  Corps  on  the  right  of  the 
Fifth  had  faced  to  the  right  to  prevent  another  attack  on  his 
flank,  and  in  doing  so  had  driven  the  enemy  back  to  their 
intrenchments. 

General  Warren  then  in  order  to  preserve  his  lines,  took 
means  to  post  them  in  places  favorable  for  the  artillery,  and 
on  the  2Oth  awaited  an  attack,  which  came  the  following 
day.  His  pickets  were  driven  in  by  Lee's  cavalry  after  a 
fierce  struggle,  early  in  the  forenoon  of  August  2ist  and  a 
cross  fire  was  opened  through  the  woods  by  the  rebel  artil 
lery  of  about  30  pieces  over  the  position  occupied  by  the 
Fifth  Corps.  Later  in  the  forenoon  an  assault  was  made  on 
Warren's  north  and  west  which  was  repulsed,  and  he  was 
left  in  possession  of  the  railroad.  In  this  the  Corps  artil 
lery  did  the  most  execution  in  places  beyond  the  range  of 
the  musketry,  breaking  the  enemy's  line.  Then  Warren 
advanced  his  skirmish  line,  the  enemy  were  routed  and  many 
prisoners  and  flags  were  taken.  General  Nathan  T. 
Dushane  was  killed  commanding  the  2d  Brigade,  2d  Divi 
sion  5th  A.  C. 

General  Warren  in  his  report  states  in  a  general  way  with 
regard  to  the  artillery  that  "the  service  of  all  our  batteries 
was  most  efficient,"  and  that  is  all  the  credit  there  is  given 
to  the  arm  of  the  service  which  rendered  the  victory  pos 
sible. 


904  HISTORY    OF    THE 

AS  TOLD  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

Corporal  Jonas  Shackley  has  recorded  the  following  on 
Thursday,  August  i8th,  1864,  the  day  they  left  the  rear  of 
Fort  Tilton :— "Marched  at  6  a.  m.  by  the  left  flank. 
Reached  the  Weldon  Railroad  about  9  a.  m.  and  broke  it  up 
and  cut  the  telegraph.  The  Rebs  attacked  us,  but  were  re 
pulsed." 

The  importance  of  this  day's  work  is  emphasized  by  Gen 
eral  Grant  in  his  Memoirs  where  he  says : — 

"The  Weldon  Railroad  never  went  out  of  our  possession  from  the 
i8th  of  August  to  the  close  of  the  war." 

The  1 9th  was  a  rainy  day.  In  the  afternoon  the  enemy 
made  a  desperate  attack  but  were  driven  back  with  heavy 
loss.  Brig.  Gen'l  Joseph  Hayes  was  captured.  There  was 
no  engagement  on  the  2Oth. 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"!N  POSITION  ON  THE  WELDON  R.  R. 

Sunday  Morning, 

Aug.  21,  1864. 

We  started  for  this  place  on  Thursday  morning,  the 
weather  being  pleasant.  In  the  forenoon  we  reached  the 
Weldon  R.  R.  and  took  possession  of  it.  Griffin's  Division 
led  the  Corps  and  was  deployed  about  a  mile  from  the  R.  R. 
and  then  advanced  towards  it.  As  we  found  only  about 
50  Rebel  cavalry  guarding  it,  no  opposition  was  met  with. 
The  Rebels  must  be  short  of  men  to  let  us  get  this  R.  R.  so 
important  to  them,  with  so  little  opposition.  As  the  other 
Divisions  came  up  they  were  deployed  on  the  right  of  the 
ist.  In  the  afternoon  the  2d  Division  were  quite  heavily 

engaged The  night  and  all  Friday  were  spent  in 

shovelling  dirt,  so  that  we  have  now  a  very  formidable  line 
of  works.  Friday  afternoon  the  enemy  attacked  our  right 
and  drove  it  in,  but  we  finally  repulsed  them.  At  one  time 
it  looked  a  little  doubtful.  The  39th  Mass,  was  badly  cut 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  90S 

up.  The  Rebels  got  in  their  rear  and  they  jumped  over  to 
the  outside  of  their  breastworks  and  fought  that  way. 
General  Hayes  formerly  colonel  of  the  i8th  Mass,  taken 
prisoner." 

Phillips'  Diary.  "Aug.  21,  1864:  A  little  foggy  in  the 
forenoon,  clearing  off  in  the  afternoon.  During  the  fore 
noon  the  rebels  attacked.  A  Brigade  containing  7th,  2ist, 
23d,  25th  So.  C,  27th  No.  C,  i2th,  22d  Miss. — Hayward's 
Br.  Hoke's  Div. — came  out  in  our  front.  We  shelled  them 
and  broke  them.  Most  of  the  men  and  flags  were  taken. 
Our  loss  very  slight.  Right  wheel  of  the  2d  piece  smashed 
by  a  round  shot,  the  felly  striking  Serg't.  Stiles  in  the  head, 
injuring  him  slightly." 

In  a  letter  dated  August  30,  1864,  Major  Phillips  again 
refers  to  this  engagement : — "The  rebel  troops  in  front  of 
our  Battery  were  Hayward's  So.  Ca.  and  Saunders'  Miss. 
Brigades.  We  did  not  fire  at  them  till  they  came  in  sight 
to  the  left  of  Cutler.  They  were  then  distant  from  us  about 
600  yards." 

Shackley's  Notes:  "Aug.  2ist,  the  enemy  made  another 
desperate  effort  to  drive  us  back,  but  were  forced  to  retire, 
leaving  their  dead  in  our  hands." 

FROM  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  THIRD  MASSACHUSETTS 

BATTERY. 

"Sunday  morning,  Aug.  21,  1864,  the  battle  opened  about  eight 
o'clock.  The  ground  in  this  locality  was  very  marshy.  It  was  Vir 
ginia  land  without  any  bottom,  and  it  was  very  difficult  to  move  bat 
teries.  Our  whole  battery  was  sunk  to  the  hubs  in  the  road  near  the 
line  of  battle.  It  could  neither  move  forward  nor  back.  Orders  were 
given  to  commanders  if  obliged  to  fall  back  to  spike  their  guns,  as  it 
would  be  impossible  to  move  as  from  every  discharge  they  sank  deeper 
in  the  soil.  The'  Rebels  met  with  the  same  difficulties,  the  recent 
heavy  rains  making  it  the  same  for  them. '  Very  few  of  .their  guns  were 
got  up  near  enough  to  do  much  damage. 

General  Griffin  sent  out  a  line  of  skirmishers  to  meet  the  Rebels' 
heavy  force  of  infantry,  supposed  to  be  forty  thousand.  After  a  few 
shots  were  exchanged  his  skirmishers  fell  back  pell-mell,  that  being 


906  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  plan,  drawing  the  enemy  into  the  centre  of  the  circle  of  General 
Warren's  curved  line, — a  strong  earthwork  thrown  up  in  the  form 
of  half  a  quadrangle  extending  half  a  mile  south,  and  across  the  rail 
road  on  his  left. — When  near  enough  for  execution,  the  flank  bat 
teries  opened  first,  our  infantry  hugging  the  ground  closely,  the  ar 
tillery  shots  passing  over  their  heads,  the  Rebels  all  the  while  pressing 
up  nearer  as  our  advanced  line  fell  back  on  their  supports.  The  ruse 
worked  well.  At  a  given  signal  the  whole  line  of  artillery  opene'd, 
using  up  the  enemy  fearfully.  After  one  hour's  brisk  cannonade,  at  a 
given  signal,  the  artillery  ceased  firing,  when  Gen.  Griffin  charged  on 
them  with  his  Division,  capturing  over  two  thousand  prisoners.  It 
was  Warren's  best  planned  battle,  and  a  great  success,  as  the  Rebels 
never  after  attempted  to  retake  the  road." 

This  battle  was  the  last  for  the  Third  Mass.  Battery,  its 
term  of  service  having  expired.  Its  guns  and  equipments 
were  turned  into  the  ordnance  department,  the  horses  and 
wagons  to  the  quartermasters  department.  Its  commander, 
Captain  Augustus  P.  Martin  was  soon  after  brevetted 
colonel,  as  an  honorary  title  for  his  valuable  services,  and 
for  the  reason,  as  General  Henry  J.  Hunt,  Chief  of  Artillery 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  observed,  that  besides  com 
manding  his  battery,  he  had  "performed  the  highest  duties 
of  field-officer." 


By  these  operations,  of  the  third  and  fourth  weeks  of 
August,  our  main  line  was  extended  from  the  Jerusalem 
Plank  Road  at  the  Cheever  house  to  Globe  Tavern.  From 
this  point  we  held  all  the  ground  along  the  Weldon  Rail 
road  to  White  House  where  a  fort  was  built  and  named  for 
Colonel  Dushane. 

August  25th  the  Battery  moved  about  two  miles  to  the 
left  in  support  of  the  Second  Corps,  which  had  a  severe 
fight  at  Ream's  Station  on  the  Weldon  Railroad.  The 
enemy  forced  our  lines,  tore  up  the  railroad  track  and  cap 
tured  the  guns  of  the  Tenth  Mass.  Battery  and  Battery  G, 
ist  Rhode  Island. 

The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  placed  in  position  on  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  907 

pike  leading  to  Ream's  Station  in  advance  of  the  line  of 
battle. 

"August  29th,  1864.  (Shackley's  Notes.)  Cleared  up 
our  park  and  dug  another  well,  making  eleven  wells  dug 
by  the  Battery  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

Corporal  Tripp  promoted  to  sergeant,  James  Kay  and 
Joseph  Clark  promoted  to  corporals." 

The  Battery's  position  on  the  3Oth  was  outside  the  in- 
trenchments,  two  guns  on  each  side  of  the  road.  At  the 
front  and  on  the  right  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  skirmishers 
were  thrown  out. 

Major  Phillips  in  his  report  to  the  Adjutant  General  of 
the  state  of  Massachusetts  dated  Dec.  16,  1864,  thus  refers 
to  the  status  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  and  its  relations  to 
the  Fifth  :— 

"On  the  30th  of  August,  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  who  were  not  entitled  to  be  mustered  out, 
were  permanently  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
by  Special  Order  210,  Head  Quarters  Fifth  Army  Corps, 
dated  August  27th.  This  order  was  afterwards  rescinded, 
and  it  was  directed  that  the  two  organizations  should  be 
kept  up,  by  Special  Order  236,  Head  Quarters  Fifth  Army 
Corps.  The  two  batteries  have  since  been  temporarily 
united  under  my  command." 

The  report  of  the  Third  to  the  same  state  official  reads  :— 

"The  Veterans  and  Recruits  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Bat 
tery,  and  the  battery  ordered  to  the  re'ar  with  instructions  to  turn  over 
ihe  battery,  &c.,  preparatory  to  leaving  the  Army,  and  on  the  evening 
of  the  4th  September  the  officers  and  men  whose  term  of  service  was 
about  to  expire,  marched  to  City  Point." 

New  wharves  had  been  built  at  City  Point  and  a  new  rail 
way  in  the  rear  of  the  lines  from  City  Point  to  the  Weldon 
Railroad  at  Globe  Tavern,  and  from  that  point  to  the 
crossing  of  the  Vaughan  road  near  Wyatt's  house,  the  Wel 
don  Railroad  was  used  as  a  military  railway. 


908  HISTORY    OF    THE 

FROM  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  THIRD   MASS.   BATTERY. 
List  of  the  Members  of  the  Fhird  Mass.  Battery  temporarily  con 
solidated  with  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 

Aug.  30,  1864,  and  Previous. 

Allen  Elisha 

Aymer  Frank 

Ball  Volney 

Boutwell  Wm.  G. 

Bowman  Benedict 

Brizee  Wm.  A.  Jr. 

Brock  John  H. 

Broom  George 

Bryson  Peter 

Bugbee  Win.  L. 

Burleson  Charles 

Burns  Joseph 

Cahill  George  H. 

Carling  Chas.  P. 

Gary  Richard 

Conant  Sherman  W. 

Crockett    George    F. 

Downey  Thomas 

Drake  Wm.  M. 

Dudley  Edwd.  M. 

Duff  Robert  P. 

Edwards  William 

Flanagan  Thomas 

Follett  Charles  A. 

Ford  Jacob  W. 

Gragg  John  T. 

Graves  Henry  B. 

Hanley  Henry 

Hart  Patrick 

Hayden  Wm.  A. 

Haye's  Joseph 

Hunt  Geo.  S. 

Hunt  Ira  J. 

Johnson  Alfred  J. 

Johnston  Leonard  F. 

Knowles  William 

Leach  Jacob  H. 

Mahan  Fred'k  W. 

Mahan  Geo.   F. 

Martis   Wm.   A. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  909 

Matthews  David  A. 
Matthews  Roland  F. 
McCarthy  Eugene 
McCartney  John 
Murphy  James 
Murphy  Thomas 
Murphy  Walter 
Nichols  Wm.  H. 
Potter  Geo.  Jr. 
Ransom  Wallace  R. 
Ransom  William 
Reed  Andrew 
Remington  Lysander  F. 
Riley  Morris 
Robinson  John  R. 
Rowe  Amos 
Skillin  Howard  A. 
Spencer  Albert  L. 
Stetson  Charles  E. 
Stetson  Henry 
Sullivan  James 
Thomas  Jefferson 
Tufts    Henry 
Turner  Thomas 
Waterson  James 
Waterson  William 
Way  George  H. 
Welch  John  H. 
Wheelock  Geo.  W. 
Whelan  John 
Wilson  Richard 
Wood  Alfred. 


August  31,  1864,  notice  was  received  of  Lieut.  Nathan 
Appleton's  discharge,  Special  Order  War  Department  dated 
Aug.  25,  1864,  and  Lieut.  Hamblet  was  mustered  in  to  date 
August  25,  1864. 

September  i,  1864,  our  rear  was  attacked  by  rebel  cavalry. 
"Pickets  were  driven  in,  (Shackley's  Notes)  the  Rebs  were 
repulsed,  and  we  unhitched." 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
THE  BATTLE  OF  HATCHER'S  RUN. 

OCTOBER  27,  1864. 
"Here  was  the  camp,  the  watch-flame,  and  the  host, 

Still  does  he'  mark  it  with  triumphant  boast, 
And  points  to  yonder  cliffs,  which  oft  were  won  and  lost." 

—Childe  Harold. 

As  far  as  new  ground  was  gained  by  our  forces,  en 
trenchments  and  redoubts  of  great  strength  were  carried 
on  to  secure  it.  The  length  of  this  line  was  about  three  and 
a  half  miles  on  the  front  from  Fort  Davis  to  Fort  Wads- 
worth,  and  a  mile  and  a  half  along  the  railroad  from  Fort 
Wadsworth  to  Fort  Dushane.  The  reverse  works  extended 
from  Fort  Dushane  back  to  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  a 
distance  of  about  four  miles.  The  forts  included  in  the 
front  line  were  Forts  Hays,  Howard,  Wadsworth  and 
Dushane  and  several  redoubts.  The  reverse  line  was  made 
up  of  small  forts,  the  only  one  of  large  extent  being  Fort 
Stevenson.  The  woods  in  the  vicinity  were  utilized,  and 
furnished  all  the  timber  needed  for  gun  platforms  and 
drawbridges  by  means  of  portable  saw  mills.  Skilled  labor 
of  all  descriptions  for  building  the  fortifications,  railroads, 
etc.,  was  found  in  the  ranks  of  the  army. 

As  fast  as  the  protecting  works  were  completed  the  mili 
tary  line  connecting  with  the  Weldon  Railroad  at  Globe 
Tavern  was  extended.  Parts  of  the  line  built  for  the  use  of 
batteries  of  artillery  were  numbered,  beginning  at  the  right 
of  the  line  near  the  James  River  and  numbering  towards  the 
left. 

910 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  911 

September  23,  1864,  a  circular  was  published  and  read 
to  the  Army,  announcing  the  success  of  General  Sheridan 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  While  at  the  height  of  the  en 
thusiasm  created  by  this  glorious  news,  the  determination 
of  General  Grant  to  strike  a  blow  at  Richmond  from  the 
north  bank  of  the  James  met  general  approval,  and  on  Sep 
tember  28th  the  1 8th  Corps  under  General  E.  O.  C.  Ord, 
and  the  loth  Corps  under  General  D.  B.  Birney  went  off 
"in  good  spirits,"  as  the  phrase  was  then,  across  the  James; 
the  1 8th  by  the  Varina  road  nearer  the  river  and  the  loth 
by  the  Newmarket  and  Darby  roads.  The  result  was  the 
capture  of  Fort  Harrison  and  its  entrenchments  and  their 
guns. 

On  the  29th  at  4  a.  m.  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
under  arms  for  a  move,  and  preparations  were  made  to 
withdraw  from  the  entrenchments  round  Petersburg,  leav 
ing  garrisons  in  the  forts  and  batteries. 

The  cavalry  was  sent  off  to  the  crossing  of  Hatcher's 
Run,  by  the  Vaughan  road,  where  there  was  a  rebel  redoubt 
and  entrenchments  which  were  a  part  of  the  Petersburg  line, 
running  parallel  with  the  Weldon  Railroad.  Cavalry  was 
also  sent  to  Peebles  and  Pegram  farms  on  the  Squirrel 
Level  road,  two  miles  west  of  our  intrenchments  on  the 
railroad,  in  order  to  extend  our  left  and  surround  Peters 
burg. 

There  was  a  redo-ubt  called  Fort  McRae,  at  the  junction 
of  the  Squirrel  Level  and  Poplar  Spring  Church  roads,  com 
ing  from  the  southwest,  which  it  was  Grant's  design  to  cap 
ture  with  a  part  of  the  Fifth  Corps  including  Griffin's  Divi 
sion,  accompanied  by  Batteries  B,  D  and  H,  ist  N.  Y.  Light 
Artillery,  and  at  7  o'clock  of  September  30,  they  left  the 
intrenchments  at  Globe  Tavern  and  fought  their  way  west, 
holding  the  entrenchments  captured,  through  the  Peebles 
and  Pegram  farms,  and  northwest  to  the  Boydton  Plank 
Road,  and  on  the  2d  of  October  the  Fifth  and  Second 


912  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Corps  had  established  a  new  line  of  entrenchments,  connect 
ing  with  the  Weldon  Railroad  works,  made  up  of  redoubts 
and  batteries.     On  the  27th  of  October  General  Meade  was 
directed  by  General  Grant  to  take  possession  of  the  South- 
side  Railroad,  and  to  hold  and  fortify  it. 

The  rebels  had  intrenchments  not  very  complete  at  a 
point  two  miles  above  the  crossing  of  Hatcher's  Run  by  the 
Vaughan  road,  and  about  a  mile  above  Armstrong's  Mills. 
They  did  not  cross  the  run  or  extend  any  farther  up  than 
the  crossing. 

The  Confederate  Petersburg  lines  reached  from  the  Ap 
pomattox  River  to  a  battery  west  of  the  Jerusalem  Plank 
Road.  Our  movement  was  to  the  left,  the  Second  Corps- 
moving  by  the  Vaughan  road,  crossing  Hatcher's  Run  and 
proceeding  by  the  Boydton  Plank  and  White  Oak  Roads  tc 
the  Southside  Railroad;  striking  it  at  a  point  about  three 
miles  east  of  Sutherland  Station.  The  Ninth  Corps  was  tc 
attack  the  intrenchments  at  Hatcher's  Run,  and  the  Fifth 
to  move  to  Armstrong's  Mills  and  support  the  Ninth  at 
Hatcher's  Run. 

The  Confederate  lines  stretched  from  Hatcher's  Run  tc 
the  Boydton  Road  a  distance  of  about  a  mile,  covering  the 
road. 

The  Fifth  Corps  started  at  4  a.  m.  of  Oct.  27,  1864.  It 
was  composed  of  the  ist  and  2d  and  two  Brigades  of  the  3d 
Division,  under  General  S.  W.  Crawford.  The  ammuni 
tion  and  reserve  supplies  remained  in  camp  guarded  by  the 
2d  Brigade  of  Crawford's  Division  under  General  Henry 
Baxter,  and  8  batteries  of  34  guns.  Three  batteries  of  light 
12  pdrs.  14  guns,  and  two  batteries  of  3  inch  rifled,  10  gains, 
accompanied  the  expedition. 

Griffin's  ist  Division  was  4707  strong;  of  these  more  than 
one-third  were  ignorant  of  the  manual,  and  more  than  half 
the  number  had  never  fired  a  musket.  In  Ayres'  2d  Divi 
sion  4704  strong,  there  were  104  men  who  had  not  been 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  913 

drilled  in  the  manual,  and  812  who  had  never  fired  a  musket. 
In  Crawford's  3d  Division  there  were  298  raw  recruits. 

They  moved  southwesterly  and  westerly,  meeting  the 
rebel  skirmishers  at  9  a.  m.  and  driving  them  into  a  line  of 
breastworks. 

Orders  hurried  Warren  in  command  to  cross  Hatcher's 
Run  and  communicate  with  Hancock  forthwith,  and  both 
Grant  and  Meade  appeared  in  person  at  Warren's  Head 
Quarters.  Griffin's  skirmish  line  then  extended  to  Hatch 
er's  Run  on  the  left.  Hancock's  Corps  had  moved  towards 
the  Boydton  Plank  Road  past  Armstrong's  Mills.  Warren 
ordered  Crawford  with  one  Brigade  of  Ayres  to  cross  the 
Run,  place  his  right  flank  on  the  Run,  and  then  move  up 
and  attack  the  enemy's  right  in  flank. 

Generals  Grant  and  Meade  informed  Hancock  in  person 
of  this  movement  of  Crawford,  and  Hancock's  Second  Corps 
was  ordered  to  extend  its  line  to  the  right  to  connect  with 
Crawford,  and  hold  his  position  till  the  next  morning, 
which  he  did  after  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy  who  tried  to 
get  possession  of  the  Plank  Road. 

The  woods  were  dense  and  the  stream  was  crooked  and 
these  caused  delay. 

Warren  arrived  at  11.45  a-  m-  and  rested  his  right  on  the 
Run  in  line  of  battle,  and  Griffin  opened  on  the  Confed 
erates  at  i  p.  m.  of  the  27th,  and  about  4  p.  m.  Crawford, 
having  come  up,  and  formed  his  line  on  the  right  flank  of 
the  Confederate  position  fronting  Griffin,  began  skirmish 
ing  with  the  enemy,  but  his  line  of  march  had  carried  him 
into  quite  a  different  position  from  what  was  expected,  and 
he  was  in  a  dense  forest  where  his  men  were  getting  lost, 
even  the  enemy  it  is  said  were  bewildered,  and  his  command 
was  difficult  to  reach. 

There  was  a  consultation  between  Generals  Meade  and 
Warren  at  Armstrong's  Mills,  as  to  what  should  be  done 


914  HISTORY    OF    THE 

with  Crawford,  and  he  was  ordered  to  withdraw  at  day 
break  of  the  28th  to  the  north  side  of  Hatcher's  Run. 

Hancock  with  ammunition  exhausted,  and  seeing  no  ad 
vantage  in  holding  his  position,  commenced  to  fall  back  at 
10  p.  m.  of  the  27th.  At  10  a.  m.  of  the  28th  the  road  was 
clear  of  wagons,  wounded  and  prisoners,  and  at  1 1  a.  m. 
the  Fifth  and  Ninth  Corps  had  withdrawn  and  returned 
to  their  former  positions. 

The  object  of  this  movement  is  variously  stated.  Some 
historians  believe  they  have  authority  for  saying  that  the 
demonstration  was  made  on  the  left  by  our  Army  to  hold 
the  enemy's  attention  so  that  he  would  not  trouble  Butler 
who  was  coming  up  towards  Richmond  from  the  James 
River,  while  others  say  that  the  plan  was  a  concerted  move 
ment  to  attack  Lee  in  order  to  prevent  his  sending  rein 
forcements  to  oppose  Butler  who  was  to  operate  on  that 
side,  and  prevent  reinforcements  being  sent  to  Lee.  That 
Grant  was  very  desirous  of  getting  possession  of  the  rail 
roads  is  made  plain  in  his  Memoirs,  when  he  says  of  the 
railroad  south  by  way  of  Danville,  he  was  afraid  the  enemy 
was  "running  off  his  men  and  stores  and  ordnance"  by  it. 

The  result  of  the  movement  was  that  we  advanced  our 
line'  to  Poplar  Spring  Church. 

On  October'3ist  the  regular  infantry  serving  in  the  Fifth 
Corps  were  again  ordered  to  the  city  of  New  York  to  report 
to  Major  General  John  A.  Dix,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
Corps  took  their  places  once  more  in  the  fortifications  before 
Petersburg  near  Fort  Sedgwick. 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

September  2,  1864,  the  square  work  of  four  bastions  on 
the  right  was  garrisoned  by  the  Ninth  Mass.  Battery.  The 
next  day  General  Grant,  General  Lew  Wallace  and  LI.  S. 
Secretary  Fessenden  paid  a  visit  to  camp. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  915 

DISPOSAL  OF  NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

MAJOR  C.  A.  PHILLIPS  TO  LIEUT.  FORD.  MORRIS. 

September  8,  1864. 

LIEUT.  FORD.  MORRIS  A.  A.  A.  G.  Art'y  Brigade  5th  A.  C. 
Lieutenant. 

I  have  the  honor  to  forward  the  following  statement  for 
the  action  of  the  proper  authorities. 

On  the  3Oth  of  August,  by  order  from  Corps  Hd.  Qrs. 
the  enlisted  men,  recruits  and  veterans  of  Battery  C,  Mass. 
Art'y  were  transferred  to  Battery  E,  Mass.  Art'y,  the  first 
named  battery  being  ordered  to  be  mustered  out. 

Among  the  men  so  transferred  were  the  following  non 
commissioned  officers.  As  there  are  now  the  full  number 
of  non-commissioned  officers  in  Battery  E,  I  respectfully 
request  that  these  serg'ts.  and  corp'ls  may  be  discharged,  as 
they  cannot  be  'mustered  for  pay : — 

Serg't.  Lysander  F.  Remington  Present. 
Wallace  R.   Ransom 
Thomas  Turner 
Corp.  Charles  A.  Follett 
Brooks  B.  Martis 
Daniel  Norcross  absent  wounded. 
William  H.  Nichols. 
I  am  very  Resp'y 

Your  Obd.  Serv't 
CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS, 

Captain  Battery  E, 

Mass.  Art'y. 

FROM  BRIG.  GEN.  HENRY  J.  HUNT. 

ART'Y  HD.  QRS.  A.  OF  P. 

Sept.  20,   1864. 
Respectfully  returned  to  Hd.  Qrs.  A.  .of  P. 

By  a  return  made  to  these   Hd.   Qrs.   August   ist,  it  appears  that 


916  HISTORY    OF    THE 

there  would  be  in  batteries  C  &  E  Mass.  Art'y  on  Sept.  5,  and  Dec.  3, 
the  dates  of  muster  out. 

Battery  C,  63  enlisted  men. 

"        E,  71        " 

Instead  of  transferring  the  men  from  one  battery  to  the  other  I 
think  the  batteries  should  be  united  temporarily  to  serve  one  battery 
of  guns,  thus  preserving  their  organization  until  recruits  could  be 
obtained  to  fill  them:  This  would  save  their  organization  and  keep 
the  non-commissioned  officers  in  service. 

HENRY  J.  HUNT, 
Brig,  Gen' I, 
Ch.  of  Art'y. 

The  opinion  of  General  Meade,  September  21,  1864,  was 
as  follows : — 

"The  order  of  the  3Oth  ult.  would  seem  to  conflict  with  the  instruc 
tions  from  the  War  Dept.  of  the  i6th  ult.  relating  to  consolidations 
a  copy  of  which  was  furnished. 

The  same  rule  will  apply  to  a  battery  as  to  a  reg't.  and  the  63 
men  of  Battery  C  can  be  kept  as  a  separate  organization  with  the 
requisite  number  of  officers  and  nori-commissioned  officers  and  the 
supernumerary  mustered  out." 

His  letter  was  returned  to  Captain  Phillips  by  Colonel 
Wainwright,  after  having  been  referred  to  Captain  W.  T. 
Gentry  commissary  of  musters  of  the  Corps,  the  last  date 
being  Sept.  22,  1864. 


Rumors  that  the  enemy  were  moving  around  to  the  left 
caused  some  uneasiness,  and  on  Sept.  I5th  hitched  up  at  4 
a.  m.,  unhitched  at  8.  Hitched  up  again  at  2,  and  unhitched 
at  dark.  i6th.  Hitched  up  in  the  morning  and  remained 
hitched  up  all  day.  On  the  i7th  orders  to  sweep  the  whole 
camp.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  hitched  up  and  packed  up, 
and  took  the  Battery  out  of  line.  Relieved  by  Stewart's 
Battery  B,  Fourth  Regulars  and  marched  to  Yellow  Tav 
ern.  Went  into  camp  near  Warren's  Station  in  the  vicinity 
of  Corps  Head  Quarters,  being  held  to  support  any  part  of 
the  line.  On  this  day  Lt.  Simonds  was  mustered  in  as  ist 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  917 

Lieutenant  and  Mason  W.   Page  was  mustered  in  as  2d 
Lieutenant. 

"Sunday  Sept.  18,  1864.  (Dyer's  Notes.)  Orders  to 
clean  up  for  inspection  at  9  o'clock.  We  were  inspected 
by  Lieut.  Spear.  Weather  warm  and  sultry.  Divine  ser 
vices  in  the  p.  m." 

LETTER  OF  Q.   M.    SERG'T.    PEACOCK. 

"CAMP  NEAR  Six  MILE  STATION,  VA. 

Sept.  1 8,  1864. 

We  are  in  camp  at  the  Yellow  Tavern  or  Six  Mile 
House,  that  I  suppose  you  have  read  of,  where  the  big 
battle  took  place  when  we  first  came  up  here.  The  Weldon 
R.  R.  track  runs  directly  in  front  of  the  house  only  some 
twenty  feet  distant.  Our  line  of  battle  is  about  fifty  yards  in 
front.  General  Warren  of  the  5th  Corps  has  his  Hd.  Qrs. 
here.  The  house  is  of  brick  painted  yellow.  The  past  week 
we  have  been  on  a  constant  jump  night  and  day,  hitching 
up  and  remaining  in  suspense  for  a  few  hours,  then  the 
alarm  will  quiet  down,  and  we  unharness  again  for  a  short 
time. 

The  pickets  get  to  firing  in  front  of  us,  and  they  are  so 
near  at  some  points  it  is  impossible  to  tell  at  what  minute 
we  shall  see  the  rebels  charging  our  works. 

It  takes  our  Battery  not  over  ten  minutes  to  hitch  up, 
pack  everything  and  be  on  the  move.  Early  in  the  war  it 
took  us  a  half -hour. 

Captain  Phillips  is  doing  a  lot  of  correspondence  with 
the  War  Department  to  get  us  mustered  out  Oct.  ist, — ex 
piration  of  three  years  term  of  service, — as  there  was  a 
mistake  or  neglect  in  our  muster  in  on  that  date." 

Sept.  i gth.  Corp.  Jonas  Shackley  was  discharged  by 
Special  Order  No.  304  War  Department,  to  receive  a  com 
mission  as  2d  Lieutenant  in  the  24th  Unattached  Co.  ot 


918  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  ist  Serg't.  E.  J.  Gibbs  was  also 
discharged  for  a  commission  as  2(1  Lieutenant  in  the  26th 
Unattached  Co.  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

On  this  day  the  men  levelled  off  the  park  and  dug  two 
wells  which  employed  them  most  of  the  day.  In  the  evening 
Dyer  went  over  to  the  2Oth  Maine  Regt.  and  had  a  very 
pleasant  time. 

Sept.  20th  the  Battery  was  inspected  at  2  o'clock  by 
Lieut.  G.  W.  Dresser  A.  A.  I.  G.  Everything  was  minutely 
examined.  John  E.  Dyer  was  personally  complimented  by 
him  for  being  neat  and  clean.  September  2ist  the  Battery 
moved  to  the  rear  and  occupied  Fort  Davison. 

FROM   A  LETTER  OF   MAJOR   PHILLIPS. 
"NEAR  PETERSBURG,  VAV  Sept.  22,   1864. 

We  have  been  very  quiet  since  the  first  few  days  after 
we  took  the  Weldon  R.  R.  Last  Saturday  we  moved  out  of 
our  position  outside  of  the  line  of  battle  on  the  road  leading 
to  Ream's  Station,  and  went  back  into  reserve  near  the 
'Yellow  House'  where  General  Warren's  Hd.  Qrs.  are.  We 
immediately  went  to  work  fixing  up  our  camp  and  though 
the  ground  was  very  dirty  we  made  a  pretty  good  camp. 
Our  officers'  tents  were  pitched  under  an  arbor  built  by  Col. 
Hoffman  for  his  Hd.  Qrs.,  and  were  very  pleasant. 

We  fixed  a  pole  and  pins  for  a  game  quite  common  here 
which  is  played  in  this  way : — Two  poles  are  set  up  with  a 
cross  piece  about  20  feet  from  the  ground,  and  a  12  pdr. 
round  shot  or  shell  is  hung  from  this  cross  piece  by  a  rope 
so  that  it  swings  within  three  inches  from  the  ground. 
Then  we  set  up  ten  pins  under  it  as  they  do  in  a  bowling 
alley  and  swing  the  ball  at  them.  The  object  is  to  hit  the 
pins  when  the  ball  is  swinging  towards  you.  If  you  hit  the 
pins  when  the  ball  is  swinging  from  you,  you  lose  5.  Each 
player  swings  the  ball  three  times  to  make  one  roll  and  to 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  919 

count  just  as  they  do  in  a  bowling  alley.  It  is  quite  a  good 
game.  General  Warren  rode  by  while  we  were  playing  it 
and  seemed  interested  in  it. 

...  A  brigade  of  colored  troops  is  camped  outside  the 
redoubt,  but  we  keep  a  guard  at  the  entrance  and  have  the 
whole  inside  to  ourselves.  One  of  the  curiosities  out  here  is 
the  extension  of  the  City  Point  R.  R.  built  without  survey 
and  grades,  up  and  down  hill  and  across  the  fields  anywhere. 
It  crosses  the  Welclon  R.  R.  and  runs  fairly  into  the  en 
trenched  line  of  battle,  the  rails  being  within  a  foot  of  the 
face  of  the  rifle  pits." 

Again  on  the  24th : — 

"FORT  DAVISON  NEAR  PETERSBURG, 

Sept.  24,  1864. 

This  redoubt  forms  one  of  a  series  built  to  protect  our 
left  flank  and  rear,  and  which  form  a  very  strong  line. 
Our  left  flank  describes  a  complete  semi-circle  and  finally 
runs  parallel  to  the  main  line.  .  .  .  The  southerly  work 
on  the  Welclon  R.  R.  is  Fort  Dushane.  The  northerlv  work 
on  the  west  of  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  a  large  squarer 
redoubt  formerly  called  Fort  Warren,  is  now  named  Fort 
Davis  after  Colonel  Davis  39th  Mass.  Vols.,  who  was  killed 
close  by.  .  .  .  Between  the  two  bastioned  works  on  the 
Welclon  R.  R.  there  are  two  redans  mounting  4  guns  each, 
and  a  4  gun  battery  between  Fort  Dushane  and  Fort  Davi- 
son.  All  the  works  are  connected  by  lines  of  rifle  pits, 
varying  in  strength,  and  with  single  or  double  abattis  in 
front  all  the  length.  In  front  of  Fort  Davis  there  is  first 
a  row  of  cheveaux  de  frise  formed  of  pointed  stakes  set  in 
the  ground  at  an  angle  of  about  30°  and  fastened  with  iron 
wire  to  a  riband  about  two  feet  from  the  ground.  Outside 
of  this  is  a  row  of  abattis  the  whole  forming  rather  a  for 
midable  obstacle. 

One  great  innovation  in  this  war  is  the  introduction  of 


920  HISTORY    OF    THE 

iron  wire  into  obstacles.  Abattis  is  always  fastened  with 
iron  wire  so  as  infallibly  to  trip  up  any  one  who  tries  to  go 
through  it.  It  is  also  extensively  used  in  front  of  abattis 
fastened  to  stakes,  forming  a  very  effective  obstacle  to  a 
charge. 

I  think  we  need  have  no  fear  of  the  Rebels  attempting  to 
repossess  the  Weldon  R.  R.  and  bringing  on  the  great  battle 
which  the  newspapers  have  been  prophesying.  They  failed 
to  drive  us  off  the  R.  R.  in  the  first  few  days  after  we  got 
here,  and  thev  are  too  wise  to  attempt  it  now.  Of  course 
they  may  attempt  it  when  their  only  alternative  is  utter 
annihilation,  but  it  will  amount  to  nothing.  Their  men  and 
ours  have  charged  rifle  pits  too  much  to  run  their  heads 
against  regular  fortifications.  The  news  from  the  Shenan- 
doah  coming  on  top  of  Mobile  and  Atlanta,  brings  the  alter 
native  of  annihilation  home  to  them,  but  I  am  inclined  to 
think  Early  is  too  much  used  up  to  help  Lee  smash  our  left 
as  Jackson  helped  him  to  smash  our  right  in  1862.  But,  in 
1862,  we  did  not  know  how  to  dig.  Not  a  shovelful  of  dirt 
was  thrown  on  the  left  of  the  Chickahominy  that  was  of  any 
use  in  repelling  Jackson's  attack." 

MARTIN'S    BATTERY    GOES    HOME. 

Sept.  24,  1864,  the  men  of  the  Third  Mass.  Battery  whose 
time  had  expired  bivouacked  in  the  rear  of  the  22d  Mass. 
Regt.  Infantry.  Captain  A.  P.  Martin  and  officers  at  Regi 
mental  Head  Quarters.  At  8  a.  m.  of  September  25th,  1864, 
they  were  escorted  to  the  boat  by  the  22d  Regiment;  "send 
ing  them  off"  says  their  historian  "with  ringing  cheers." 

Sept.  26,  1864.  Orders  were  received  to  make  requisition 
for  two  more  guns;  rifled  batteries  having  130  men  present 
beinp-  made  six  gun  batteries.  Harnesses  came  on  the  2/th 
but  no  guns.  On  the  28th  orders  were  received  during  the 
evening  to  send  horses,  caissons  and  wagons  to  the  am 
munition  train  in  case  the  main  body  of  the  Corps  moved, 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  921 

keeping  strong  detachments  in  the  fort,  which  was  then 
garrisoned  by  the  94th  N.  Y.,  and  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery. 
In  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  cannonading  was  heard  in  the 
direction  of  Ream's  Station. 

Oct.  ist  the  Fifth  Corps  began  to  move  to  the  left.  Sent 
caissons,  wagons,  and  all  the  horses  to  the  Ammunition 
Train. 

QUARTERMASTER'S   STATISTICS. 

Quartermaster  Serg't.  Peacock's  Account  Book  contains 
some  interesting  statistics  relative  to  the  horses  connected 
with  the  Battery.  Their  color  was  Bay,  Black,  Sorrel,  Gray, 
Roan  and  Buckskin.  They  were  separated  from  the  Bat 
tery  by  the  following  causes  : — Killed,  abandoned, — worn 
out, — died  from  exhaustion,  died  in  a  fit,  strayed  away, 
broke  leg  and  was  killed,  died  from  sunstroke,  from  dis 
ease,  killed  in  action,  wounded  and  killed.  May  28th,  1864, 
at  Hanover  Town,  one  horse  died  of  swelled  head. 

Besides  clothing,  shelter  tents,  blankets,  sacks, — used  on 
the  works  of  the  Division  Artillery,  gunners'  implements 
etc.  such  property  as  the  following  was  received  for  use  of 
the  Battery  and  accounted  for: — Ridge  Pole,  Tarpaulin. 
Sides  Harness  Leather,  Papers  of  Saddlers'  Needles,  Bridle, 
Spirits  of  Turpentine,  Linseed  Oil,  Horse  Nails,  Wagon 
Tail  Board,  Lanyards,  Castile  Soap,  Requisition  for  Sta 
tioners  ;  Letter  Paper,  Foolscap,  Envelopes,  pins,  wafers, 
Sealin  ^  Wax,  Red  Office  Tape,  Bottle  of  Ink,  Stamps,  Lead 
Pencils,  Mucilage,  Blotting  Paper,  Eraser. 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS  OCT.  2,  1864. 

"During  the  present  demonstration  towards  the  South - 
side  R.  R.  we  still  garrison  Fort  Davison,  while  most  of 
the  Corps  are  fighting.  We  have  rested  in  undisturbed 
quiet  for  the  last  few  days,  hearing  of  the  fighting  only  an 


922  HISTORY    OF    THE 

occasional  shot.  The  94th  N.  Y.,  with  us,  form  the  garri 
son  of  Fort  Davison,  and  consider  ourselves  able  to  hold  :t 
an  indefinite  period. 

Yesterday  was  very  rainy  and  chilly,  and  we  found  tents 
rather  uncomfortable,  so  after  mature  deliberation  we  con 
cluded  to  effect  a  strategic  change  of  base. 

A  series  of  preliminary  reconnoissances  in  force,  finally 
resulted  in  a  flank  movement  on  an  upper  chamber  in  the 
Gurley  house,  which  stands  about  50  feet  from  the  entrance 
to  the  fort.  This  house  was  formerly  occupied  by  a  Mr. 
Gurley,  said  to  be  a  rebel  senator,  who,  alarmed  by  the  ap 
proach  of  winter  and  the  Yankees,  concluded  to  remove, 
and  abandon  his  household  gods  to  the  ruthless  invader. 
The  rest  of  the  house  is  occupied  by  the  officers  of  the  94th 
N.  Y.  Though  somewhat  dilapidated,  the  house  is  in  pretty 
good  order,  and  the  apartment  we  occupy  is  quite  luxurious, 
in  size  about  16  feet  square:  4  windows  on  the  North  and 
South  sides,  fireplace  East,  door  and  closet  West  side.  A 
sea  green  wainscoting  runs  around  the  room,  and  the  walls 
have  no  paper.  The  house  was  probably  built  by  Northern 
mechanics,  and  the  walls  are  frescoed  with  pictures  and  in 
scriptions  of  the  charcoal  style  which  were  evidently  exe 
cuted  by  northern  hands.  We  have  only  three  broken  pan°s 
of  glass  in  our  windows,  and  the  window  by  my  bed  has  two 
blinds  in  good  preservation.  Some  vandal  pulled  off  one 
side  of  the  door  casing,  and  some  lover  of  symmetry  per 
formed  the  same  thing  to  the  closet  door  frame,  to  make  it 
match.  Our  closet  door  has  seceded,  and  the  other  door 
handle  is  gone,  but  fortunately  we  have  no  great  fear  of 
entry  thieves.  We  have  an  excellent  floor  of  hard  pine,  and 
we  availed  ourselves  of  it  by  celebrating  our  installation 
last  night  with  a  clog  dance  interspersed  with  songs. 

I  see  the  N.  Y.  Herald  credits  us  with  the  explosion 
of  a  caisson  on  drill.  We  don't  do  such  things." 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  923 

MUSTERED    OUT. 

October  3,  1864,  Lieut.  J.  E.  Spear  and  29  men  were 
mustered  out,  their  term  of  service  of  three  years  having 
expired,  and  left  for  City  Point.  Among  them  were  John 
E.  Dyer,  William  H.  Baxter,  William  H.  Peacock,  Francis 
P.  Washburn  and  Louis  E.  Pattison,  whose  notes  have 
added  so  much  to  the  interest  of  these  columns. 


October  4,  1864,  a  flag  staff  was  erected  on  Fort  Davison 
and  the  colors  were  run  up  amid  cheers  for  the  flag,  for 
Lieut.  Gen'l  Grant  and  Brig.  Gen'l  Henry  Baxter.  On  the 
8th  orders  were  received  at  5  a.  m  to  hitch  up  and  be  ready 
for  movement  or  action  at  6.  Remained  hitched  up  all  day, 
but  heard  nothing  more  of  it.  Four  recruits  came  in.  On 
the  Qth  there  was  Battery  inspection  in  the  morning. 

October  10,  1864,  marched  early  in  the  day  to  the  front 
line  of  battery  works  between  Fort  Hays  and  Fort  Howard. 
The  Right  section  was  placed  in  Battery  No.  24,  and  the 
Left  section  occupied  Battery  No.  25.  The  distance  between 
them  was  700  yards.  Of  the  work  during  the  week  Major 
Phillips  says  in  his  Diary : — 

"During  the  week  rebuilt  barbettes  and  ramps  in  Battery 
25,  and  built  a  stockade  with  the  caissons  covered  by  a  wall 
tent  and  fly  for  myself  and  Lieut.  Page.  Sent  to  City  Point 
in  the  afternoon  for  two  guns." 

By  Major  Phillips'  Inventory  of  Guns  on  Oct.  15,  1864,  it 
may  be  seen  that  since  Sept.  ^o,  1862,  he  had  had  eleven 
guns,  all  of  three  inch  calibre. 

Of  the  first  six  from  the  Washington  Arsenal,  one,  re 
ceived  on  Sept.  30,  1862,  and  the  remainder  Oct.  I,  1862. 
two  were  turned  in  at  Acquia  Creek,  May  25,  1863.  On 
Tune  6th,  1863,  he  received  two  guns  from  the  Fourth  R.  I. 
Battery,  and  one  of  these  was  exchanged  with  Captain  R.  H. 
Fitzhugh  July  3,  1863. 


924  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Major  Phillips'  Diary  resumed: — 

"Oct.  16,  1864.  Pleasant.  Battery  inspection.  Rec'd 
two  guns  from  City  Point  Nos.  177  and  308.  Drew  12 
horses.  A  regiment  moved  in  on  the  right  of  Battery  25." 

October  I7th  the  new  section  was  placed  in  Battery  25 
with  the  Left  section,  and  the  two  sections  were  commanded 
by  Lieutenants  Hamblet  and  Page.  The  Right  section  in 
Battery  24,  was  under  command  of  Lieut.  Simonds.  Octo 
ber  2Oth  two  recruits  came  in  and  the  next  day  six  more. 
On  this  day  inspection  by  Lieut.  Dresser. 

On  the  22d  the  men  finished  a  new  cook  house,  and  on 
the  25th  the  Battery  was  relieved  by  a  section  of  Battery 
G,  4th  U.  S.  and  a  section  of  Hart's  I5th  New  York.  The 
Regulars  went  into  Battery  24,  and  Hart's  into  Battery  25. 

Marching  orders  were  received,  and  on  the  26th  the 
Battery  Wagon,  Forge,  and  Baggage  Wagon  were  sent 
back  to  the  Ammunition  Train,  en  route  to  City  Point  by 
night. 

Thursday,  Oct.  27,  1864,  marched  to  Hatcher's  Run. 
Started  at  3  a.  m.  At  daylight  the  Fifth  Corps  with  Grif 
fin's  ist  Division  leading,  accompanied  by  Stewart's  Bat 
tery  B,  4th  U.  S.  and  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  marched 
through  the  works  at  our  left. 

Following  were  the  2d  Division  with  Mink's  Battery  H, 
ist  N.  Y.  and  Battery  B,  ist  N.  Y.  under  Capt.  Robert  E. 
Rogers,  and  then  the  3d  Division  with  the  Ninth  Mass. 
Battery. 

They  advanced  three  miles.  The  most  of  the  fighting  was 
by  the  Second  Corps  who  were  on  our  left.  It  rained  all 
the  afternoon  and  all  night,  and  at  8  a.  m.  of  October  28th 
the  Battery  marched  back  as  far  as  the  Yellow  Tavern. 

Oct.  30,  1864,  Lieut.  Hamblet  received  his  commission 
as  ist  Lieutenant  and  Serg't.  Tripp  as  2d  Lieutenant.  On 
the  3 ist  Lieut.  Hamblet  was  mustered  as  ist  Lieutenant, 
and  Nov.  ist  after  Lieut.  Tripp  was  mustered  in  there  was 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  925 

a  supper  in  the  evening,  oysters  and  roast  turkey.     On  this 
date  Major  Phillips  wrote  the  following1  letter : — 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

Nov.  i,  1864. 

At  the  beginning  of  last  week  we  were  lying  quietly  in 
position  in  Batteries  "24"  and  "25,"  and,  the  cold  weather 
being  very  suggestive,  we  had  built  unto  ourselves  a  pretty 
good  log  house  which  we  enjoyed  much.  On  Wednesday 
preparations  for  some  movement  were  visible  all  along  the 
line.  We  were  relieved  by  other  batteries,  new  regiments 
posted,  and  other  arrangements  made. 

Thursday  morning-  we  broke  camp  about  I  a.  m.  having 
been  ordered  to  march  with  Griffin's  Division  at  4  a.  m. 
After  marching  over  three  miles  to  the  left,  we  found  the 
Division  just  moving  out,  and  fell  in  with  them.  Marched 
out  through  the  breastworks  and  kept  on  in  a  general  s.  w. 
direction.  About  noon  we  halted  the  head  of  our  column, 
having  driven  the  enemy's  skirmishers  almost  into'  their 
works.  The  batteries  parked  in  a  field  and  remained  there. 
It  began  to  rain  and  became  rather  wet,  but  it  was  not  cold, 
and  having  pitched  a  tarpaulin  and  built  a  fire  we  got  along 
very  comfortably.  One  shell  struck  15  yards  from  a  tree 
we  were  under,  but  except  this  we  were  not  under  fire. 
After  waiting  in  camp  all  the  afternoon  we  went  into  camp 
for  the  night.  The  next  forenoon  we  turned  round  and 
marched  quietly  back  again  and  camped  near  the  Yellow 
House.  .  .  .  Whether  our  expedition  was  a  success  or  a 
failure  depends  on  our  intention  in  going  out.  If  we  went 
out  to  take  the  Southside  R.  R.  we  failed.  If  we  went  on  a 
reconnoissance  we  succeeded. 

The  Army  is  not  very  cheerful  over  it.  We  have  lost 
our  good  chimneys,  log  houses,  &c.  and  accomplished  noth 
ing,  and  that  is  enough  to  make  soldiers  growl." 

Another  reference  from  Major  Phillips'  pen  has  been 
found  in  a  letter  dated  Battery  No.  25,  Nov.  19,  1864:— 


926  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"This  was  a  singular  movement  and  may  be  understood 
at  the  North  but  certainly  is  not  here. 

If  it  was  intended  as  a  reconnoissance,  most  unusual 
preparations  were  made  for  it.  All  the  wagon  trains  of  the 
Army  were  sent  to  City  Point,  and  the  line  in  front  of 
Petersburg  held  in  very  small  force.  We  marched  out  a 
few  miles  but  did  not  attack  the  enemy's  works.  Two 
brigades  of  the  5th  Corps  engaged  the  enemy's  skirmish 
line,  but  did  not  make  any  attack.  Not  a  battery  in  the 
Corps  was  engaged,  and  after  remaining  one  night  in  the 
rain  we  returned  to  camp." 

GEN.    SCHOULER    IN    CAMP. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa 
chusetts  went  to  Washington  in  October,  1864,  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  actual  condition  of  the  volunteers  from  this 
state  and  to  examine  the  defenses  of  the  national  capital. 
That  city  had  been  again  endangered  bv  the  demonstration 
of  the  confederate  general  Early  in  July,  to  overcome  which 
the  Sixth  Corps  had  been  withdrawn  from  before  Peters 
burg.  The  letter  from  which  the  following  extracts  are 
taken  is  dated  Nov.  14,  1864:— 

GEN.    SCHOULER'S    LETTER    FROM    THE    FIELD    TO 
GOVERNOR    ANDREW. 

"Oct.  22,  1864,  we  started  in  a  carriage  from  Washington  at  noon 
to  visit  our  troops  stationed  in  the  forts  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the 

Potomac We    passed    over    Chain    Bridge    and    entered 

Virginia.  A  line  of  fortifications  for  the  defence  of  Washington  ex 
tends  on  the  Virginia  side  from  Chain  Bridge  to  the  Long  Bridge 
at  Washington  which  are  connected  with  breastworks  and  rifle  pits 
the  entire  distance.  A  short  way  from  Chain  Bridge  is  Fort  Ethan 
Allen,  where  we  stopped.  This  fort  is  very  large,  and  is  garrisoned 
by  five  companies  of  Massachusetts  unattached  heavy  artillery. 
Here  we  stayed  nearly  an  hour  and  then  passed  on  to  Forts 
Whipple,  Cass,  Tillinghast,  Smith  and  Albany,  each  of  which  is 
garrisoned  by  an  unattached  heavy  artillery  company.  We  arrived 
at  Washington  about  dark. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  927 

The  country  was  high  and  rolling,  intersected  at  short  intervals 
with  ravines.  Two  years  ago  it  was  thickly  wooded,  now  good 
carriage  roads  intersect  it.  The  woods  have  been  felled  and  used 
for  making  abattis,  corduroy  roads,  and  to  light  up  camp  fires. 

Oct.  24,  1864,  visited  the  forts  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the 
Potomac,  garrisoned  by  Mass,  heavy  artillery  companies.  The 
route  was  over  Capitol  Hill,  then  near  the  Navy  Yard  and  across 
the  'East  Branch'  a  stream  which  runs  up  to  Bladensburg.  Two 
miles  from  the  Bridge  I  came  to  Fort  Baker,  which  was  under 
command  of  Lieut.  Dame.  Next  passed  on  to  Fort  Greble,  Forts 
Snyder  and  Carroll.  Fort  Davis  next;  then  Dupont,  Mahan  and 
Meigs.  Six  miles  from  there  was  Fort  Lincoln  crossing  East  Branch. 
It  is  within  a  mile  of  Bladensburg  and  near  General  Hooker's  old 
camp.  The  next  are  Forts  Thayer  and  Saratoga.  We  drove  over 
the  Bladensburg  turnpike  to  Washington,  and  arrived  there  at  dark. 
There  is  an  extension  of  these  works  on  the  Maryland  side  reaching 
a«  far  as  the  Chain  Bridge. 

I  found  the  defences  of  Washington  almost  entirely  garrisoned 
by  our  men,  and  their  good  conduct  and  soldierly  bearing  are  uni 
versally  acknowledged. 

Oct.  25,  1864.  At  3  o'clock  I  left  Washington  on  the  mail  steamer 
'Express'  for  Citv  Point,  General  Grant's  Head  Quarters.  The  sail 
down  the  Potomac  was  very  pleasant.  At  early  morning  stopped  to 
deliver  the  mail  and  a  few  passengers  at  Point  Lookout,  a  large 
depot  for  rebel  prisoners,  commanded  at  present  by  Brig.  Gen. 
Barnes  formerly  colonel  of  the  Mass.  i8th  Regt.  Arrived  at 
Fortress  Monroe  at  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Oct.  26,  1864. 

In  Hampton  Roads  lay  the  largest  fleet  of  war  vessels  and 
transport  ships  ever  concentrated  in  any  harbor  in  America.  It  was 
a  beautiful  sight  and  gave  one  an  enlarged  idea  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  war,  of  the.  enterprise  of  our  people,  and  of  the  resources  of  the 
nation. 

The  boat  remained  at  Fortress  Monroe  two  hours,  and  then  pro 
ceeded  on  past.  Newport  News  to  the  mouth  of  the  James,  and  fol 
lowing  that  river  for  about  70  miles,  arrived  at  5  p.  m.  at  City 
Point,  base  of  supplies  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  trip  was 
made  including  stops  in  twenty-six  hours.  A  steamer  leaves  Wash 
ington  every  afternoon  for  City  Point,  stopping  at  Alexandria,  Point 
Lookout,  and  Fortress  Monroe. 

The  banks  of  the  James  are  densely  wooded,  no  villages  to  be  seen 
from  the  steamer.  As  the  steamer  glides  up  the  stream  it  passes 
Foster's  Landing,  White  House  Landing,  Harrison's  Landing,  Light 
House  Point,  Fort  Powhattan,  &c.  &c.  The  river  is  well  guarded  with 
gunboats.  At  City  Point  the  river  is  crowded  with  vessels  of  all 
descriptions.  The  wharves  extend  for  at  least  half  a  mile. 


928  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Numerous  supplies  for  the  Army  are  here  stored.  On  ascending 
the  bank  which  is  75  feet  high,  the  first  place  to  visit  is  the  Provost 
Marshal's  office,  where  the  passes  are  examined.  General  (M.  R.) 
Patrick  is  stationed  here  as  Provost  Marshal  General  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac. 

The  first  information  I  received  on  landing  (Oct.  26th)  was  that 
an  advance  had  been  ordered  and  the  Army  had  moved  that  morn 
ing. 

At  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  (Oct.  27th)  I  walked  over  to 
General  Grant's  headquarters.  The  General  and  staff  live  in  tents. 
I  missed  seeing  him  as  he  had  left  at  seven  o'clock  for  the  front.  Ob 
tained  a  pass  to  Bermuda  Hundred  3  miles  distant.  In  an  open  space 
near  by  are  100  soldiers'  graves. 

The  front  was  distant  about  five  miles  from  Bermuda  Hundred.  I 
have  learned  that  the  advance  of  the  armies  was  a  concerted  move 
ment  to  obtain  possession  of  the  Danville  R.  R.  Lee's  army  was  to 
be  attacked  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the  railroad  taken  if 
possible,  while  the  Army  of  the  James  was  to  operate  on  that  side 
and  prevent  reinforcements  being  sent  to  Lee  and  to  take  advantage 
of  circumstances. 

The  celebrated  Dutch  Gap  where  Gen.  Butler  is  making  a  canal, 
is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Head  Quarters.  The  Rebels  were 
shelling  the  Gap, — fell  short, — many  hundred  men  working  day  and 
night;  lines  picketed  by  colored  soldiers. 

At  10  o'clock  at  night  (Oct.  27th)  a  tremendous  cannonading 
heard  in  the  direction  of  Petersburg,  which  lasted  for  two  hours. 

Oct.  28,  1864.  Started  with  Gen.  Devens  and  others  for  the  front. 
Rode  about  six  miles,  through  woods,  over  old  cornfields,  by  lines 
of  breastworks,  through  camp,  and  along  the  Favina  and  Darbytown 
turnpike  often  mentioned  in  despatches,  until  we  reached  Dr.  John 
son's  farm,  where  we  found  General  Butler  and  General  Terry  who 
commands  the  Tenth  Army  Corps.  Before  we  arrived  it  had  been 
decided  to  withdraw  our  forces  and  to  return  within  our  lines.  This 
was  not  done  though  until  near  noon.  Our  skirmish  line  was  about 
half  a  mile  in  advance. 

On  going  back  to  headquarters  the  entire  staff  rode  with  the 
General.  We  went  back  by  a  more  circuitous  route,  visited  Fort 
Harrison  and  the  immense  line  of  works  of  which  it  forms  an  im 
portant  part.  We  passed  long  lines  of  wagons  and  ambulances. 
Arrived  at  headquarters  at  two  o'clock,  having  ridden  about  20 
miles.  I  had  been  within  four  miles  of  Richmond. 

Arrived  back  at  City  Point  Oct.  29.  1864,  at  about  two  o'clock. 
At  3  o'clock  left  City  Point  in  the  cars  for  the  front.  The  railroad 
runs  the  entire  length  of  our  lines,  and  the  camps  of  the  different 
corps  are  on  each  side  of  it.  Twelve  miles  from  City  Point  is  Gen. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  929 

Meade's  station.  His  Head  Quarters  are  nearly  a  mile  from  there. 
I  found  the  ambulance  in  waiting  for  me.  We  drove  to  General 
Meade's  Quarters.  The  shades  of  evening  began  to  fall  when  I  left 
in  an  ambulance  for  the  Ninth  Corps.  We  crossed  the  famous 
Weldon  R.  R.  near  General  Warren's  Head  Quarters. 

Oct.  31,  1864.  I  also  visited  Captain  Jones  and  the  Eleventh 
Battery.  This  company  has  charge  of  three  small  forts  in  the  line 
of  works  near  General  Ferrero's  Head  Quarters.  To  General 
Meade's  Head  Quarters  our  route  lay  for  miles  through  the  camps 
of  the  Second  and  Fifth  Army  Corps — Hancock's  and  Warren's. 

More  men  are  wanted,  our  lines  are  so  greatly  extended;  neces 
sarily  so.  Passed  on  to  the  'Yellow  House/  which  is  the  Head 
Quarters  of  General  Warren,  commanding  the  Fifth  Corps.  This 
is  on  the  old  Weldon  R.  R.  and  was  a  tavern  and  depot  station  six 
miles  from  Petersburg. 

Arrived  back  at  City  Point  at  7  o'clock,  Nov.  2d.  Arrived  at 
Washington  Nov.  3,  1864." 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE   ASSAULT   ON    PETERSBURG. 

APRIL  2,  1865. 

"The  wall  is  rent,  the  ruins  yawn, 
And,  with  tomorrow's  earliest  dawn, 
O  er  the  disjointed  mass  shall  vault 
The  foremost  of  the  fierce  assault." 

— The  Siege  of  Corinth. 

When  the  Sixth  Corps  returned  from  its  tour  of  duty 
for  the  preservation  of  the  national  capital  and  assisting 
Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  it  was  to  take  the  place 
in  the  lines  before  Richmond  of  the  Fifth  Corps  which  had 
been  ordered  out  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  railroads. 
The  Fifth  Corps  massed  near  the  Gurley  house,  and  on 
December  7,  1864,  three  Divisions  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and 
one  Division  of  the  Second  Corps,  with  four  batteries  of 
artillery  and  a  Division  of  cavalry,  started  for  Hicksford  on 
the  Meherrin  River,  40  miles  south  of  Petersburg. 

Hicksford  was  the  point  of  supply  for  the  rebels  at  Peters 
burg.  Their  trains  came  up  the  Meherrin  River  to  the 
Boydton  Plank  road,  and  thence  through  Dinwiddie  Court 
House  to  Petersburg.  The  cavalry  took  the  road  east  of 
the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  and  joined  it  again  a  short  dis 
tance  below  Warwick  swamp.  The  infantry,  with  Craw 
ford  reading,  moved  on  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road. 

When  they  reached  the  crossing  of  the  Warwick  swamp 
by  the  Plank  Road,  the  bridge  was  gone,  and  a  delay  was 
caused  by  the  building  of  a  bridge  strong  enough  to  allow 
the  passage  of  the  trains.  All  through  the  day  it  rained. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  931 

Griffin's  ist  Division  remained  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Nottaway  River  until  two  hours  after  midnight,  still  rain 
ing  heavily,  when  they  crossed  and  went  into  camp  on  the 
southern  bank. 

By  night  of  the  8th  the  cavalry  had  partially  destroyed 
the  railroad  down  to  Jarratt's  Station,  and  by  moonlight 
the  Fifth  Corps  infantry  completed  its  destruction  to  that 
point,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  Qth  formed  line  of 
battle  on  the  railroad.  Each  Division,  as  it  advanced,  de 
stroyed  all  before  it,  and  then  marched  to  the  left. 

By  4  p.  m.  the  cavalry  had  possession  of  Belfield,  on  the 
north  fork  of  the  Meherrin  River,  opposite  Hicksford 
where  the  enemy  was  firmly  entrenched,  their  defences  con 
sisting  of  three  forts  connected  by  rifle  pits,  the  guns 
of  which  protected  the  bridge  across  the  river.  The  works 
were  too  formidable  to  be  taken  by  General  Warren's  com 
mand,  equipped  as  it  was,  and  having  as  a  result  of  the 
raid,  destroyed  the  railroad  and  the  bridges  on  the  Weldon 
R.  R.  for  17  miles,  he  turned  back,  and  reached  Sussex 
Court  House  at  dark  of  the  Qth. 

The  next  day  was  very  cold  and  the  infantry  suffered 
greatly,  marching  over  the  frozen  mud.  They  reached  and 
crossed  the  Nottaway  River  at  Freeman's  Ford,  and  then 
retraced  their  steps  to  the  intrenchments  before  Petersburg, 
having  travelled  about  100  miles  in  six  days. 

General  Grant  being  desirous  of  breaking  up  the  route 
of  supply  through  Hicksford,  sent  a  Division  of  cavalry 
February  5th,  1865,  by  way  of  Ream's  Station  to  Dinwiddie 
Court  House,  and  the  Fifth  and  Second  Corps  to  cross 
Hatcher's  Run  at  and  below  the  crossing  of  the  Vaughan 
Road,  to  hold  Hatcher's  Run  and  Armstrong's  Mills,  and 
to  keep  up  communication  with  the  intrenchments. 

The  rebels  had  been  constantly  at  work  extending  their 
intrenchments,  which  were  now  37  miles  in  length,  from 
the  White  Oak  Swamp  to  Hatcher's  Run;  eight  miles  of 


932  HISTORY    OF    THE 

these  intrenchments  being  north  of  the  James  River,  six 
teen  miles  on  the  Petersburg-  line,  and  five  miles  along  the 
Bermuda  Hundred  front.  Their  heavy  artillery  filled  a 
space  four  miles  in  extent,  between  Chapin's  Bluff  and  Ber 
muda  Hundred. 

The  entire  country  south  of  the  James,  as  far  as  Prince 
George  Court  House,  was  turned  into  a  pasture  for  vast 
herds  of  cattle,  which  were  guarded  by  cavalry,  and 
butchered  from  day  to  day  to  afford  fresh  meat  for  the 
hard-worked  troops  in  the  forts  and  trenches. 

Huge  piles  of  baled  hay  and  oats  in  sacks,  lined  the  rail 
way  or  were  accumulated  in  the  camps,  which  had  become 
-villages  of  log  houses,  each  company  and  battery  having 
its  bakery  and  cook  house.  There  was  no  complaint  of 
poor  fare  or  lack  of  clothing  by  the  troops. 

General  Warren  moved  at  7  o'clock  on  February  5th,  and 
marched  down  the  Halifax  road  to  Rowanty  Post  Office, 
and  then  to  a  mile  above  Malone's  Bridge,  and  halted  half 
way  between  Rowanty  Creek  as  Hatcher's  Run  is  called 
after  joining  Gravelly  Run,  and  Dinwiddie  Court  House. 

Following  Griffin's  ist  Division  were  12  field  pieces.  A 
long  train  of  forage  and  ammunition  wagons  followed 
Crawford.  The  advance  guard  was  three  squadrons  of 
cavalry. 

They  were  delayed  by  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  and 
crossing  the  swamp  and  stream,  but  before  night  the 
Vaughan  Road  was  reached,  and  the  two  Divisions  of  the 
Second  Corps,  after  some  difficulty,  and  a  brush  with  the 
enemy,  had  established  themselves  at  Armstrong's  Mills 
and  opened  communication  with  Warren.  About  5  p.  m. 
they  were  attacked  by  the  rebel  artillery  who  were  repulsed. 
At  9  p.  m.  Warren  was  ordered  up  to  join  the  Second  Corps 
Divisions.  The  cavalry  brought  up  the  rear  of  the  moving 
column  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy.  The  nights  were 
intensely  cold,  and  no  fires  were  allowed. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  933 

Early  in  the  morning  of  Feb.  6th  the  command  crossed 
the  run  at  the  Vaughan  Road  crossing.  A  part  of  the 
Ninth  Corps  was  ordered  up  to  join  the  Second  Corps.  On 
the  7th  the  Union  intrenchments  had  been  extended  to 
Hatcher's  Run  at  the  Vaughan  Road  crossing,  the  Second 
Corps  holding  the  intrenchments  on  the  extreme  left,  while 
the  Fifth  was  massed  in  the  rear  of  the  Second  near  the 
left,  and  the  Sixth  was  at  Fort  Fisher. 

At  Fort  Stedman  where  the  distance  between  the  oppos 
ing  lines  was  not  more  than  150  yards,  and  the  pickets  only 
50  yards  apart,  on  the  night  of  March  24th,  1865,  the  rebels 
undertook  to  make  their  escape  and  reach  the  Danville 
railroad.  They  overpowered  Fort  Stedman  and  captured 
Batteries  10,  n,  and  12,  but  they  were  all  recaptured  by 
our  infantry  assisted  by  the  artillery  under  General  John  C. 
Tidball  posted  in  an  advantageous  position.  The  intrenched 
picket  line  of  the* enemy  was  taken  by  the  Second  Corps,  and 
our  lines  advanced,  holding  the  enemy's  picket  line  against 
repeated  attempts  to  recapture  them. 

Sheridan  came  down  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
destroying  railroads  in  his  progress,  and  on  March  2/th 
formed  a  junction  with  the  Armies  of  the  Potomac  and  the 
James.  His  duty  now  was  to  destroy  the  enemy's  com 
munications  with  the  South  by  means  of  the  Southside  and 
Danville  railroads. 

General  Ord,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  James,  had 
orders  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  28th,  he  was  in  the  rear  of  the  Second  Corps, 
which  was  ordered  to  cross  Hatcher's  Run  by  the  Vaughan 
Road  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  take  position  with  its 
right  on  Hatcher's  Run  and  its  left  in  connection  with  the 
Fifth  Corps,  and  advance  on  the  enemy.  General  Warren 
with  the  Fifth  Corps  was  to  cross  Hatcher's  Run  at  Monk's 
Neck  Bridge  early  in  the  morning  of  the  29th,  and  to  ad- 


934  HISTORY    OF    THE 

vance  toward  the  enemy  by  the  Boydton  Road,  his  right 
connecting  with  the  Second  Corps. 

At  8  a.  m.  of  the  2Qth  the  Fifth  Corps  had  arrived  at 
its  destination,  and  at  noon  started  to  make  connection 
with  the  Second  Corps,  which  was  accomplished  after  an 
encounter  with  the  enemy  on  the  White  Oak  Road,  which 
was  the  shortest  road  to  Five  Forks,  and  securing  it  would 
force  the  abandonment  by  the  enemy  of  the  Petersburg  in- 
trenchments.  It  was  here  that  the  battle  by  which  the 
Union  forces  gained  possession  of  Five  Forks  was  fought 
April  ist,  1865,  while  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  busy 
elsewhere.  In  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  March  2Qth 
Generals  Warren  and  Griffin  visited  the  troops  of  the  ist 
Division,  who  were  building  breastworks,  subject  during 
part  of  the  day  to  a  severe  fire  of  artillery,  as  late  as  12 
o'clock  at  night  March  3 ist,  in  front  of  the  intrenchments 
of  the  rebels  along  the  White  Oak  Road:  The  Artillery 
Reserve  March  2Qth  to  April  qth,  1865,  was  commanded 
by  Brig.  Gen.  William  Hays :  all  light  batteries, — 4  Maine, 
3  Massachusetts,  i  New  Jersey,  5  New  York,  i  Ohio,  2 
Pennsylvania,  i  Rhode  Island,  i  Vermont,  and  i  Regular. 
Total  19. 

When  the  enemy  opened  with  artillery  and  musketry  at 
10  p.  m.  March  29th,  they  threw  up  several  rockets.  Our 
artillery  was  stationed  on  that  part  of  the  line  occupied  by 
the  Ninth  Corps,  extending  from  Battery  No.  5  on  the 
Appomattox  River  to  Fort  Howard,  a  distance  of  about 
five  rniles. 

Opposed  to  our  batteries  on  the  3<Dth  March,  1865,  the 
enemy  had  in  position  91  guns  of  various  calibers,  from  6 
pdrs.  to  8-inch  Columbiads,  and  35  mortars,  also  of  various 
calibers.  Total  guns  and  mortars  126.  On  our  side  we 
had  40  mortars.  Total  guns  and  mortars  131. 

General  Grant  in  his  Memoirs  says : 

"During  the  night  of  April  2d  our  line  was  intrenched  from  the 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY  935 

Appomattox  River  above  to  the  Appomattox  River  below.  I  ordered 
a  bombardment  to  be  commenced  the  next  morning  at  5  a.  m.,  to  be 
followed  by  an  assault  at  six  o'clock,  but  the  enemy  evacuated  Peters 
burg  early  in  the  morning." 

AS  RELATED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

November  4,  1864,  the  men  began  building  stables  for  the 
horses,  and  on  the  7th  finished  putting  on  the  brush.  The 
next  day  they  laid  the  corduroy  floors,  and  on  the  gth  Lieut. 
Dresser  inspected  the  property.  Nov.  loth  the  horses 
moved  into  their  new  quarters.  For  building  these  stables 
Major  Phillips  says,  "It  took  400  logs  8  feet  long  and  a 
foot  in  diameter,  split,  and  about  250  yards  of  brush  fence 
8  feet  high."  Nov.  nth  was  occupied  by  the  men  in  oiling 
harness,  and  on  the  I2th  they  began  a  house  for  the  ist 
Sergeant.  Battery  inspection  on  the  I3th. 

Nov.  14,  1864,  the  guns  were  ordered  into  Batteries  24 
and  25,  where  they  were  before  the  Battery  left  for 
Hatcher's  Run,  to  relieve  Captain  Hart  and  the  I5th  New 
York  Battery  ordered  to  Washington  to  recruit.  The  next 
day  they  tore  down  Captain  Hart's  quarters  which  were 
found  in  bad  condition,  having  been  robbed  of  their  chim 
neys  and  doors,  and,  there  being  plenty  of  timber  at  hand, 
new  ones  were  started,  including  the  house  for  the  Orderly 
Sergeant. 

Nov.  1 7th  and  i8th  Major  Phillips  attended  a  meeting 
of  a  board  to  examine  recruits  at  the  Hospital.  Decem 
ber  7th  he  received  notice  of  his  Brevet  Majority. 

Two  guns  of  the  gth  Mass.  Battery  relieved  two  guns  of 
the  Fifth  Mass,  in  one  of  the  forts,  and  at  5.30  they  all 
marched  to  join  General  Crawford's  Division  on  the  Jeru 
salem  Plank  Road  outside  our  rear  line.  The  force  con 
sisted  of  three  Divisions  of  the  5th  Corps,  one  Division  of 
the  Second  Corps  and  four  batteries  belonging  to  the  5th 
Corps  viz.,  Mink's  (Capt.  Charles  E.  Mink)  H,  ist  N.  Y., 
Stewart's  B,  4th  U.  S.,  Milton's  Qth  Mass,  and  the  5th 


936  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mass.,  one  battery  with  each  Division.  The  Battery 
marched  with  the  3d  Division  down  the  road,  turned  to  the 
right,  crossing  the  Nottoway  River  on  pontoons,  to  Sussex 
Court  House  where  they  camped  that  night,  sleeping  on  the 
ground  without  covering.  Capsized  one  wagon  containing 
a  tent  and  supplies,  off  the  bridge. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  the  destruction  of  the 
Weldon  railroad  and  the  Battery  helped  the  Fifth  Corps 
tear  up  the  track  from  the  Nottoway  to  the  Meherrin  River. 

Dec.  8th  they  marched  through  Sussex  Court  House  and 
struck  the  Weldon  railroad  near  the  Nottoway  River. 
Camped  near  the  railroad  while  the  infantry  tore  it  up, 
burnt  the  bridge  and  destroyed  the  track  for  20  miles,  as 
far  as  the  Fifth  Corps  reached,  ending  at  the  Meherrin 
River.  That  night  there  was  a  bad  storm  of  rain  and  sleet. 

Dec.  loth.  Much  against  the  inclination  of  the  men,  who 
expected  to  go  to  Weldon,  they  started  on  the  return  march 
by  the  Halifax  road,  which  is  parallel  to  the  railroad,  and 
soon  after  turned  into  the  road  to  Sussex  Court  House, 
leading  Crawford's  Division.  Camped  two  or  three  miles 
from  that  town. 

Dec.  nth,  resumed  the  march  at  daylight.  Lieut. 
Simonds  was  ordered  to  take  the  Right  section  to  the  rear, 
and  with  Gen.  Edward  S.  Bragg's  Brigade  of  Crawford's 
3d  Division,  formed  into  a  rear  guard,  and  retired  in  line  of 
battle.  At  night  the  cavalry  which  under  Gregg  covered 
this  movement,  were  fired  into  but  no  serious  damage  was 
done.  On  this  march  the  men  suffered  severely.  Crossed 
the  Nottoway  and  went  into  camp. 

Dec.  1 2th,  marched  at  daylight,  and  before  night  the 
guns  were  in  their  old  places  in  Batteries  24  and  25,  where 
they  remained  one  week. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY  937 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

Dec.  1 8,  1864. 

The  expedition  was  well  managed,  and  highly  successful. 
The  Rebels  were  evidently  taken  by  surprise,  and  could  not 
cell  where  we  were  going.  They  expected  that  we  would 
push  through  to  Weldon,  and  although  our  abilities  and  dis 
positions  were  equal  to  this  task,  I  think  General  Warren 
went  as  far  as  his  orders  allowed.  Perhaps  had  General 
Grant  been  able  to  communicate  with  us  after  we  started, 
our  orders,  might  have  been  changed,  for  certainly  no  one 
could  have  anticipated  that  the  Rebels  would  allow  us  to 
tear  up  20  miles  of  railroad  without  interference.  The  rail 
road  was  thoroughly  destroyed,  the  troops  following  the 
usual  wray.  This  is  as  follows : — A  Division,  for  instance, 
is  drawn  up  along  the  road  and  arms  stacked,  then  every 
man  takes  hold  of  the  rail  in  front  of  him,  and  all  lifting 
together,  track,  sleepers,  and  all  are  turned  bottom  side  up. 
This  serves  to  loosen  the  rails,  and  all  hands  then  pry  off 
the  sleepers,  pile  them  up,  and  place  the  rails  on  top,  and 
then  set  them  on  fire.  It  is  a  very  pretty  sight  at  night  to 
see  a  line  of  fires  several  miles  long.  After  heating  the 
rails  they  are  bent  by  men  bearing  down  on  the  ends.  The 
most  effectual  method  of  destruction  is  to  take  a  red  hot 
rail  and  wind  it  round  a  tree,  as  I  saw  done  in  several  in 
stances.  Besides  destroying  the  railroad  the  expedition  re 
sulted  in  the  destruction  of  nearly  all  the  houses  along  the 
route,  whether  done  by  orders  or  by  stragglers  I  do  not 
know.  What  was  more  important  was  the  large  amount 
of  forage  destroyed,  probably  100,000  bushels,  more  or  less. 
I  was  quite  astonished  at  the  richness  of  the  country,  all 
the  barns  were  full  of  corn,  and  corn  stacks  all  over  the 
fields.  I  do  not  think  much  of  it  is  left." 

Major  Phillips  speaks  of  the  abundance  of  "apple  jack, 


938  HISTORY    OF    THE 

what  we  call  cider  brandy.  Every  family,"  he  says,  "seemed 
to  be  abundantly  supplied  with  it,  and  cider  presses  and  dis 
tilleries  were  scattered  all  around.  I  cannot  imagine  what 
such  a  sparse  population  did  with  so  much  liquor,  but  our 
men  seemed  very  glad  to  relieve  them  of  their  surplus. 

We  were  in  the  advance  going  out,  and  in  the  rear  com 
ing  back.  No  hostile  demonstration  worth  mentioning  was 
made  on  the  troops." 

On  December  iQth  four  guns  of  the  Battery  were  placed 
in  Fort  Alexander  Hays,  and  two  guns  in  Battery  22. 
General  Wainwright  directed  Major  Phillips  to  place  6 
rifled  guns  and  ten  12  pdrs.  on  the  Qth  Corps  line,  and  in  the 
afternoon  Lieut.  Simonds  with  the  Right  section  was  placed 
in  Battery  22,  between  Fort  Davis  and  Fort  Sedgwick. 
The  caissons  were  sent  back  to  the  Brigade  camp,  beyond 
our  rear  line  of  works  between  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road 
and  the  Weldon  R.  R.,  where  the  Fifth  Corps  had  their  win 
ter  camp.  Captain  John  Bigelow  with  the  Qth  Mass.  Bat 
tery  was  ordered  to  Fort  Rice  and  Captain  David  F.  Ritchie 
with  Battery  D,  ist  N.  Y.,  to  Fort  Davis. 

Dec.  20th  commenced  the  houses  for  the  caisson  camp, 
but  stopped  on  account  of  the  rain.  22d  moved  the  houses, 
and  put  up  two  frames  11x14^  ft.,  and  built  winter  quarters 
of  framed  houses  stockaded. 

From  a  letter  of  Phillips,  Fort  Alex.  Hays,  Dec.  26, 
1864: — "We  shall  remain  here  a  week.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  we  shall  go  to  the  5th  Corps  camp,  between  the  Jeru 
salem  Road  and  the  Halifax  Road,  where  my  caissons  are 
at  present." 


IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  1865,  John  A.  Andrew  was  Governor,  Joel  Hayden 
Lieutenant  Governor,  Oliver  Warner,  Secretary,  Henry  K. 
Oliver  Treasurer.  President  of  the  Senate,  Jonathan  E. 
Field;  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  Alexander 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  939 

H.  Bullock. 

U.  S.  Senators,  Charles  Sumner,  Henry  Wilson.  U.  S. 
Representatives,  T.  D.  Eliot,  Oakes  Ames,  A.  H.  Rice, 
Samuel  Hooper,  John  B.  Alley,  Daniel  W.  Gooch,  Geo.  S. 
Boutwell,  J.  D.  Baldwin,  Wm.  B.  Washburn,  Henry  L. 
Dawes. 

FROM  GOVERNOR  ANDREW'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS,  1865. 
"Since  the  war  began,  four  hundred  and  thirty-four  officers  whose 
commissions  bore  our  seal,  or  who  were  promoted  by  the  President  to 
higher  than  regimental  commands,  have  tasted  death  in  the  defence  of 
their  country's  flag.  .  .  .  Nor  will  the  history  be  deemed  complete,  nor 
our  duty  done,  until  the  fate  and  fame  of  every  man,  to  the  humblest 
private  of  them  all,  shall  have  been  inscribed  upon  the  records  of  this 
Capitol  there  to  remain,  I  trust,  until  the  earth  and  sea  shall  give  up 
their  dead.  And  thus  shall  the  Capitol  itself  become  for  every  soldier- 
son  of  ours,  a  monument. 

'Then  plant  it  round  with   shade 
Of  laurel,  evergreen,  and  branching  palm, 
With  all  his  trophies  hung,  and  acts  enroll'd 
In  copious  legend,  or  sweet  lyric  song.'  " 

IN  VIRGINIA. 

January  2,  1865,  the  Battery  retired  from  the  forts  and 
the  guns  were  taken  back  to  camp  with  the  5th  Corps. 
Jan'y  8th,  Major  R.  H.  Fitzhugh,  Major  Phillips,  Captain 
Mink  and  Captain  George  Breck  dined  with  Captain  John 
Bigelow  of  the  Qth  Mass.  Battery.  It  was  his  farewell 
dinner. 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

Jan'y  10,  1865. 

I  had  quite  a  pleasant  time  in  Fort  Hays,  as  part  of  the 
garrison  was  the  56th  Mass.,  whose  Lt.  Colonel  Jarves  is  a 
classmate  of  mine.  Captain  Shurtleff  of  the  same  reg't. 
was  in  the  class  of  1861,  so  we  had  a  pleasant  time  together. 
Jarves  and  Shurtleff  dined  with  me  on  Christmas,  and  I 
returned  the  visit  on  New  Year's  Day. 


940  HISTORY    OF    THE 

We  are  now  at  work  building  winter  quarters.  My  bed 
sack  went  into  the  road  to  lighten  a  wagon  stuck  in  the  mud 
a  long  time  ago,  but  I  have  plenty  of  blankets.  Our  men 
got  their  Thanksgiving  dinner  from  the  North  though  a 
day  or  two  late." 


On  the  nth  the  men's  winter  quarters  were  finished,  and 
the  next  day  stables  were  commenced  again. 

January  18,  1865,  Major  Phillips  started  on  a  20  days' 
leave. 

Jan'y  28th  the  guns  were  again  placed  in  Fort  Hays  and 
Battery  22. 

February  8th  Major  Phillips  returned  to  camp,  having 
walked  from  Hancock's  Station,  on  the  railroad  from  City 
Point.  He  found  the  guns  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  in 
the  forts,  and  most  of  the  Fifth  Corps  gone  to  the  left.  He 
brought  the  guns  back  from  the  front  at  Hatcher's  Run, 
where  they  had  been  during  the  assault  of  Feb.  6th  and  7th, 
1865,  and  the  three  batteries  on  the  left,  the  Ninth  Mass., 
and  Batteries  L  and  E,  ist  N.  Y.  Light,  were  relieved  by 
three  other  batteries,  and  returned  to  camp.  On  the  I2th 
there  was  battery  inspection  at  10.30  a.  m.  Battery  drill 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  I3th  and  the  following  morning. 
On  the  1 4th  the  frame  of  Lieut.  Simonds'  house  was  raised. 
Inspection  on  the  iQth  and  drill  on  the  2Oth  in  the  fore 
noon.  At  12  o'clock  noon  of  the  2ist  a  salute  of  100  guns 
was  fired  by  the  Battery  with  Batteries  D  and  G,  5th  U.  S., 
in  honor  of  General  Sherman's  victory.  On  the  22d, 
Washington's  birthday,  there  was  Battery  drill  in  the  fore 
noon,  and  inspection  at  2.30  p.  m.  by  Captain  Carl  Berlin, 
brigade  inspector.  It  was  rumored  that  an  attack  was  to 
be  made  on  our  Centre,  and  the  Battery  remained  hitched 
up  till  night. 

Feb.  25,  1865,  marched  in  the  rain  to  Hatcher's  Run  and 
relieved  Captain  David  F.  Ritchie  and  the  ist  N.  Y.  Light 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  941 

Battery  D,  who  were  in  camp  near  General  Griffin's  Hd. 
Qrs.  on  the  new  line  of  breastworks.  Here  houses  for  the 
men  were  found,  but  no  officers'  quarters,  and  they  began  at 
once  to  build  chimneys.  By  the  4th  of  March  a  frame 
house  had  been  built  for  the  officers  and  a  hedge  around 
Hd.  Qrs.  It  rained  most  of  the  time.  On  the  5th  the  Bat 
tery  was  inspected,  and  March  6th  the  ist  Division  Fifth 
Corps  was  inspected  by  General  Griffin.  Two  days  after, 
on  the  7th,  the  Division  was  reviewed  by  General  Meade. 

March  n,  1865,  the  Battery  was  relieved  at  12  o'clock 
by  Batteries  G  and  D,  5th  U.  S.,  Lieut.  Wm.  E.  Van  Reed, 
and  returned  to  the  old  camp  over  terribly  muddy  roads. 
March  I2th  the  Battery  was  inspected  and  on  the  I3th  there 
was  drill  on  the  piece  and  the  company  was  vaccinated. 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

March  13,  1865. 

On  the  25th  of  last  month  the  Battery  went  up  to  the  left 
at  Hatcher's  Run,  relieving  another  battery  there.  We  left 
our  camp  and  merely  carried  enough  to  get  along  with. 
We  had  a  very  pleasant  camp  in  the  edge  of  a  little  pine 
grove  and  the  weather  was  quite  warm.  For  the  first  few 
days  we  lived  in  tents,  until  we  could  build  houses.  Lieut. 
Simonds  and  I  occupied  one  house  9  ft.  square,  with  berths 
one  over  the  other.  This  arrangement  did  very  well  until 
one  morning  Lieut.  Simonds,  who  occupied  the  top  berth 
managed  to  come  through,  and  'what  a  fall  was  there,  my 
countrymen!'  Fortunately  no  damage  was  done. 

Several  reviews  came  off  while  we  were  up  there.  Day 
before  yesterday  we  were  relieved,  and  returned  to  our  old 
camp.  .  .  .  The  (newspaper)  accounts  (of  deserters  com 
ing  in)  are  not  exaggerated,  and  most  of  them  now  bring 
their  arms  with  them.  Almost  any  day  one  can  meet 
squads  of  rebels  prowling  round  in  our  lines.  Day  before 


942  HISTORY    OF    THE 

yesterday  I  saw  4  Rebels,  2  of  them  armed,  in  charge  of  a 
solitary  cavalry  man." 


March  I4th.  Drill  on  the  manual  of  the  piece  in  the 
morning,  followed  in  the  afternoon  by  a  drill  by  Lieut.  Col. 
Robert  H.  Fitzhugh  with  three  other  batteries. 

March  I5th,  received  orders  to  reduce  Battery  to  four 
guns,  and  on  the  next  day  two  guns  were  sent  to  City  Point 
to  turn  in.  Sutlers  were  sent  to  the  rear.  March  I7th 
Lieut.  Simonds  went  home  on  20  days'  leave.  i8th,  the 
guns  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  were  again  placed  in  Fort 
Hays,  relieving  Battery  B,  ist  N.  Y.  Lieut.  Mason  W. 
Page  was  sent  up  in  charge  of  the  pieces,  and  Major  Phil 
lips  reported  in  person  to  General  Tidball. 

March  igth,  1865,  orders  were  issued  reducing  the  bat 
teries  of  the  Second,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Corps  to  nine  bat 
teries  of  four  guns  each. 

March  25,  1865.  At  daylight  Fort  Stedman  on  the 
Ninth  Corps  line,  was  surprised  by  an  attack  by  the  enemy, 
and  the  Fifth  Corps  batteries,  among  them  the  I4th  Mass. 
Battery,  were  ordered  up.  Lieut.  Ephraim  B.  Nye  of  the 
1 4th,  formerly  Quartermaster  Sergeant  of  the  5th  Battery, 
refusing  to  surrender  was  shot  and  instantly  killed. 

In  the  end  the  rebels  were  driven  out  with  a  loss  of  about 
1700  prisoners. 

FROM  LETTERS  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  PETERSBURG, 

March  26,  1865. 

Yesterday  we  had  quite  a  scare  and  excitement,  owing 
to  the  Rebels  surprising  Stedman.  This  is  about  two  miles 
to  the  right  of  Fort  Hays,  so  that  we  did  not  get  into  the 
scrape  at  all.  I  was  waked  from  my  quiet  slumbers  at  day 
break,  by  one  of  General  Wainwright's  aids,  who  told  me 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  943 

the  enemy  had  broken  through  the  Qth  Corps  line.  I  had 
the  caissons  hitched  up,  mounted  my  steed  and  rode  to  Fort 
Hays  and  found  everything  quiet  there,  and  the  men  listen 
ing  very  unconcernedly  to  the  firing  on  their  right.  The 
Rebels  did  not  make  much  out  of  the  attempt,  though  it  is 
strange  that  our  men  allowed  themselves  to  be  surprised, 
as  the  line  was  notified  at  midnight  to  expect  an  attack  at 
daylight.  On  Wednesday  we  had  a  perfect  tornado;  sev 
eral  trees  in  rear  of  our  camp  were  blown  down,  and  near 
the  front  line  there  is  a  path  of  prostrate  trees,  some  200 
yards  wide.  .  .  .  The  caissons  remain  in  our  regular  camp, 
and  I  stay  there  too,  keeping  one  officer  at  the  fort. 

March  27th.     General   Sheridan  has  arrived  here  with 
his  soldiers." 


March  28th,  1865,  the  Army  was  preparing  to  make  the 
movement  to  the  left  which  resulted  in  Lee's  surrender. 
Five  batteries  of  the  Fifth  Corps  marched  to  Corps  Head 
Quarters  at  Hatcher's  Run,  and  two  batteries,  the  Qth  Mass. 
Battery  and  Battery  B,  ist  Penn.,  reported  to  the  Ninth 
Corps.  Three  batteries,  C,  E  and  L,  ist  N.  Y.,  with  the 
Fifth  Mass.  Battery  were  placed  under  the  command  of 
Major  Charles  A.  Phillips,  and  operated  with  the  Ninth 
Corps  in  the  final  attack  upon  Petersburg. 

Wednesday,  March  29,  1865,  the  Army  moved  at  3  a.  m. 
to  the  left.  Major  Phillips  placed  his  batteries  in  position 
in  rear  of  the  main  line. 

April  ist  1865,  about  midnight  an  attack  was  made  along 
the  front  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  by  daylight  of  the  2d,  we 
had  captured  about  half  a  mile  of  the  rebel  works,  extend 
ing  from  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  towards  our  right. 

Two  Detachments  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  numbering 
17  men,  under  Lieut.  Mason  W.  Page,  were  engaged,  and 
this  was  the  last  shot  fired  by  the  men  of  the  Battery.  The 
enemy  received  the  fire  from  their  own  guns. 


944  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  Rebel  government  left  Richmond  about  2  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  2d  of  April,  1865.  Our  forces  took 
possession  about  8.15  on  the  morning  of  the  3d.  The  city 
was  in  flames  until  extinguished  by  our  troops. 

REPORT   OF  BREV'T   BRIG.   GEN.  JOHN  C.   TIDBALL,   COM 
MANDING    ARTILLERY     BRIGADE     NINTH 
ARMY    CORPS. 

"At  4  a.  m.  (of  the  2d  April,  1865)  the  hour  appointed  for  the  assault 
upon  the  enemy's  works  in  front  of  Fort  Sedgwick,  the  artillery  upon 
the  whole  line  promptly  opened  and  was  immediately  replied  to  in  the 
most  vigorous  manner  by  the  enemy,  and  it  is  probable  that  never 
since  the  invention  of  gunpowder  has  such  a  cannonade  taken  place. 
.  All  the  guns  in  these  forts  opened  rapidly  for  fifteen  minutes  with 
evident  effect,  ceasing  in  the  exact  time  for  the  infantry  to  make  the 
charge  that  carried  the  enemy's  lines.  ...  A  Detachment  of  100  men 
from  the  ist  Conn.  Artillery  commanded  by  Lieut.  William  H.  Rogers, 
accompanied  the  column  of  attack  upon  the  enemy's  works  in  front 
of  Fort  Sedgwick,  and  served  the  captured  guns  throughout  the  day. 
These  men  were  fully  equipoed  with  everything  necessary  to  serve  such 
artillery  as  would  be  captured.  They  at  once  seized  the  enemy's  guns 
and  opened  fire  upon  him  as  he  fell  back  to  his  second  line. 

During  the  entire  day  Lieutenant  Rogers  and  his  party,  while  op 
posed  to  all  the  fierce  attacks  of  the  enemy,  retained  possession  of  the 
captured  guns,  and  from  positions  entirely  uncovered  from  the  close 
fire  of  the  enemy,  kept  up  a  constant  fire,  which  besides  doing  great 
injury  to  the  enemy,  inspired  our  own  troops  to  hold  that  which  they 
had  gained.  These  men  were  ably  seconded  by  Captain  David  F. 
Ritchie,  Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y.  Artillery,  who  early  in  the  day  occupied  a 
small  work  in  rear  of  Fort  Sedgwick,  but  after  the  enemy's  lines  were 
carried,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  send  him  with  his  cannoneers  into 
the  captured  No.  27,  in  which  were  three  iron  and  two  brass  12 
pounder  guns. 

Captain  Ritchie  led  his  men  in  a  most  gallant  manner  through  the 
embrasures  of  Fort  Sedgwick,  and  across  the  open  ground  to  Battery 
No.  27,  and  immediately  turned  with  excellent  judgment  and  effect 
the  guns  he  found  on  the  enemy.  Through  the  whole  day,  notwith 
standing  the  repeated  attempts  made  by  the  enemy  to  retake  the  works, 
Captain  Ritchie  held  his  own:  though  at  times  unavoidably  short 
of  ammunition,  he  encouraged  his  support  by  cheering  representations 
and  personal  exposure.  .  .  .  Fourteen  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty-one  rounds,  is  the  amount  of  artillery  ammunition  expended  dur 
ing  the  engagement.  ...  It  was  with  much  pleasure  that,  in  compliance 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  945 

with  an  invitation  from  the  major-general  commanding  the  Corps,  I 
was  enabled  to  recommend  the  under-mentioned  officers  for  promotion 
by  brevet. 

Second  Lieut.  Mason  W.  Page,  Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  All  of  whom 
did  excellent  service  with  their  commands  in  repulsing  the  assault 
on  Fort  Stedman,  and  in  the  assault  on  Petersburg  on  the  2d  day  of 
April,  1865." 

REPORT   OF  CAPT.  DAVID   F.   RITCHIE. 

".  .  .  .  At  no  time  during  the  fight  were  there  less  than  three  guns 
in  working  order,  and  most  of  the  time  there  were  five.  .  .  .  During 
the  day  I  was  reinforced  by  ten  men  with  a  sergeant  and  corporal  from 
Battery  B,  ist  Pennsylvania,  under  charge  of  First  Lieutenant  Rice; 
about  a  dozen  men  with  a  sergeant  and  one  or  two  corporals  from  the 
Twenty-Seventh  New  York  Battery,  and  First  Lieutenant  Teller,  and 
two  Detachments  with  their  non-commissioned  officers  under  charge  of 
Second  Lieutenant  Page  from  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery.  Captain 
McClelland  of  B,  First  Pennsylvania  was  present  part  of  the  day,  and 
rendered  good  service.  Captain  McClelland  and  Lieutenant  Page  were 
slightly  wounded. 

To  all  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  Battery 
B,  First  Pennsylvania,  Twenty-Seventh  New  York  Independent  Bat 
tery,  and  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  who  assisted  to  work  the  guns  in 
the  rebel  fort,  too  much  praise  can  scarcely  be  awarded.  I  have  men 
tioned  them  in  the  order  in  which  they  came  to  the  fort,  and  I  would 
further  mention  particular  instances  of  gallantrv  and  coolness  but  will 
leave  this  for  the  officers  of  the  respective  batteries.  .  .  . 

About  4  p.  m.  BVt  Maj.  C.  A.  Phillips,  Fifth  Massachusetts  Bat 
tery,  came  up  to  the  fort,  and  by  virtue  of  his  rank  assumed  command, 
remaining  until  the  morning  of  the  3d  instant." 


THE  REPORT  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS 

of  the  part  taken  by  his  command  in  the  recent  battles 
which  compelled  the  Evacuation  of  Petersburg.  A  copy 
of  this  report  was  forwarded  to  Lieut.  Thomas  Heasley 
34th  N.  Y.  Battery,  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General  on 
General  Tidball's  staff,  Art'y  Brig,  gth  Corps,  April  7,  1865. 
HD.  QRS.  BATTERY  (E)  MASS.  ART'Y, 

April  5,  1865. 

LIEUT.  HEASLEY  A.  A.  A.  G.  Art'y  Brig.  Qth  A.  C. 
Lieutenant. 


946  HISTORY    OF    THE 

I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  this  Battery  since  the  3Oth  of  March. 

The  guns  of  the  Battery  were  in  Fort  Alex.  Hays  and 
remained  there  until  the  3d  of  April. 

In  the  forenoon  of  the  2d  of  April,  in  compliance  with 
orders  from  General  Tidball  I  sent  2d  Lieut.  M.  W.  Page 
with  two  detachments  of  cannoneers  to  Fort  Sedgwick,  and 
from  there  they  were  ordered  into  the  rebel  battery  No.  27 
across  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road.  This  battery  had  been 
garrisoned  by  Battery  B,  Sumter  Artillery,  Georgia  Volun 
teers,  with  6  Light  12  pdrs.  Besides  the  men  from  my 
battery  there  were  detachments  from  Battery  C,  ist  N.  Y. 
Art'y;  B,  ist  Penn.  Art'y,  and  2;th  N.  Y.  Battery. 

The  gorge  of  the  battery  being  open,  the  men  were  ex 
posed  to  a  very  severe  fire  from  sharpshooters  and  from 
one  8  in.  Columbiad  and  two  8  in.  siege  Howitzers  in  Fort 
Virginia  about  600  yds.  in  our  front,  as  well  as  from  several 
pieces  of  Light  Artillery.  These  pieces  were  mostly  silenced 
by  noon. 

Lieut.  Page  was  wounded  and  obliged  to  leave  the  field 
about  noon. 

We  kept  up  a  constant  and  apparently  successful  fire  until 
night.  The  behavior  of  the  officers  and  men  in  the  Bat 
tery  was  excellent.  I  make  especial  mention  of  Privates 
Joseph  Burns  and  Thomas  Jones.  These  two  men  were 
sent  up  with  dinner  for  men  at  the  guns.  Upon  reaching 
the  front  they  volunteered  for  a  charge  upon  Fort  Mahone 
and  entered  it  among  the  first.  They  afterwards  returned 
to  Battery  27,  and  helped  work  the  guns.  Private  Burns 
was  here  severely  wounded  in  the  arm. 
I  am  very  respectfully 

Your  ob't   serv't 
CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS  Capt.  &  B'v't  Major, 

Com'd'g  Battery  E,  Mass.  Art'y. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  947 

LIST   OF   CASUALTIES    IN    BATTERY   E,    MASS. 

ART'Y. 

APRIL  2,  1865. 

WOUNDED. 

2d  Lieut.  Mason  W.  Page.     Severe  Gunshot  wound  in 
chest. 

Private  Michael  Flynn.     Arm.     Amputated. 

Joseph  Burns.     Severe  contusion  of  arm. 

William  Roberts.     Gunshot  wound  in  back. 
Total  i  officer  and  3  men. 


Diary  of  Major  Phillips:  "April  i,  1865.  Very  pleasant. 
Rode  round  the  line.  At  n  p.  m.  received  orders  to  re 
port  in  person  to  General  Tidball.  Was  told  that  all  the 
batteries  were  to  open  fire  immediately,  and  a  general  attack 
was  to  be  made  on  the  rebel  line. 

Sunday  April  2,  1865.  The  ball  opened  about  midnight. 
The  brigade  at  Fort  Hays  advanced,  captured  the  picket  line, 
and  by  daylight  had  sent  in  about  150  prisoners.  By  sun 
rise  we  held  a  large  part  of  the  rebel  line  in  front  of  Fort 
Hell  (Sedgwick)  and  were  firing  the  Rebel's  guns  at  them. 
About  10  a.  m.  sent  Lieut.  Page  with  two  detachments  to 
Fort  Sedgwick.  He  soon  went  into  Battery  27  to  man  cap 
tured  guns.  .  .  . 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"CITY  POINT,  VA. 

April  6,  1865. 

.  .  .  The  56th  Mass,  took  the  Rebel  Battery  No.  27  on 
the  Plank  Road  mounting  six  12  pdr.  guns,  and  Captain 
Ritchie  commanding  one  of  my  batteries  went  in  with  his 
cannoneers  to  work  the  rebel  guns."  After  giving  the 
names  of  the  other  Detachments  ordered  in  he  says : — "The 
guns  were  handled  in  good  shape  under  a  very  hot  fire  from 


948  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  enemy.  Battery  '27'  is  an  open  battery  i.  e.  open  in  the 
rear,  towards  Petersburg,  consequently,  after  the  guns  were 
turned  round  our  men  had  no  protection  and  might  as  well 
have  been  in  the  open  field."  Their  guns,  as  described  in 
his  report,  he  says  "ought  to  have  knocked  us  all  to  pieces 
in  15  minutes,  but  they  fired  grape,  canister,  and  shell  at  us 
with  their  usual  inaccuracy.  Our  only  salvation  for  the 
first  two  or  three  hours  was  to  fire  as  fast  as  possible,  and 
we  kept  them  pretty  quiet.  About  10  a.  m.  a  charge  was 
made  on  Fort  Mahone,  the  work  on  the  left  of  'Battery  27,' 
and  it  was  carried,  two  of  my  men  entering  the  work  at  the 
head  of  the  column  with  muskets.  Soon  after,  Lieut.  Page 
was  struck  in  the  breast  and  went  to  the  rear.  I  had  up  to 
that  time  remained  in  Fort  Hays,  but  when  Lieut.  Page 
came  back  I  concluded  to  go  up.  Just  as  I  reached  Fort 
Sedgwick  the  Rebels  had  recaptured  Fort  Mahone  and  the 
troops  with  the  exception  of  the  56th  Mass,  had  left  'Bat 
tery  27'  in  a  panic.  I  did  not  like  the  looks  of  things,  but 
I  jumped  through  an  embrasure  and  ran  for  the  front. 
The  plain  between  Fort  Sedgwick  and  'Battery  27'  was 
swept  by  musketry  and  artillery  from  Fort  Mahone,  and 
people  travelling  across  it  went  rather  in  a  hurry.  I  had  to 
cross  our  old  picket  line  and  the  old  rebel  picket  line.  On 
both  of  these  I  found  numbers  of  demoralized  troops,  but 
they  could  not  be  persuaded  to  go  to  the  front.  At  the  rebel 
picket  line  I  halted  a  moment  to  get  breath,  and  at  that 
moment  the  H4th  N.  Y.  (Zouaves)  started  at  a  run  from 
the  left  of  Fort  Sedgwick  to  'Battery  27'  and  entered  it  by 
the  left,  just  as  I  entered  by  the  right.  In  the  ditch  of 
'Battery  27'  I  found  demoralized  infantry  and  artillery  who 
reported  our  men  all  driven  out.  I  climbed  up  to  an  em 
brasure  and  saw  one  of  my  men,  and  one  of  Captain 
Ritchie's  loading  a  gun,  so  I  jumped  through  and  found 
everything  all  right  though  it  had  been  a  narrow  escape. 
The  rebels  had  got  so  near  that  we  had  spiked  one  gun. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  949 

We  kept  up  our  firing  and  gradually  got  troops  back,  until 
we  felt  pretty  secure.  Our  greatest  fear  was  that  we  should 
get  out  of  ammunition  as  it  had  to  be  brought  up  by  men 
carrying  one  round  in  each  hand  across  the  open  plain. 
Although  in  some  respects  disagreeable  we  rather  enjoyed 
it.  There  was  a  great  sense  of  freedom  in  firing  the  rebel 
guns  as  we  did  not  care  whether  we  burst  them  or  not.  We 
dismounted  one  gun  by  the  recoil,  and  split  the  reinforce  on 
the  breech  of  another.  We  captured  the  clothing,  papers, 
&c.  of  our  predecessors,  and  found  that  the  batterv  had  been 
held  by  Battery  B,  Sumter  Artillery,  Captain  Patterson. 
I  obtained  Captain  Patterson's  Ordnance  Returns  and  found 
most  of  his  Ordnance  on  hand.  During  the  afternoon  we 
did  not  fire  much,  but  sheltered  ourselves  in  the  bomb 
proofs  and  traverses,  and  laughed  at  the  infantry  who  came 
up  in  the  muddiest  plights  and  tumbled  through  the  em 
brasures.  .  .  .  About  midnight  we  found  the  Rebel  line  was 
deserted  and  our  troops  occupied  Fort  Mahone.  We  could 
then  see  large  fires  in  Petersburg,  and  knew  it  was  evac 
uated." 


In  the  Adjutant  General's  Report,  1865,  of  the  state  of 
Massachusetts,  appears  the  following  in  relation  to  the  56th 
(First  Veteran)  Regiment  Infantry: — 

"The  regiment  held  for  a  long  time  the  line  of  rebel  works  on  the 
Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  assisted  only  by  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery.  All 
our  other  troops  had  been  forced  to  abandon  the  line,  and  had  not 
the  Fifty-Sixth  held  the  key-point  with  great  tenacity,  the  rebels  would 
have  regained  the  whole  line." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  LAST  CAMP  IN  VIRGINIA 

AND  THE 
LAST  MARCH. 

"And  those  who  knew  each  other  not, 

Their  hands  together  steal ; 
Each  thinks  of  some  long-hallowed  spot, 

And  all  like  brothers  feel. 
Such  holy  thoughts  to  all  are  given 

The  lowliest  has  his  part; 
The  love  of  home,  like  love  of  heaven, 

Is  woven  in  our  heart." 

BRETON  SONG  IN  LEVER'S  Charles  O'Malley. 

The  withdrawal  of  the  Confederate  troops  from  Peters 
burg  presaged  a  movement  by  their  leaders  to  possess  them 
selves  of  a  last  resort,  which  in  General  Grant's  judgment 
would  be  either  Danville  or  Lynchburg,  and  he  at  once  took 
measures  to  interrupt  its  progress  by  cutting  off  the  railroads 
leading  to  those  cities.  On  the  morning  of  April  3,  1865, 
he  commenced  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army  by  sending  for 
ward  the  cavalry  to  Deep  Creek,  followed  by  the  Fifth 
Corps,  and  on  the  5th  by  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps,  all 
forming  line  of  battle  at  Jetersville  the  Fifth  Corps  holding 
the  Centre. 

Lee's  Army  was  rapidly  concentrating  at  Amelia  Court 
House,  and  the  24th  and  25th  Corps  took  the  southern  route 
by  way  of  Black's  and  White's  Station,  Burkesville  and 
High  Bridge.  Having  advanced  the  Second,  Fifth,  and 
Sixth  Corps  four  miles,  with  the  intention  of  giving  battle 
to  Lee,  Meade  became  aware  that  Lee's  Army  had  passed 
the  Left  of  his  Army  during  the  night  of  the"  5th  of  April, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  951 

1865,  and  that  a  strong  column  of  infantry,  which  had  been 
encountered  on  Flat  Creek,  composed  his  rear  guard. 

General  Meade  at  once  ordered  "right  about  face,"  and 
the  Second  Corps  proceeded  to  Deatonsville,  crossing  Flat 
Creek,  the  Fifth  Corps  went  to  the  right,  through  Paine- 
ville,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  joined  the  cavalry,  under  Sheri 
dan's  command,  at  Jetersville.  The  Second  Corps  met  the 
enemy  under  Gordon  at  Flat  Creek,  and  pursued  him  for  14 
miles  to  the  forks  of  a  road,  where  he  was  reinforced  by  the 
Confederates  who  had  crossed  Sailor's  Creek  and  made  a 
stand  at  Rice's  Station  on  high  ground  where  they  went 
about  the  construction  of  temporary  breastworks;  not  un 
molested,  for  our  cavalry  had  succeeded  in  striking  the 
column  at  a  weak  point,  capturing  16  pieces  of  artillery, 
400  wagons,  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 

Our  forces  in  the  mean  time  had  continued  the  pursuit  of 
Gordon,  who  attempted  to  make  a  last  stand  at  Sailor's 
Creek,  but  was  beaten  by  the  Second  Corps,  who  took  4 
guns,  13  flags,  and  1700  prisoners.  Here,  also,  Lee  lost  a 
large  part  of  his  wagon  trains  which  were  massed  at  the 
crossing  of  the  creek.  Gordon  reached  High  Bridge,  which 
was  a  railroad  bridge,  safely  that  night,  as  the  Second  Corps 
halted  after  crossing  the  creek. 

At  Rice's  Station,  the  rebel  general  Anderson,  behind  his 
temporary  breastworks,  found  himself  cut  off  by  our  forces 
from  the  road  in  his  front,  and  before  he  was  able  to  decide 
upon  any  movement,  part  of  the  Sixth  Corps  charged  upon 
Fwell,  who  had  come  to  Anderson's  assistance  at  the  same 
time  that  our  cavalry  attacked  Anderson.  The  result  was 
a  total  rout  of  the  enemy,  and  the  destruction  of  Ewell's 
entire  command. 

The  Fifth  Corps  bivouacked  on  Sailor's  Creek  on  the 
night  of  the  6th  of  April,  having  encountered  the  enemy  at 
Paineville  and  captured  a  large  number  of  guns  and  army 
wagons.  So  many  supplies  had  been  captured  that  the 


952  HISTORY    OF    THE 

enemy  began  to  be  seriously  crippled.  On  this  night  the 
Confederates  under  Longstreet  crossed  to  the  north  bank  of 
the  Appomattox  at  Farmville,  and  in  the  morning  started 
out  on  the  leading  road  through  Appomattox  Court  House 
to  Lynchburg,  leaving  a  force  of  cavalry  in  the  vicinity  of 
Farmville.  Also,  on  the  7th,  Gordon  crossed  High  Bridge 
to  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  followed  by  the 
confederate  general  Mahone's  Division. 

General  Sheridan  had  protected  the  Danville  railroad; 
the  24th  Corps  was  moving  towards  Farmville;  General 
Griffin  with  the  Fifth  Corps  was  on  the  way  to  Prince  Ed 
ward  Court  House.  The  Second  Corps  crossed  High 
Bridge  on  the  7th  notwithstanding  the  attempted  destruc 
tion  of  the  bridge  by  the  enemy,  and  following  the  enemy 
up  the  river  to  Farmville,  overtook  him,  and  cut  off  a  large 
number  of  his  wagons. 

While  this  was  being  accomplished,  the  Confederates  had 
concentrated  near  the  Lynchburg  road,  and  the  Fifth  Corps 
had  crossed  the  Lynchburg  railroad  at  Rice's  Station,  and 
was  at  Prince  Edward  Court  House. 

At  8.30  p.  m.  of  April  7th,  General  Grant  being  satisfied 
that  further  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates  was 
useless,  and  that  the  sacrifice  of  more  lives  savored  of  inhu 
manity,  sent  a  note  to  General  Lee,  asking  him  to  surrender 
that  portion  of  the  Confederate  Army  known  as  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia,  and  received  a  reply  asking  the  terms 
Grant  would  offer  on  condition  of  the  surrender.  The 
reply  went  a  long  way  around  by  way  of  High  Bridge,  and 
General  Lee  moved  off  with  his  command  during  the  night. 
He  was  followed  at  5.30  a.  m.  of  the  8th  by  the  Second  and 
Sixth  Corps  on  the  road  to  Lynchburg,  and  General  Grant 
wrote  the  letter  offering  to  meet  Lee  to  arrange  terms  of 
surrender  at  any  point  agreeable  to  him,  which  was  sent 
from  our  front  into  the  rear  guard  of  thei  enemy's  forces 
while  we  were  still  in  purusit,  and  the  cavalry  came  up  from 


FIFTH  MASS.   BATTERY.  953 

the  vicinity  of  Prince  Edward  Court  House  to  Appomattox 
Station,  arriving  early  in  the  evening,  having  made  impor 
tant  captures  of  artillery  supply  wagons,  and  three  railway 
trains.  Moving  up  to  Appomattox  Court  House  they 
formed  across  the  road  along  which  the  Confederates  were 
moving.  The  road  from  the  Court  House  to  Lynchburg 
was  held  by  our  troops. 

At  dusk  of  the  8th  General  Lee's  reply  was  received  by 
our  advance  at  New  Store,  and  sent  back  ten  miles  to  Gen 
eral  Grant  at  Curdsville. 

Griffin  with  the  Fifth  Corps  bivouacked  at  2  a.  m.  of  the 
9th  within  2  miles  of  Appomattox  Court  House,  after  a 
march  of  29  miles,  and  at  4  a.  m.  moved  out  and  reached 
General  Sheridan's  Head  Quarters  near  the  Court  House 
at  6  a.  m.  April  9th.  The  cavalry  were  reported  still 
fighting,  and  two  Divisions  of  the  Fifth  Corps  moved  rap 
idly  out  in  the  direction  of  the  firing,  and  forming  two  lines 
of  battle  drove  the  enemy  from  the  hills  where  he  had  estab 
lished  his  artillery,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners,  wagons 
and  guns.  Fighting  was  going  on  in  the  town  when  Gen 
eral  Sheridan  ordered  a  suspension  of  hostilities  as  General 
Lee  was  about  to  surrender. 

AS  TOLD  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BATTERY. 

April  3d,  1865,  the  guns  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  were 
removed  from  Fort  Hays. 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  3,  1865.  The  Rebels  burnt  up 
all  stores  &c.  last  night  and  evacuated,  and  our  troops  en 
tered  Petersburg  at  5  a.  m.  I  walked  to  within  a  short  dis 
tance  of  the  city,  passed  two  32  pdr.  Howitzers  and  one  8 
in.  Columbiad  spiked.  .  .  .  The  9th  Corps  moved  up  to 
Petersburg." 

In  his  letter  written  at  City  Point  April  6,  1865,  Phillips 
says  of  the  advance  : — 

"The  advance  was  ordered  to  be  made  at  5  a.  m.  and  then 


954  HISTORY    OF    THE 

everybody  rushed  for  the  city.  About  2  a,  m.  I  had  one 
gun  carried  forward  down  the  Plank  Road  in  advance  of 
everything,  and  tried  to  shell  Petersburg,  but  I  am  afraid 
I  did  not  succeed  in  reaching  it.  I  sent  the  men  back  to 
Fort  Hays,  and  in  the  afternoon  rode  into  Petersburg.  It 
is  quite  a  pretty  place,  and  the  number  of  negroes  was  as 
tonishing." 

April  4th  in  the  evening  the  Battery  marched  to  City 
Point,  and  on  the  5th  became  a  part  of  the  Second  Brigade 
of  the  -  Artillery  Reserve  of  21  batteries.  Major  Phillips 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Second  Brigade,  consisting 
of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  and  Batteries  C,  E,  G  &  L,  ist 
New  York.  The  Brigade  was  camped  about  two  miles 
from  City  Point. 

From  Major  Phillips'  Letter  of  April  6th : — "All  the  in 
fantry  of  the  Army  followed  the  Rebels,  the  artillery  left 
behind  has  been  organized  into  an  Artillery  Reserve  like  the 
one  I  was  in  at  Gettysburg.  This  consists  of  4  Brigades, 
and  I  am  in  command  of  the  2d  Brigade,  consisting  of  five 
batteries.  We  are  camped  just  outside  the  fortifications  of 
City  Point,  and  have  a  very  pleasant  camp.  We  marched 
down  here  day  before  yesterday.  Lieut.  Page  is  in  the  hos 
pital  at  City  Point.  Private  Flynn  has  lost  his  arm." 

Sunday,  April  9,  1865,  news  was  received,  in  the  evening, 
of  the  surrender  of  General  Lee  and  his  Army. 

April  1 2th,  1865,  four  years  to  a  day  since  the  attack  on 
Sumter,  the  flag  of  the  Union  was  restored  with  appropriate 
ceremonies  to  its  citadel,  by  the  same  hands  which  had  been 
compelled  to  lower  it  when  the  fort  was  surrendered.  It 
was  a  pleasant  day.  Ten  thousand  prisoners  including  ten 
generals,  went  by  the  camp  to  City  Point. 

Phillips'  Diary:  "April  13,  1865.  Rainy.  Sent  off  24 
horses  from  the  Battery,  and  104  from  the  Brigade  to  the 
batteries  at  the  front." 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  955 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"Ho.  QRS.  20  BRIG.  ART'Y  RESERVE 

CITY  POINT,  April  21,  1865. 

The  news  of  President  Lincoln's  death  came  on  us  very 
suddenly.  I  heard  of  it  at  midnight  on  Friday  and  at  the 
same  time  we  were  informed  that  the  paroled  prisoners  were 
making  their  way  in  large  numbers  to  City  Point  with  hos 
tile  intent.  As  our  force  here  is  not  very  large,  we  were 
obliged  to  do  picket  duty  for  the  occasion,  and  I  sent  out 
30  horsemen  armed  and  equipped  to  patrol  the  country.  The 
same  thing  was  done  the  next  night,  and  then,  the  alarm 
having  subsided,  it  ceased.  Our  only  achievement  was  the 
capture  of  1500  rounds  of  cartridges  for  Spencer  rifles  in  a 
house  near  by." 

THE  PRESIDENT  ASSASSINATED. 

President  Abraham  Lincoln  died  Saturday,  April  15, 
1865,  at  22  minutes  past  seven  in  the  morning.  He  had 
been  shot  the  evening  previous  at  Ford's  Theatre  in  Wash 
ington. 

April  23d  the  pth  Mass.  Battery  joined  the  Brigade  of 
which  Major  Phillips  was  in  command,  and  Second  Lieut. 
William  Park  Jr.  was  detailed  as  adjutant  general  on  Major 
Phillips'  staff. 

April  30,  1865,  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery,  Lieut.  Harrison 
O.  Simonds,  was  assigned  to  the  Artillery  Brigade  Fifth 
Army  Corps  under  B'v't  Brig.  Gen.  Charles  S.  Wainwright. 
The  other  batteries  composing  the  Brigade  were  six  N.  Y. 
light  batteries,  two  Regulars,  and  the  15th  N.  Y.  Heavy, 
Company  M.  The  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  was  then  serving 
with  the  Artillery  Reserve. 

May  3d  the  Artillery  Reserve  marched  at  7.30,  the  3d 
Brigade  leading,  2d  Brigade  next.  Crossed  the  Appomat- 
tox  by  a  bridge  of  21  pontoons  at  Broadway  Landing, 


956  HISTORY    OF    THE 

crossed  the  James  at  Aiken's  Landing,  and  camped  about 
two  miles  beyond,  just  outside  the  rebel  lines,  near  the  river. 
Major  Phillips  rode  into  the  rebel  lines;  found  the  works 
very  fine  especially  the  bomb  proofs. 

Phillips'  Diary:  "May  4,  1865.  Marched  at  6  a.  m.  2d 
Brigade  leading,  into  Richmond,  up  Main  Street  to  i8th, 
up  1 8th,  and  the  Mechanicsville  pike,  and  camped  about  2 
miles  beyond  Mechanicsville.  In  the  afternoon  Captain 
Ritchie,  Simonds  and  I  rode  down  to  Gaines  Mills. 

May  5th  marched  at  6  a.  m.,  2d  Brigade  in  the  rear. 
Rain,  and  muddy.  Left  the  Mechanicsville  pike  and  took 
the  road  to  Pole  Green  Church  and  Hanover  Court  House, 
the  one  we  marched  on  the  27th  of  May,  1862.  Camped 
between  the  Court  House  and  the  river. 

May  6,  1865.  Delayed  until  2  p.  m.  by  the  pontoon 
bridge.  Crossed  the  Pamunkey,  and  camped  just  beyond. 
Hd.  Ors.  in  front  of  Mr.  TunstalFs  houses.  Crossed  the 
Pamunkey  River  at  Littlepage's  Bridge. 

May  7th.  Marched  at  4  a.  m.,  forded  the  Mattapony  at 
Milford,  and  camped  at  Bowling  Green.  8th.  Marched  at 
5  a.  m.  to  Fredericksburg,  and  would  have  crossed,  but  re 
ceived  orders  from  General  Meade  to  camp  at  Hamilton 
Crossing.  Qth.  Crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  marched 
through  StafTord  C.  H.  to  Acquia.  loth.  Marched  through 
Dumfries  and  camped  about  4  miles  beyond,  nth. 
Marched  through  Fairfax  Station  and  C.  H.  to  Annandale 
and  camped.  Stopped  to  see  Scott  at  the  Court  House. 
Very  cold  and  rainy  during  the  night.  I2th,  cool  but 
pleasant.  In  camp  all  day.  The  5th  Corps  passed  us. 

May  13,  1865.  Marched  to  a  point  about  three  miles 
from  Alexandria  between  Fort  Reynolds  and  Fort  Barry 
and  went  into  camp." 

This  was  the  last  camp  of  the  Battery  in  Virginia. 

May  1 5th  Major  Phillips  sent  to  Alexandria  for  ammu 
nition  chests.  On  the  22d  he  inspected  the  Brigade.  He 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  957 

as  well  as  other  officers  and  men  of  the  Battery  attended  the 
Grand  Review  in  Washington  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  Sherman's  great  Army,  but  the  Battery  was  not  in  line. 

May  28th  Major  Phillips  rode  with  Captain  Milton  and 
others  to  see  "Forts  Ward,  Worth,  Williams,  and  Battery 
Rodgers,  the  latter  in  Alexandria,  mounting  five  200  pdr. 
Parrotts  and  one  XV  in.  gun." 

May  3Oth  Lieut.  Page  came  into  camp  in  the  evening 
with  orders  to  turn  in  the  batteries,  and  the  next  day  the 
Maine  batteries  in  the  Reserve  were  turned  in. 

June  i,  1865,  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 

FROM  A  LETTER  OF  MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

"NEAR  WASHINGTON 

June  i,  1865. 

I  expect  to  turn  in  the  Battery  tomorrow,  and  we  shall 
start  for  Massachusetts  as  soon  as  we  can  get  transporta 
tion.  Today  being  Fast  Day  there  is  no  business  done,  or 
1  should  be  in  at  the  Arsenal." 

June  1st  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  ceased  to  exist. 

Diary  of  Major  Phillips;  "June  2,  1865.  Turned  in  Bat 
tery  at  the  Arsenal;  horses  at  Giesboro  (?)  Pt.  and  wagons 
on  G  Street. 

June  3,  1865.  Applied  for  transportation  to  Readville. 
At  1 1  p.  m.  received  orders  to  start  the  next  morning.  Illu 
minated  camp.  Rode  round  in  the  afternoon  visiting  the 
5th  Corps. 

THE  LAST  MARCH. 

June  4,  1865.  At  4  a.  m.  started  for  Washington;  got 
on  the  cars  about  n,  reached  Baltimore  about  sunset; 
changed  cars. 

June  5,  1865.     Reached  Philadelphia  at  sunrise,  break- 


958  HISTORY    OF    THE 

fasted,  and  took  the  Camden  and  Amboy  R.  R.  for  New 
York.  Arrived  at  New  York  at  4^,  put  the  men  on  board 
the  'Commodore,'  Stonington  line." 

The  Boston  Journal  of  the  5th  in  its  announcement  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Battery  said  :— 

"The  old  organizations  arriving  in  this  city  come  under  orders  to 
report  at  once  to  the  U.  S.  mustering  officer,  and  this  precludes  any 
reception  in  their  honor." 

Phillips'  Diary  continued:  "June  6th,  1865.  Arrived  at 
Readville  about  8,  and  went  into  barracks.  Reported  to 
Major  Clark  in  Boston  (see  p.  13  "The  Battery  Flags") 
and  went  to  work  on  Muster  Out  Rolls." 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  the  Battery  was  mustered  out  of  the 
United  States  service,  and  on  the  24th  the  men  were  paid 
off  at  Readville  and  dispersed  to  their  homes. 

The  report  of  Major  C.  A.  Phillips  to  Adjutant  General 
Wm.  Schouler  closes  with  the  following  words : — 

"This,  sir,  ends  the  record  of  the  Fifth  Battery.  They 
have  tried  to  do  their  duty,  and  the  record  speaks  for  itself. 
By  orders  from  Head  Quarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
they  carry  on  their  flag  the  names  Yorktown,  Hanover 
Court  House,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines  Mills,  Malvern  Hill, 
Second  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettys 
burg,  Rappahannock  Station,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Bethesda  Church,  Petersburg, 
Weldon  R.  R.,  and  Hatcher's  Run.  This  list  of  battles,  and 
our  list  of  killed  and  wounded,  will  show  what  dangers  we 
have  been  through.  As  to  our  conduct  throughout  our 
term  of  service,  others  must  judge." 

In  the  true  copy  of  Major  Phillips'  Discharge  here  given, 
the  year  of  his  enrollment  should  be  1861,  and  his  age 
when  discharged  was  24. 

DISCHARGE   PAPERS   OF   MAJOR  PHILLIPS. 

To  ALL  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN. 
[Picture  of    an  American    eagle    surrounded    by    stars, 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY,  959 

standing  on  a  shield,  with  the  national  colors  in  the  back 
ground.] 

Know  ye,  That  Charles  A.  Phillips,  a  Captain  &  B'v't  Maj.  of 
Company  (E)  Massachusetts  Artillery  Volunteers,  who  was  enrolled 
on  the  1 8th  day  of  October  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two 
to  serve  Three  years  or  during  the  war,  is  hereby  DISCHARGED  from 
the  service  of  the  United  States  this  I2th  day  of  June,  1865,  at  Read- 
ville,  Massachusetts,  by  reason  of  Muster  Out  of  Company.  (No  ob 
jection  to  his  being  re-enlisted  is  known  to  exist.*) 

Said  Charles  A.  Phillips  was  born  in  Salem,  in  the  state  of  Massa 
chusetts,  is  20  years  of  age,  5  feet  io^4  inches  high,  Light  complexion, 
Blue  eyes,  Light  hair,  and  by  occupation  when  enrolled  a  law  student. 

Given  at  Readville.  Mass,  this  I2th  day  of  June,  1865. 

ROBT.    DAVIS, 

ist  Lt.    &   B'v't   Capt.   2d    U.   S.   Inf. 
Mustering   Officer. 

*  This  sentence  will  be  erased  should  there  be  anything  in  the  con 
duct  or  physical  condition  of  the  soldier  rendering  him  unfit  for  the 
Army. 
[A.  G.  O.  No.  99! 

Across  the  page  in  red  ink  is  written : — 

Paid  in  full.         A.   HOLMAN, 

Pay.  U.  S.  A. 
June  26,  1865. 

On  the  back  is  a  printed  form  of  the  "Oath  of  Identity," 


ACCOUNTS    ALL    SETTLED. 

Certificate  of  ORDNANCE  OFFICE, 

Non-Indebtedness  on  WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

account  of  Ordnance  WASHINGTON,  D.  C, 

Stores.  April  23,  1866. 

CAPT.  CHAS.  A.  PHILLIPS, 

Battery  E,  Mass.  Artillery  B'v't  Maj.   U.  S.   Vols. 
Salem,  Mass. 

Sir: 

1    have   to    acknowledge   the    receipt   of   your    affidavit    covering 
your  accountability  for  Ordnance  and  Ordnance  Stores. 

The  records  of  this  Office  show  that  no  returns  for  such  property 


960  HISTORY    OF    THE 

are  due  from  you,  and  you  are  therefore  relieved  from  all  accountability 
on  that  account. 
Respectfully 

Your  obedient  servant. 

By  Order  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance, 

JNO.   R.   M'GUINESS, 
Lieut,  of  Ordnance, 
Brev't  Capt.  U.  S.  A. 
Ass't  to  Chief  of  Ordnance. 


QUARTERMASTER'S   STORES.     TO   MAJ.    C.   A.   PHILLIPS. 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT, 
THIRD   AUDITOR^  s   OFFICE, 

May    13,    1870. 
Sir: 

It  becomes  my  duty  to  notify  you  that  your  Returns  of  Quar 
termaster's  Stores  for  the  period  of  4th  Qr.  1862,  to  June,  1865,  having 
passed  the  administrative  scrutiny  of  the  proper  military  bureau,  have 
been  examined  in  this  Office  and  found  correct. 

This  closes  your  accountability  for  property  of  the  Quartermaster's 
Department,  so  far  as  the  same  is  known  to  this  Office. 
Very  respectfully, 

ALLAN   RUTHERFORD, 

Auditor. 
CHAS.  A.  PHILLIPS, 

Capt.  Battery  E, 
Mass.  Lt.  Art'y. 


With  the  special  approval  of  the  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  its  publication,  the  following  extract  from  an 
address  of  Governor  Andrew  in  honor  of  the  dead,  and 
the  last  verse  of  Colonel  T.  W.  Higginson's  "Waiting  for 
the  Bugle,"  in  sympathy  with  the  living  soldiers  of  the  War 
for  the  Preservation  of  the  Union,  will  fitly  close  this  his 
tory  of  nearly  four  years  of  life  in  camp,  on  the  march,  and 
in  the  field,  of  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery,  Light 
Artillery : — 

"By  the  homely  traditions  of  the  fireside,  by  the  headstones  in  the 
church  yard  consecrated  to  those  whose  forms  repose  far  off  in  rude 
graves  by  the  Rappahannock,  or  sleep  beneath  the  sea,  embalmed  in  the 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  961 

memories  of  succeeding  generations  of  parents  and  children,  the  heroic 
dead  will  live  on  in  immortal  youth.  The  great  proclamation  of  liberty 
will  lift  the  Ruler  who  uttered  it,  our  Nation  and  our  age  above  all 
vulgar  destiny." 


"Though  the  bivouac  of  age  may  put  ice 

in    our   veins, 

And  no  fibre  of  steel  in  our  sinew  remains; 
Though  the  comrades  of  yesterday's  march  are 

not  here, 
And  the  sunlight  seems  pale  and  the  branches 

are  sere: 
Though  the  sound  of  our  cheering  dies  down 

to  a  moan, 
We  shall  find  our  lost  youth  when  the 

bustle  is  blown." 

[FINIS.] 


PROMOTIONS    AND    RESIGNATIONS    OF    COM 
MISSIONED  OFFICERS 

OF 

THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

1861. 

Sept.  28,  1 86 1,  George  D.  Allen  of  Maiden,  was  com 
missioned  First  Lieutenant. 

Oct.  8,  1 86 1,  John  B.  Hyde  of  New  Bedford,  was  com. 
2d  Lieut. 

Robert  A.  Dillingbam  of  New  Bedford,  3d  Lieut. 

Charles  A.  Phillips  of  Salem,  4th  Lieut. 

Oct.  23,  1861,  Max  Eppendorff  of  New  Bedford  was 
com.  Captain. 

1862. 

Jan'y  24,  1862,  Captain  Max  EppendorfT  resigned  and 
was  discharged. 

Jan'y  25,  1862,  First  Lieutenant  George  D.  Allen  was 
promoted  Captain. 

Second  Lieutenant  John  B.  Hyde  was  promoted  ist 
Lieut. 

Third  Lieutenant  Robert  A.  Dillingham  was  promoted 
Junior  First  Lieut. 

Fourth  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Phillips  was  promoted 
Second  Lieut. 

Henry  D.  Scott  of  New  Bedford  was  com.  Junior  2d 
Lieut. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY,  963 

July  12,  1862,  First  Lieutenant  John  B.  Hyde  and  Junior 
First  Lieutenant  Robert  A.  Dillingham,  resigned  and  were 
discharged. 

July  13,  1862,  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Phillips 
was  promoted  ist  Lieut. 

Junior  Second  Lieutenant  Henry  D.  Scott  was  promoted 
Junior  ist  Lieut. 

Peleg  W.  Blake  of  New  Bedford  was  com.  2d  Lieut. 

Aug.  i,  1862,  Frederic  A.  Lull  of  Cambridge  was  com. 
Junior  2d  Lieut. 

Oct.  17,  1862,  Captain  George  D.  Allen  resigned  and 
was  discharged. 

Oct.  1 8,  1862,  First  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Phillips  was 
promoted  Captain. 

Junior  Second  Lieutenant  Frederic  A.  Lull  was  promoted 
ist  Lieut. 

Joseph  E.  Spear  of  Quincy  was  coni.  2d  Lieut. 

1863. 

July  30,  1863,  Second  Lieutenant  Peleg  W.  Blake  was 
promoted  ist  Lieut. 

Nathan  Appleton  of  Boston  was  com.  2d  Lieut. 

July  31,  1863,  First  Lieutenant  Frederic  A.  Lull  was 
promoted  Captain  of  2d  Reg't.  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

1864. 

March  n,  1864,  Second  Lieutenant  Joseph  E.  Spear  was 
promoted  ist  Lieut. 

First  Lieutenant  Henry  D.  Scott  was  promoted  Captain 
1 6th  Mass.  Battery,  Light  Artillery. 

Harrison  O.  Simonds  of  Boston  was  com.  2d  Lieut. 

June  1 8,  1864,  First  Lieutenant  Peleg  W.  Blake  was 
killed  in  action. 

June  19,  1864,  Second  Lieutenant  Nathan  Appleton  was 
promoted  ist  Lieut. 


964  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Samuel  H.  Hamblett  of  Salem  was  com.  2d  Lieut. 

Aug.  25,  1864,  First  Lieutenant  Nathan  Appleton  re 
signed  and  was  discharged. 

Aug.  26,  1864,  Second  Lieutenant  Harrison  O.  Simonds 
was  promoted  ist  Lieut. 

Mason  W.  Page  of  New  Bedford  was  com.  2d  Lieut. 

Oct.  3,  1864,  First  Lieutenant  Joseph  E.  Spear  resigned 
and  was  discharged. 

Oct.  4,  1864,  Second  Lieutenant  Samuel  H.  Hamblett 
was  promoted  ist  Lieut. 

Charles  M.  Tripp  of  New  Bedford  was  com.  2d  Lieut. 

1865. 

April  13,  1865,  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  M.  Tripp 
resigned  and  was  discharged. 

June  12,  1865,  Captain  Charles  A.  Phillips,  First  Lieut. 
Samuel  H.  Hamblet,  Jun.  First  Lieut.  Harrison  O. 
Simonds,  Second  Lieut.  Mason  W.  Page,  resigned  and 
were  discharged.  Battery  mustered  out. 


DISCHARGED  FOR  PROMOTION. 

Nov.  3,  1862,  Quarter  Master  Sergeant  Timothy  W. 
Terry  to  be  Second  Lieutenant  in  I3th  Mass.  Battery. 

June  4,  1863,  Edward  E.  Rice,  Special  Order  No.  219, 
War  Department,  June  3,  1863,  to  accept  a  commission. 

July  3,  1863,  First  Lieutenant  Frederic  A.  Lull  to  be 
Captain  in  2d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

July  15,  1863,  Sergeant  John  W.  Morrison  discharged 
to  accept  a  commission. 

Dec.  15,  1863,  Sergeant  Otis 'B.  Smith  to  be  First  Lieu 
tenant  2d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

March  8,  1864,  Corporal  Ephraim  B.  Nye  to  be  Second 
Lieutenant  i4th  Mass.  Battery. 

March  n,  1864,  First  Lieutenant  Henry  D.  Scott  to  be 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  965 

Captain  of  the  i6th  Mass.  Battery. 

Sept.  19,  1864,  Corporal  Jonas  Shackley  and  Corporal 
Elisha  J.  Gibbs,  to  be  Second  Lieutenants  in  the  4th  Mass. 
Heavy  Artillery. 

Oct.  27,  1864,  Wallace  R.  Ransom  to  be  Second  Lieuten 
ant  29th  Unattached  Co.,  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 


Twelve  years  after  the  war  Captain  Nathan  Appleton 
and  First  Lieutenant  John  F.  Murray  held  commissions 
in  the  famous  and  historic  Battery  A,  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteer  Militia,  which  in  command  of  Captain  Edward  J. 
Jones  went  to  the  front  Oct.  i,  1862,  and  served  nine 
months  as  the  nth  Mass.  Battery. 


DIED  FROM  DISEASE  WHILE  IN  SERVICE. 

June  14,  1862,  Corporal  Henry  C.  Parsons,  Gaines  Mills, 
Va.,  Typhoid  fever. 

Oct.  n,  1862,  Corporal  William  G.  Warren,  Baltimore, 
Md.,  Typhoid  fever. 

Nov.  28,  1862,  Private  William  S.  Wilcox,  Falmouth, 
Va.,  Consumption. 

March  13,  1864,  Private  Philo  L.  Braley,  Rappahannock 
Station,  Va.,  Typhoid  fever. 

March  22,  1864,  Private  Lewis  P.  Clark,  Galloupe's 
Island,  Boston  Harbor. 

June  7,  1864,  Private  Abner  Foster,  Washington,  D.  C., 
Typhoid  fever. 

Aug.  27,  1864,  Private  Alvin  Faunce,  Washington,  D.  C., 
Typhoid  fever. 

Aug.  28,  1864,  Private  Thomas  P.  Atkins,  Portsmouth 
Grove,  R.  I.,  Dysentery. 

Oct.  7,  1864,  Private  Edwin  M.  Dudley,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  Heart  disease. 


966  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Nov.  10,  1864,  Private  William  G.  Boutwell,  Washing 
ton,  D.  C, 

May  10,  1865,  Thomas  Flanagan,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Recruit  transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery. 

KILLED  IN  SERVICE. 

June  27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills: 
Corporal  Albert  F.  Milliken. 
Private  Edwin  F.  Gustine. 
Dec.  13,  1862,  Fredericksburg: 
Corporal  Edward  M.  Platts. 
July  1-3,  Gettysburg: 

Private  John  M.  Verity.  Detailed  from 

Edward  Fotheringham.       loth  N.  Y.  Battery. 
Henry  W.  Soule. 
William  L.  Purbeck. 
John  M.  Canty. 
John  F.  Hathaway. 
Martin  J.  Coleman. 
May  9,  1864,  Laurel  Hill: 
Private  John  W.  Boynton. 

Joseph  Kierstead,  n8th  Penn.  Vols. 
June  2,  1864,  BetJiesda  Church: 
Private  Frederick  D.  Alden. 
June  3,  1864,  Bethesda  Church: 

Private  William  H.  H.  Lapham. 
June  8,  1864,  Chickahominy: 
Private  William  J.  Sheergold. 
Henry  D.  Crapo. 
Charles  P.  Carling. 
June  1 8,  1864,  Petersburg: 

First  Lieutenant  Peleg  W.  Blake. 
Private  Benjamin  S.  Kanuse. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  967 

WOUNDED  IN  SERVICE. 

June  27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills: 
Corporal  John  Agen. 
Private  William  H.  Ray. 

Charles  D.  Barnard. 
July  i,  1862,  Malvern  Hill: 
Private  Jacob  Peacock. 

Robert  King. 
Aug.  30,  1862,  Second  Manassas: 

Private  Francis  Oldis. 
Dec.  13,  1862,  Fredericksburg: 

Private  Robert  Brand. 
July  1-3,  1863,  Gettysburg: 

Private  Henry  G.  Graffleman,  icth  N.  Y.  Battery. 
Lieutenant  Henry  D.  Scott. 
Corporal  Thomas  E.  Chase. 

"         John  Agen. 
Private  John  G.  San  ford. 

Henry  Fitzsimmons. 
George  B.  Trumbull. 
William  E.  Estee. 
William  H.  Dunham. 
Daniel  K.  Shackley. 
John  H.  Olin. 
William  A.  Waugh. 
William  McKern,  roth  N.  Y.  Battery. 
Nov.  27,  1863,  Mine  Run: 

Lieutenant  Henry  D.  Scott. 
May  9,  1864,  Laurel  Hill: 

Private  John  Mensing,  n8th  Penn.  Vols. 
May  12,  1864,  Spottsylvania   C.  H.: 
Corporal  Benjamin  Graham. 
Private  Albion  K.  P.  Hayden. 

Thomas  H.  Mensing,  n8th  Penn. Vols. 


968  HISTORY    OF    THE 

May  25,  1864,  North  Anna  River  and  Virginia  Central 
R.  R. 

Second  Lieutenant  Nathan  Appleton. 
June  2,  1864,  Bethesda  Church: 

Private  William  Reynolds. 
June  8,  1864,  Chickahominy: 

Private  Edward  F.  Smith. 

"       David  McVey. 
June  1 8,  1864,  Petersburg: 

Private  Joseph  L.  Knox. 

Alexander  N.  Atwood. 
July  30,  1864,  Petersburg: 

Sergeant  Charles  F.  Stiles. 
Aug.  21,  1864,  Weld  on  Railroad: 

Sergeant  Charles  F.  Stiles. 

Private  Paesiello  Emerson. 
April  2,  1865,  Petersburg: 

Second  Lieutenant  Mason  W.  Page. 

Private  Michael  Flynn. 

PRISONERS  OF  WAR. 

June  27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills: 
Private  Richard  Heyes. 

Edward  F.  Smith. 
Lorenzo  D.  Brownell. 
Charles  D.  Barnard. 
Nov.  27,  1863,  Mine  Run: 
Private  William  Greeley. 


THE    PROCEEDINGS    OF    THE    FIFTH    MASSA 
CHUSETTS    BATTERY    ASSOCIATION. 
BY  BREVET  CAPTAIN  NATHAN  APPLETON. 

"Later  the  storms  of  rain,  accompanied  with  thunder  and  lightning, 
reminding  one  of  the  battles  of  the  years  of  manhood's  prime,  played 
round  it." 

— N.  A.'s  Recollections  of  Mont  Blanc. 

The  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery,  like  most  of  the  regi 
ments  and  batteries  of  the  state,  formed  an  organization 
not  long  after  the  war  was  over.  The  date  of  ours  was 
1870. 

I  was  away  many  of  the  early  years  of  its  existence,  and 
did  not  attend  one  of  the  meetings  until  October  7th,  1877. 
This  one  was  held  at  "Parker's,"  Boston,  and  for  it  in  the 
dining  room  I  loaned  the  lithograph  of  the  battle  of  Gaines 
Mills,  and  the  engraving  of  Gettysburg,  the  battle  scene 
painted  by  James  Walker  though  planned  by  Colonel  John 
B.  Batchelder.  In  these  battles  the  Battery  suffered  most. 

Since  the  last  reunion,  held  three  years  previous,  Captain 
Phillips,  who  was  President  of  the  association,  had  died. 
Captain  George  D.  Allen  was  chosen  President  for  the  en 
suing  year,  and  I  was  chosen  Vice  President  together  with 
Captain  H.  D.  Scott,  and  Patrick  Welsh.  John  F.  Murray 
was  elected  Secretary,  and  George  H.  Leach  Treasurer. 

THE    DEATH    OF    MAJOR   PHILLIPS. 

Charles  Appleton  Phillips,  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  January 
31,  1841,  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Stephen  Clarendon  Phillips, 


970  HISTORY    OF    THE 

mayor  of  Salem,  and  member  of  congress  from  Massachu 
setts,  and  grandson  on  the  maternal  side,  of  Margaret 
Appleton,  of  the  Ipswich  Appleton  stock,  who  married 
Willard  Peele  of  Salem. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  the  study  of  law,  and 
his  death  took  place  March  20,  1876,  at  Gold  Hill,  a  small 
mining  town  near  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  of  congestion  of 
the  lungs,  while  looking  after  the  interests  of  his  clients. 
His  body  was  received  in  Salem  Friday  afternoon  April 
1 4th,  for  interment  in  the  family  lot  in  Harmony  Grove. 

At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Commandery 
of  the  Military  Order  Loyal  Legion,  United  States,  held 
on  Wednesday,  April  5,  1876,  at  the  Headquarters  in  Bos 
ton,  a  tribute  to  his  memory  was  adopted,  which  was  after 
wards  printed. 

LOYAL  LEGION   TRIBUTE. 
HEADQUARTERS 

COMMANDERY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 

BOSTON,  April  10,  1876. 

Tribute 

to  the  memory  of 

COMP.  BREVET  MAJOR  CHARLES  A.  PHILLIPS  U.  S.  VOLS. 
Late  Captain  Fifth  Light  Battery,  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Artillery. 

Adopted  at  a  Stated  Meeting  of  this  Commandery,  held 
on  Wednesday,  April  Fifth,  1876. 

As  a  student  at  Harvard,  he  took  high  rank  in  the  Classical  and 
Mathematical  Departments,  but  left  his  professional  studies  for  a 
subordinate  position  in  the  Light  Artillery  service. 

Of  a  retiring  disposition,  he  desired  no  reward  other  than  the 
consciousness  of  duty  faithfully  performed,  but  his  merits  soon 
brought  him  promotion. 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  971 

As  a  Battery  commander,  he  was  careful  and  considerate  for  his 
men,  and  asked  them  to  incur  no  danger  in  which  he  did  not  take 
a  conspicuous  share.  From  the  midst  of  the  enemy  at  Gettysburg,  he 
helped  to  draw  one  of  his  disabled  pieces  by  hand;  advancing  his 
batterv  by  section,  he  drove  the  enemy  before  him  at  Bethesda  Church ; 
fearless  of  danger,  on  an  important  occasion,  he  stood  alone  on  the 
breastworks  of  Fort  Sedgwick;  before  Petersburg,  exposed  to  the 
hottest  fire,  encouraging  his  men  and  calling  for  "spherical  case,"  he 
led  the  pioneers  who  cleared  away  the  obstructions  around  Fort 
Mahone,  in  the  final  engagement,  and  closed  his  services  with  the 
war,  commanding  a  brigade  of  the  Reserve  Artillery  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac. 

As  a  soldier,  his  record  was  one  of  heroism ;  as  a  citizen  of  industry 
and  usefulness,  and  now,  while  we  fondly  cherish  his  memory,  we 
deeply  sympathize  with  his  family  and  relatives  in  their  bereavement. 
Resolved,  That  these  expressions  of  our  respect  for  his  memory 
be  entered  upon  the  Records,  and  a  copy  be  transmitted  to  the  family 
of  our  deceased  companion. 

JOHN  BIGELOW,  B'v't  Major  U.  S.  Vols. 
RICHARD  S.  MILTON,  Captain  U.  S.   Vols. 
J.  HENRY  SLEEPER,  B'v't  Major  U.  S.  Vols. 

Committee. 
[Extract  from  the  Minutes.] 

CHARLES  DEVENS,  JR. 

B'v't  Major  Gen.   U.   S.    Vols.,  Commander. 
JAS.  B.  BELL,  Recorder. 
Official : 


MEMORIAL    SERVICES. 

Part  of  the  services  on  May  28,  1876,  the  Sunday  before 
Memorial  Day,  attended  by  the  Grand  Army  Post  No.  34 
of  Salem,  and  held  at  the  Barton  Square  Unitarian  Church, 
was  an  address  by  the  pastor  the  Rev.  George  Batchelor, 
now  (1902)  editor  of  the  "Christian  Register." 

He  chose  for  his  text,  Exodus  xii.  14, — "This  day  shall 
be  with  you  for  a  memorial,"  and  in  his  discourse  the  sev 
eral  periods  of  Major  Phillips'  honorable  career  were  clearly 
set  forth,  from  his  graduation  from  Harvard  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  with  the  highest  mathematical  honors  to  his  death. 


972  HISTORY    OF    THE 

With  these  words  ends  his  brief  but  fervent  eulogy : — 

"His  record  may  be  summed  up  by  saying  that  from  Yorktown  to 
Hatcher's  Run,  he  was  never  absent  when  his  battery  was  engaged,  and 
he  exposed  himself  fearlessly  when  the  danger  was  most  imminent,  and 
wherever  a  soldier's  duty  and  honor  called." 

On  Memorial  Day,  1877,  in  Salem,  the  address  at 
Mechanics  Hall  was  by  the  Rev.  Henry  W.  Foote  of  Bos 
ton,  who,  recalling  to  his  hearers  "the  fair  picture  of  the 
lives"  of  the  soldiers  of  Salem  who  had  "joined  the  great 
army  of  the  dead,"  referred  to  Major  Phillips  and  his 
brother  Lieut.  Edward  W.  Phillips  of  the  5Oth  Mass.  (In 
fantry)  who  "as  boys  were  full  of  glad  promise, — as  men 
did  nobly  for  their  country.  .  .  .  Edward,  struck  down  in 
his  bright  youth  by  the  effects  of  the  war, — Charles,  whose 
battery  flamed  on  the  heights  of  Malvern  Hill,  and  through 
unnumbered  battles  besides.  .  .  .  No  braver  or  more 
trusted  officer  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Last 
year  for  the  first  time  you  laid  flowers  on  his  grave.  .  .  . 
With  us  they  live  forever,  as  they  live  with  God,  in  undying 
youth,  immortal,  with  high  incentive  and  proud  rebuke  to 
us,  privileged  to  be  household  words  of  strength  unto 
children's  children/' 


I  attended  the  Ninth  reunion  of  the  Battery  Association 
at  Young's  Hotel,  in  Boston,  on  Wednesday  evening, 
October  i,  1879,  and  was  elected  president  of  the  Associa 
tion.  The  vice-presidents  were  Captain  Henry  D.  Scott  of 
Newport,  R.  I.,  Captain  F.  A.  Lull  of  Cambridge  and 
Lieut.  Mason  W.  Page  of  Taunton.  Secretary  John  F. 
Murray  of  Cambridge.  Treasurer  George  H.  Leach  of 
Boston.  Relief  Committee  William  Reynolds  of  Marble- 
head,  Joseph  Knox  of  Boston,  Michael  Hewitt  of  Newton. 

It  was  voted  to  have  the  next  reunion  in  Boston  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  October,  1880.  General  A.  P.  Martin 
was  elected  an  honorary  member,  having  been  in  command 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  973 

of  the  Artillery  Brigade  Fifth  Army  Corps  when  the  Fifth 
Battery  was  in  it. 

Benjamin  Savery  of  Marblehead  for  many  years  said 
grace  at  the  reunions,  following  which  Joe  Knox  called 
the  roll  from  memory.  See  p.  134. 

The  Eleventh  Annual  Reunion  was  held  at  Young's 
Hotel,  Boston,  Wednesday,  Oct.  5,  1881.  In  the  circular 
sent  with  the  call  for  the  meeting  was  an  extract  from  the 
address  of  the  Rev.  George  Batchelor  at  Salem,  May  28, 
1876,  eulogizing  the  career  of  Major  Phillips  and  the  Bat 
tery. 

Captain  Lull,  who  was  active  in  this  matter,  wrote  Octo 
ber  /th  in  returning  papers  obtained  from  the  family, — "I 
also  enclose  one  of  the  circulars  of  the  nth  Reunion.  You 
will  see  that  the  one  containing  Mr.  Batch elor's  address  was 
the  one  we  wished  to  get.  We  had  a  very  successful  re 
union  of  the  old  5th  on  Wednesday  eve  last  at  Young's 
Hotel.  About  35  members  were  present.  Our  late  Captain 
was  spoken  of  by  several  members  of  the  Battery,  also  by 
two  or  three  guests  that  were  present,  in  very  feeling 
terms. 

In  fact  Captain  Phillips'  name  is  revered  by  all  the  mem 
bers  of  the  old  5th,  and  is  alluded  to  with  heartfelt  feelings 
by  all  the  surviving  members. 

Very  respectfully 

FREDERIC  A.  LULL." 


In  1883,  at  the  banquet  at  the  Crawford  House,  Boston, 
I  invited  the  members  of  the  Battery  to  visit  the  Boston 
Foreign  Exhibition  of  which  I  was  a  Director,  the  follow 
ing  day,  which  many  did.  The  Exhibition  at  which  the 
products  of  52  countries  were  represented  was  held  in  the 
Mechanics  Building. 

In  1890,  the  meeting  and  banquet  were  held  at  Young's 
Hotel,  Boston,  August  I2th,  at  the  time  of  the  National 


974  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Encampment  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

In  1891,  again  at  " Young's"  October  7th,  when  I  pre 
sented  the  members  with  a  reproduction  of  a  photograph  of 
Captain  C.  A.  Phillips,  I  had  struck  off  for  the  occasion. 

The  Twenty-Second  Annual  Reunion  was  held  at  New 
Bedford  August  9th,  1892.  Clambake  dinner  at  Fort 
Phoenix,  Fairhaven,  at  one  p.  m.,  and  supper  and  business 
meeting  at  New  Bedford.  After  the  clambake  we  were 
photographed  in  a  group. 

DEATH  OF  LIEUT.   PAGE. 

After  the  war  closed  Lieut.  Mason  W.  Page  pursued 
various  avocations  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  New  Bedford,  and 
Lynn,  Mass.,  where  he  died  September  29,  1893.  He  is 
buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery,  New  Bedford. 


I  did  not  attend  the  reunion  in  1894,  which  was  held  at 
Salem  Willows,  Salem,  on  Wednesday,  Aug.  22d.  Nearly 
50  members  were  present.  Captain  George  D.  Allen  of 
Maiden  was  elected  President;  John  S.  Doane  of  Boston 
first  Vice  President,  Wm.  W.  Carsley,  Fairhaven,  second 
Vice  President.  George  L.  Newton,  Weymouth,  Secretary, 
Thomas  E,  Chase,  Boston,  Treasurer.  Executive  Commit 
tee  J.  A.  Wood,  Edward  T.  Wilson,  and  George  L.  New 
ton.  Relief  Committee  James  H.  Saxon,  W.  W.  Carsley, 
John  S.  Doane  and  George  L.  Newton. 

The  Relief  Committee  was  instructed  to  decorate  the 
graves  of  deceased  members,  and  it  was  voted  to  allow 
brothers  and  sons  of  deceased  members  to  become  honorary 
members. 

The  reunion  o»f  1895,  was  held  at  New  Bedford  August 
28th,  44  members  being  present.  Speeches  were  made  by 
Capt.  John  B.  Hyde,  Capt.  Henry  D.  Scott,  Jonas  Shack- 
ley,  Benjamin  Story,  Hon.  Rufus  A.  Soule  brother  of 


FIFTH   MASS.   BATTERY.  975 

Henry  W.  Soule,  Wm.  F.  Nye  brother  of  Lieut.  Ephraim 
B.  Nye,  Frank  A.  Milliken  and  myself.  Mr.  Nye  was 
sutler  of  the  Battery  and  entertained  us.  Judge  Milliken 
was  elected  associate  member.  His  brother  Albert  F. 
Milliken  was  the  first  one  killed. 

The  oldest  member  present  was  Stephen  Townsend  of 
Fall  River  aged  71,  the  youngest  was  Wm.  H.  Dunham  of 
Fairhaven  aged  52.  The  only  death  of  the  year  was 
Michael  Hewitt  of  Newton.  Officers  elected  were  Capt. 
John  B.  Hyde,  President,  John  F.  Murray  and  J.  Augustus 
Wood  Vice  Presidents.  Thomas  E.  Chase  Treasurer  and 
Geo.  L.  Newton,  Secretary.  The  Executive  Committee 
were  J.  S.  Doane,  W.  A.  Waugh,  William  Reynolds,  and 
Geo.  L.  Newton. 

The  Twenty-Sixth  Annual  Reunion  took  place  on 
Wednesday  Oct.  7,  1896,  at  Young's  Hotel.  I  was  at  that 
time  at  Kohala  on  the  large  island  of  Hawaii,  where  I  went 
with  Attorney  General  Smith.  John  F.  Murray  was  elected 
President.  John  E.  Dyer  and  W.  A.  Waugh  Vice  Presi 
dents.  Thomas  E.  Chase  Treasurer  and  Geo.  L.  Newton 
Secretary.  The  Executive  Committee  were  E.  T.  Wilson, 
Geo.  H.  Chadwick  and  J.  Augustus  Wood. 

In  a  postscript  of  a  letter  to  me  written  by  Mr.  Geo.  L. 
Newton  of  Weymouth,  Jan'y  4,  1897,  he  said  with  refer 
ence  to  the  losses  by  death  and  the  next  reunion: — "We 
missed  you  at  our  annual  reunion.  I  learned  by  the  press 
afterward  that  you  were  out  of  the  country.  We  have  lost 
by  death  the  last  year  five  members,  as  follows : — Sergt. 
Wm.  B.  Pattison,  Wm.  W.  Carsley  (Carsley  died  in  New 
Bedford,  July  4,  1896,  from  a  frightful  wound  received 
while  ramming  in  the  charge  of  one  of  the  brass  field  pieces, 
—previously  mentioned  as  owned  by  that  city — for  firing 
the  noonday  salute.  He  was  taken  to  the  hospital  and  died 
in  a  few  hours),  Joseph  Whitcher,  Leonard  Luther,  and 


976  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Thomas  Downey.  Our  next  reunion  is  to  be  held  at  New 
Bedford." 

This  occurred  Sept.  29,  1897.  Headquarters  at  Union 
Veteran  Legion  Rooms,  Union  Street,  New  Bedford,  din 
ner  at  the  Mansion  House.  E.  T.  Wilson  was  elected 
President.  Geo.  L.  Newton  Secretary,  Thomas  E.  Chase 
Treasurer.  Executive  Committee  T.  E.  Chase,  F.  P. 
Washburn. 

Wednesday  evening  August  17,  1898,  the  Association 
met  and  dined  at  the  American  House,  Boston.  It  was  the 
Twenty-Eighth  Annual  Reunion.  Outside  was  a  furious 
storm  of  wind  and  rain,  and  between  thunder  claps  the 
movement  to  have  a  history  of  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery 
written  was  inaugurated,  and  a  committee  composed  of 
Captain  Henry  D.  Scott,  Captain  John  F.  Murray  and 
myself,  was  appointed  to  write  and  publish  it.  I  was  made 
chairman  of  the  committee. 

Captain  Henry  D.  Scott  was  elected  President  of  the 
Association  for  the  ensuing  year.  Thomas  E.  Chase, 
Treasurer,  Geo.  L.  Newton  Secretary.  Executive  Com 
mittee  J.  A.  Wood,  F.  P.  Washburn. 

The  Reunion  of  1899  was  on  August  2d  at  New  Bed 
ford.  Business  meeting  at  11.30  at  the  Union  Veteran 
Legion  Rooms,  and  a  clambake  afterwards  under  the  trees 
paid  for  by  Mr.  Nye,  to  whom  we  gave  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
cheers.  There  were  about  35  members  present. 

The  Reunion  of  1900  was  on  August  22d  at  Field's 
Point,  Providence,  R.  I.  A  good  clambake  and  an  interest 
ing  meeting.  Officers  elected  were:  President  J.  Augustus 
Wood  New  Bedford ;  Vice  President  James  D.  Allen,  New 
Bedford,  Secretary  George  L.  Newton;  Treasurer  Thomas 
E.  Chase.  Executive  Committee  Wm.  Reynolds,  Lemuel 
A.  Washburn,  E.  T.  Wilson. 

There  had  been  one  death  since  the  last  meeting,  that  of 
George  H.  Chadwick. 


FIFTH   MASS.    BATTERY.  977 

DEATH    OF    CAPTAIN    GEO.    D.    ALLEN. 

Captain  George  D.  Allen  died  at  the  Emergency  Hospital, 
Boston,  shortly  before  noon  November  5th,  1900,  from  the 
effects  of  injuries  sustained  in  an  elevator  accident  at  7 
Exchange  Place,  on  the  way  to  make  a  business  call  about 
9  o'clock  that  morning.  He  had  resided  in  Maiden  ever 
since  the  war.  The  funeral  took  place  in  that  city  on  the 
8th  and  was  attended  by  delegations  of  the  various  organi 
zations  military  and  civil  of  which  Captain  Allen  was  a 
member,  and  no  of  the  employees  of  the  William  Allen 
and  Sons  Boiler  Works. 

Officers  of  the  Knights  Templars  were  present  in  uni 
form.  The  Masonic  ceremonies  were  under  the  direction 
of  Eminent  Commander  Arthur  H.  Burton,  and  the  bearers 
were  high  officials  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts 
and  Rhode  Island,  and  the  Worcester  County  Commandery. 
The  floral  tributes  were  extremely  abundant  and  elaborate; 
among  them  a  maltese  cross.  The  interment  was  in  the 
family  tomb  in  Salem  Street  Cemetery,  Maiden. 


At  the  Thirty-First  Annual  Reunion  the  assembly  took 
place  in  New  Bedford  at  the  Union  Veteran  Legion  Rooms 
at  11.30,  August  6th,  1901.  I  was  unable  to  be  present. 

Four  deaths  were  reported  during  the  year: — Captain 
George  D.  Allen,  Christopher  C.  Allen,  Rodney  S.  Camp 
bell  and  William  Roberts. 

The  committee  on  the  history  was  augmented  by  the 
appointment  of  Thomas  E,  Chase  and  George  L.  Newton. 

William  F.  Nye  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Association. 

Officers  elected  were:  President  Captain  Henry  D.  Scott; 
Vice  Presidents  William  H.  Baxter  of  New  York  and  Jonas 
Shackley  of  Quincy,  Mass.;  Secretary  George  L.  Newton; 
Treasurer,  Thomas  E.  Chase.  Executive  Board  William 


978  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Reynolds  of  Marblehead,  Mass.,  Edward  T.  Wilson  of  New 
Bedford,  and  Capt.  John  F.  Murray  of  Cambridge. 

At  3  o'clock  a  shore  dinner  was  enjoyed  at  the  summer 
cottage  of  Edward  T.  Wilson  at  Padanaram,  and  a  paper 
relating  to  his  experience  in  the  Army  as  sutler,  was  read  by 
William  F.  Nye.  There  were  about  50  members  present. 

The  Reunion  of  1902,  took  place  Saturday,  August  23d, 
at  Marblehead,  Mass.  About  35  members  assembled  on 
Brown's  Island  for  a  clambake  dinner. 

At  the  business  meeting  the  following  were  elected  offi 
cers  of  the  Association  for  the  ensuing  year: — 

President,  William  Reynolds. 

Vice  Presidents,  Wm.  H.  Peacock,  Lemuel  Washburn. 

Secretary,  Geo.  L.  Newton. 

Treasurer,  Thomas  E.  Chase. 

Committee  on  next  Reunion,  Wm.  H.  Dunham,  Paesiello 
Emerson,  Thomas  B.  Stantial,  Edward  T.  Wilson. 

The  following  were  elected  honorary  members:  R.  C. 
Bridges,  John  Ingalls,  S.  H.  Brown,  W.  Reynolds,  Thomas 
Ingalls,  Wm.  A.  Nye. 

It  was  voted  to  hold  the  next  Reunion  at  New  Bedford. 


COMPLETE   ROSTER 

OF  THE 

FIFTH     MASS.    BATTERY,   LIGHT     ARTILLERY. 
Corrected  to  Date  of  Publication* 


A  star  denotes  members  reported  deceased  since  the  War. 


COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS. 

CAPTAINS. 

Eppeudorff  Max,  Captain,  horticulturist,  41,  New  Bedford.  Commissioned 
Oct.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Resigned  Jan. 
25,  1862.  War  Dept.  Register. 

Allen  George  D.,  Senior  First  Lieutenant,  clerk,  84,  married,  Maiden.  Enlisted 
Sept.  9,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  9,  1861,  three  years.  Commissioned 
First  Lieutenant  Sept.  28,  1861.  Captain  Jan.  25,  1862.  Resigned  Oct. 
17,  1862.  Died  Nov.  5,  1900. 

Phillips  Charles  A.,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  law  student,  20,  single,  Salem. 
Commissioned  Oct.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  23,  1861,  three  years. 
Senior  Second  Lieutenant  Jan.  25,  1862.  Senior  First  Lieutenant  July 
13,  1862.  Captain  Oct.  18,  1862,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865.  Brevet 
Major  U.  S.  V.  Died  March  2u,  1876. 

LIEUTENANTS. 

Hyde  John  B.,  Second  Lieutenant,  machinist,  32,  single,  New  Bedford. 
Enlisted  Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861.  Commissioned 
Second  Lieutenant  Oct.  8,  1861.  First  Lieutenant  Jan.  25,  1862.  Re 
signed  July  12,  1862. 

Dillingham  Robert  A.,*  Senior  Second  Lieutenant,  sculptor,  34,  married, 
New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three 
years.  Commissioned  Senior  Second  Lieutenant  Oct.  8,  1861.  Promoted 
Junior  First  Lieutenant  Jan.  25,  1862.  Resigned  July  12,  1862. 

Scott  Henry  D.,  Sergeant,  carpenter,  36,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Second  Lieuter. 
ant  Jan.  25,  1862.  First  Lieutenant  July  13,  1862.  Wounded  July  2, 
1863,  Gettysburg,  and  Nov.  27,  1863,  Mine  Run.  Commissioned  Captain 
of  the  16th  Mass.  Battery,  March  11,  1864. 

Blake  Peleg  W.,  Sergeant,  carpenter,  26,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Second  Lieutenant 
July  13,  1862.  First  Lieutenant  July  30,  1863.  Killed  in  action,  Peters 
burg  June  18,  1864. 

Lull  Frederic  A.,*  Sergeant,  carpenter,  29,  married,  Cambridge.  Enlisted 
Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Seconu  Lieuten 
ant  Aug.  1,  loG2,  First  Lieutenant  Oct.  18,  1862.  Promoted  Captain  in 
2d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery  July  31,  1863. 

Spear  Joseph  Edward,  Corporal,  clerk,  18,  single,  Quincy.  Enlisted  Sept. 
18,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  1861,  three  years.  First  Sergeant  Aug.  1, 

1862.  Second  Lieutenant  Oct.  18,  1862.    First  Lieutenant  March  11,  1864. 
Discharged  Oct.   3,   1864,  expiration   of  term  of  service. 

Appleton   Nathan,    Second   Lieutenant,   20,    Boston.      Commissioned   July   30, 

1863,  mustered  in  July  30,  1863,  three  years.     Wounded  May  25,  1864. 
First    Lieutenant    June    19,    1864.      Discharged,    Disability,    as    Second 
Lieutenant  Aug.   25,   1864.     Brevet  Captain  U.   S.  V. 

Simonds  Harrison  O.,  Corporal,  painter,  21,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Oct.  12, 
1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  12,  1861,  three  years.  Sergeant  Feb.  18,  1862. 


COMPLETE  POSTER 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  11,  1863.  Promoted  Second  Lieutenant  March  11,  1864. 
First  Lieutenant  Aug.  26,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Hamblett  Samuel  H.,  Second  Lieutenant,  20,  Salem.  Commissioned  June  19, 
1864,  mustered  in  June  19,  1864,  three  years.  First  Lieutenant  'Oct.  4, 
1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Page  Mason  W.,*  Corporal,  iron  worker,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Re^enlisted  Dec.  14, 
1863.  Second  Lieutenant  Aug.  26,  1864.  Wounded  April  2,  1865,  Peters 
burg,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Tripp  Charles  M.,  Private,  ambrotypist,  20,  single,  Westport.  Enlisted  Nov. 
27,  1861,  mustered  in  Nov.  27,  1861,  three  years.  Woumded  as  Corporal 
May  18,  1864,  Spottsylvania.  Sergeant  Aug.  29,  1864.  Second  Lieuten 
ant  Oct.  4,  1864.  Discharged  for  Disability  April  13,  1865. 


NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    PRIVATES. 

FIRST    SERGEANTS. 

Smith   Otis    B.,*    Sergeant,    clerk,    21,    married,    Boston.    Enlisted    Sept.    27, 

1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  27,  1861,  three  years.     First  Sergeant  Feb.  9, 
1863.      Discharged    for    promotion    to    be    First    Lieutenant    2d    Mass. 
Heavy  Artillery,   Dec.   15,  1863. 

Welch  Patrick,  Private,  laborer,  21,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Corporal  March  21, 

1863.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  11,  1863,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  First 
Sergeant. 

QUARTERMASTER     SERGEANTS. 

Terry  Timothy  W.,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  painter,  23,  single,  New  Bedford. 
Enlisted  Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Dis 
charged  for  promotion  to  be  Second  Lieutenant  in  13th  Mass.  Battery, 
Nov.  3,  1862. 

Peacock  William  H.,  Wagoner,  trader,  24,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept. 
27,  3861,  mustered  in  Sept.  27,  1861,  three  years.  Sergeant  March  2, 

1862.  Quartermaster  Sergeant  March  9,  1863,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864, 
expiration   of  term  of  service. 

SERGEANTS. 

Baxter  William  H.,  Corporal,  clerk,  19,  Quincy.  Enlisted  Sept.  18,  1861, 
mustered  in  Sept.  18,  1861,  three  years.  Sergeant  March  9,  1864, 
mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Clark  Joseph  W.,*  Private,  cooper,  28,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Feb.  1, 

1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  Sergeant. 

Gwinn  Thomas  H.,  Private,  conductor,  23,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted 
Oct.  22,  1862,  mustered  in  Oct.  25,  1862,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Feb. 
1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  Sergeant. 

Kay  James,*  Private,  weaver,  21,   single,   New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Sept.  26, 

1861,  mustered    in    Sept.    26,    1861,    three    years.      Re-enlisted    Feb.    1, 
1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  Sergeant. 

Morgridge,  Charles  H.,  Sergeant,  carpenter,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.  En 
listed  Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Re-en 
listed  Dec.  25,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Morrison,  John  W.,*  Private,  carpenter,  25,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept. 
25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Corporal  Sept.  13, 

1862,  to  date  from  Aug.  1,  1862.     Sergeant  Feb.  9,  1863.     Discharged  to 
accept  a  commission  July  15,  1863.     No  further  record  in  Adjt.  GenTs 
Office,    Mass. 


OF    THE    FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Newliall  William  B.,  Private,  carpenter,  33,  single,  Maiden.  Enlisted  Sept. 
29,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.  Corporal  Sept.  13, 
1862.  Sergeant  April  6,  1864,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration 
of  term  of  service. 

Pattison  "William  B.,*  Sergeant,  cabinet  maker,  23,  married,  Boston.  En 
listed  Sept.  24,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  24,  1861,  three  years,  mustered 
out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Stiles  Charles  F.,  Private,  shoemaker,  19,  single,  Charlestown.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Corporal  Dec.  15, 

1862,  Sergeant   April  8,  1864.     Wounded  July  30,   1864,   Petersburg,  and 
Aug.   21,   1864,  Weldon   Railroad,   mustered  out  Oct.   3,   1864,   expiration 
of   term,  of  service. 

Wilson  Edward  T,  2d,  Corporal,  undertaker,  24,  married,  New  Bedford. 
Enlisted  Sept.  27,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  27,  1801,  three  years.  Re- 
eiilisted  Dec.  24,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  Sergeant. 

CORPORALS. 

A  gen  or  Eagan  John,  Private,  weaver,  24,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  June 
27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills.  Wounded  July  2,  1863,  Gettysburg,  as  Corporal. 
Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  Nov.  28,  1863.  No  further  record  in  Adjt. 
Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 

Allen  Elisha,  Private,  teamster,  30,  married,  Lharlestown.  Enlisted  in 
Third  Mass.  Battery  Aug.  15,  1862,  mustered  in  Aug.  15,  1862.  Re-en 
listed  in  Third  Mass.  Battery  Dec.  23,  1863.  Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  as  Corporal,  June  12,  1865. 

Atkins  Nathaniel  H.,*  Private,  cordwainer,  22,  single,  Marblehead.  Enlisted 
Feb.  18,  1864,  mustered  in  Feb.  18,  1864;  mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as 
Corporal.  Prior  service  in  Co.  C,  8th  Regt.  Mass.  Inf.,  9  months. 

Campbell  Rodney  S.,*  Private,  shoemaker,  24,  Boston,  credited  to  Somerset. 
Enlisted  April  11,  1864,  mustered  in  April  11,  1864,  three  years;  mus 
tered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  Corporal.  Prior  service  in  TJ.  S.  Navy. 

Chase  Thomas  E.,  Private,  clerk,  24,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  28,  1861. 
three  years.  Wounded  July  3,  1863,  Gettysburg,  mustered  out  Dec.  »14, 
1864,  as  Corporal,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Clark  Charles  A.,  Corporal,  trader,  39,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  Nov.  8,  1862. 

Cox  Albert  T.,  Corporal,  machinist,  24,  single,  Maiden.  Enlisted  Sept.  11. 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  11,  1861,  three  years.  Deserted  Aug.  21,  1862, 
Acquia  Creek. 

J-Vrris  Anson  E.,  Corporal,  soldier.  34,  married,  NewT  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3, 
1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Follett  Charles  A.,  Corporal,  merchant,  22,  single,  Quincy.  Enlisted  In 
Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

iiibbs  Elisha  J.,  Corporal,  seaman,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  11, 

1863.  Discharged  for  promotion  Sept.  19,  1864,   Second  Lieutenant  4th 
Mass.    Heavy   Artillery. 

Ilaskins  Alpheus,  Private,  farmer,  30,  single,  Marion.  Enlisted  Sept.  30, 
]86L,  mustered  in  Sept.  30,  1861,  three  years.  Corporal  Dec.  15,  1863, 
mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Johnston  Leonard  F.,  Private,  carpenter,  25,  single,  Groton.  Enlisted  in 
Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  Sept.  5, 
1861.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  9,  1863.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery. 
Discharged  June  12;  1865,  as  Corporal. 


COMPLETE  EOSTEE 

Martis  Brooks  B.,  Corporal,  coffee  grinder,  19,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  in 
Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  9,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  Sept.  'J, 
IS*51  Re-enlisted  Dec.  28,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from 
Third  Mas?  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Matthews  David  A.,  Corporal,  bootmaker,  21,  single,  West  Boylston.  En 
listed  Oct.  24,  1863,  mustered  in  Oct.  24,  1863,  three  years.  Recruit. 
Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Millikeii  Albert  F.,  Corporal,  engineer,  22,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Killed  iu 
action  June  27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills,  Va. 

Newton    George   L.,   Private,    stair  builder,   20,    Charlestown.     Enlisted   Oct. 

1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.     Corporal  April  6,   1864, 
mustered  out   Oct.   3,   1864,   expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Nichols  William  H.,  Corporal  in  Third  Mass.  Battery,  upholsterer,  31,  mar 
ried,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  5,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  5,  1861,  three 
years.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  28,  1863.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Bat 
tery  as  absent  in  Hospital,  mustered  out  to  date  July  12,  1865. 

Nye  Ephraim  B.,  Corporal,  trader,  35,  marrieid,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Re-fenlisted  Dec.  12, 
1863.  Discharged  .for  promotion  March  8,  1864,  to  be  Second  Lieuten 
ant  14th  Mass.  Battery. 

Platts  Edward  M.,  Private,  clerk,  18,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  29,  1861, 
mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.  Died  Dec.  14,  1862,  of  wounds 
received  Dec.  13,  1862,  Fredericksburg,  as  Corporal. 

Poole  George  W.,*  Private,  teamster,  24,  single,  Chelsea.  Enlisted  Sept.  29, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  11, 
1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865,  as  Corporal. 

Proctor   George    O.,    Private,    farmer,    21,    single,    Boston.      Enlisted   Oct.    1, 

1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864, 
as    Corporal,    expiration   of   term   of   service. 

Shackley  Jonas,   Private,  carpenter,  31,  married,   Quincy.     Enlisted  Aug.   15, 

1862,  mustered  in  Aug.  15,  1862,  three  years.     Corporal  March  21,  1863. 
Discharged   for   promotion    to   be   Second   Lieutenant   in   the   4th   Mass. 
Heavy    Artillery,    Sept.    19,    1864. 

Truinbull  George  B.,  Private,  barkeeper,  28,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted 
Sept.  15,  1862,  mustered  in  Sept.  15,  1862,  three  years.  Wounded  July 

2,  1863,   Gettysburg.     Re-enlisted  January  29,  1864,  mustered  out  June 
12,   1865,   as   Corporal. 

Warren  William  G.,  Corporal,  lastmaker,  26,  married,  East  Boston.  En 
listed  Sept.  28,  1S61,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Died  of 
disease  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  Oct.  11,  1862. 

ARTIFICERS. 

Barnard  Charles  D.,  Artificer,  harnessmaker,  22,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861.  Discharged  Nov.  15,  1862, 
because  of  loss  of  use  of  right  leg  and  wound  of  hip,  received  in  action 
June  27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills. 

Gilbert  Jacob  A.,  Artificer,  harnessmaker,  32,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlistea  Dec. 
12,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865.  Died  June  24,  1870. 

Hewitt  Michael,*  Artificer,  blacksmith,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.  En 
listed  Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted 
Dec.  25,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Hunt  Ira  J.,  Private,  bootmaker,  29,  single,  Randolph.  Enlisted  January 
2,  1864,  mustered  in  January  2,  1864,  three  years.  Artificer.  Recruit. 
Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Stantial  Thomas  B.,  Artificer,  carpenter,  26,  married,  Melrose.  Enlisted 
Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged 
for  Disability  July  24,  1862,  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Va. 


OF    THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Tripp  Christopher  B.,  Artificer,  blacksmith,  21,  single,  New  Bedford.  .En 
listed  Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged 
for  Disability  July  26,  1862. 

Wood  James  A.,  Artificer,  wheelwright,  23,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  July  25,  1862. 

WAGONER. 

Johnson  George  H.,*  First  Sergeant,  expressman,  32,  married,  Boston.  En 
listed  Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Thrown 
from  a  horse  and  received  a  broken  wrist  April  21,  1864.  Discharged 
at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Aug.  26,  1864,  as  Wagoner. 


BUGLERS. 

Winters  James,    Bugler,     musician,     43,     married,     New    Bedford.       Enlisted 

Sept.    25,    1861,    mustered   in    Sept.    25,    1861,    three   years.      Re-enlisted 

Dec.    11,    1863,    mustered   out   ouue   12,    1865. 
Tucker  John    C.,    Bugler,   druggist,    25,    married,    West   Amesbury.     Enlisted 

Oct.    30,    1861,    mustered    in    Oct.    30,    1861,    three   years,    mustered   out 

Oct.    31,    1864,    expiration   of   term   of   service. 
Gifford   Henry   M.,   Private,    seaman,   21,    single,    Dartmouth.     Enlisted   Jan. 

5,    1S64,    mustered     in      Jan.      5,     1864,    three     years,      mustered     out 

June   12,    1865,   as   Bugler. 

PRIVATES. 

Alden  Frederick  D.,  Private,  clerk,  22,  single,  Fall  River.  Enlisted  Sept. 
28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Killed  June  2,  1864, 
Coal  Harbor.  (Bethesda  Church.) 

Allen  Christopher  C.,*  Private,  butcher,  24,  married,  New  Bedford.  En 
listed  Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged 
for  Disability  Oct.  23,  1862. 

Allen  James  D.,  Private,  stonecutter,  22,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Almy  Andrew  W.,*  Private,  laborer,  18,  single,  Fairhaven.  Enlisted  Sept. 
25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service. 

Alton  John  H.,  Private,  machinist,  27,  married,  East  Freetown.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Alton  Joseph  B.,  Private,  glassblower,  19,  single,  Sandwich.  Enlisted  Oct. 
3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863,  mustered 
out  June  12,  1865. 

Atkins  Thomas  P.,  Private,  cordwainer,  21,  single,  Marblehead.  Enlisted 
Feb.  18,  1864,  mustered  in  Feb.  18,  1864.  Died  of  disease  Aug.  28, 
1864,  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I. 

Atwood  Alexander  N.,  Private,  seaman,  34,  married,  Fairhaven.  Enlisted 
Dec.  31,  1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  31,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Austin  Isaac  C.,  Private,  seaman,  24,  South  Danvers.  Enlisted  July  2, 
1864,  mustered  in  July  2,  1864.  Discharged  Aug.  8,  1862,  as  a  Rejected 
Recruit. 

Aymer  Frank,  Private,  blockmaker,  25,  Charlestown.  Enlisted  in  Third 
Mass.  Battery  May  26,  1862.  Re-enlisted  in  Third  Mass.  Battery  Dec. 
28,  1863.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass  Battery,  mustered  out  June 
12,  1865. 

Baker  Harry  M.,  Private,  jeweller,  21,  single,  Providence,  R.  I.,  credited 
to  Swampscott.  Enlisted  June  25,  1864,  mustered  in  June  25,  1864,  three 
years,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


COMPLETE  ROtiTER 

Baldwin  James  W.,  Private,  teamster,  40,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1801,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861.  Discharged  ior  Disability  Sept. 
20,  1862. 

Balfe  Thomas,  Private,  seaman,  21,  single,  Portland,  Me.,  credited  to  Salem. 
Enlisted  Aug.  9,  1864r  mustered  in  Aug.  9,  1864,  three  years.  No  further 
record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 

Ball  Volney,  Private,  laborer,  20,  Allegheny,  Pa.,  credited  to  Birmingham, 
Pa.,  enlisted  in  Third  Mass.  Battery  Aug.  9,  1861,  three  years.  Re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4,  1864.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  1. 
1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Barry  William,  Private,  painter,  35,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  Oct.  1,  1861, 
mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years,  mustere(d  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Baur  Ignaz,  Private,  shoemaker,  29,  Salem.  Enlisted  July  14,  1864,  mustered 
in  July  14,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12.  1865. 

Baxter  Francis  A.,  Private,  bootmaker,  35,  North  Bridgewater.  Enlisted 
Sept.  7,  1864,  mustered  in  Sept.  7,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June 

12,  1865. 

Blanchaiul  Amos,  Private,  teamster,  27,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  25, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  11,  1863,  mustered 
out  June  12,  1865.  Erroneously  reported  dead  in  1900.  See  p.  202  of 
History. 

Bliss  Cornelius  E.,  Private,  carpenter,  29,  Freetown.  Enlisted  Aug.  12,  1862, 
mustered  in  Aug.  12,  1802,  three  years.  Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps 
March  11,  1864,  mustered  out  as  a  Private  in  Co.  D,  24th  Kegt.  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps  Dec.  10.  1864. 

Boutwell  William  G.,  Private,  farmer,  21,  Montague.  Enlisted  Dec.  28. 
1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  28,  1863.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery 
Aug.  12,  1864.  Died  Nov.  10,  1864,  from  disease,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Bowman  Benedict,  Private,  farmer,  28,  single.  Vest  Roxbury.  Enlisted 
in  Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  5,  1861,  three 
years.  Re-enlisted  in  Third  Mass.  Battery  Feb.  15,  1864.  Transferred 
from  Thiivl  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Boynton  John  W.,  Private,  farmer,  21,  single.  South  Danvers.  Enlisted 
Feb.  24,  1864,  mustered  in  Feb.  24,  1864,  three  years.  Wounded  May 
9.  1864,  Laurel  Hill.  Died  of  wounds  May  12,  1864,  Spottsylvauia. 
Prior  service  in  Co.  C,  5th  Regt.  Mass.  Inf.,  9  months. 

Braley  Philo  L.,  Private,  farmer,  19,  single,  East  Freetown.  Enlisted  Oct. 
I,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Died  of  (disease  March 

13,  1864. 

Brand    Robert,    Private,    carpenter,    22,    Freetown.      Enlisted    Aug.    12,    1862, 

mustered   in   Aug.    12,    1862.      Wounded   Dec.    13,    1862,    Fredericksburg, 

mustered   out   Dec.   14,    1864. 
Brizzee   William    A.,    Jr.,    Private,    farmer,    18,    North    Leverett,    credited    to 

Montague.      Enlisted    Dec.    29,    1863,    mustered    in    Dec.    29,    1863,    three 

years.      Transferred   from   Third   Mass.   Battery   Sept.   1,   1864,    mustered 

out  June  12,   1865. 
Brock  John   H.,   Private,     laborer,     18,     single,     West     Roxbury,     credited     to 

Maiden.     Enlisted  Nov.  7,  1863,   mustered  in  Nov.  7,  1863,  three  years. 

Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  1,  1864,  mustered  out  June 

12,   1865. 
Brown  Edward  A.,*  Private,   stonecutter,  19,   single,   Quincy.     Enlisted  Dec. 

15,   1861,   mustered  in   Dec.   15,   1861,   three  years.     Re-enlisted  Dec.  2o, 

1863,    mustered    out   June   12,    1865. 
Brown  or  Broom   George,  Private,   laborer,  19,   single,  JLanesboro'.     Enlisted 

May  30,  1864,  mustered  in  May  30,  1864,  three  years.     Transferred  from 

Third  Mass.    Battery  Sept.  1,   1864,   mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Brown  Warren  W.,*   Private,   stonecutter,    25,   married,   Lynufield.     Enlisted 

Oct.  1,  1861,   mustered  in  Oct.   1,  1861.     Discharged  for  Disability  July 

14,  1862. 


OF   THL   FIFlli   MA81S.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  AETILLEEY. 

Brownell  Lorenzo  D.,  Private,  carder,  42,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861.  Wounded  June  27,  1862,  Gaines 
Mills.  Re-enlisted  Feb.  1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Bryson  Peter,  Private,  teamster,  25,  single,  Charlestown.  Enlisted  Dee. 
14,  1863,  mustered  in  Dee.  14,  1863,  three  years.  Transferred  from 
Third  Mass.  Battery  Sept.  1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Buckley  John,  Private,  weaver,  21,  single,  Barre,  credited  to  Salem.  En 
listed  Aug.  24,  1864,  mustered  in  Aug.  24,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865. 

Bugbee,  William  L.,  Private-  clerk,  22,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Co.  K,  22d 
Regt.  Mass.  Inf.,  Sept  \  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  6,  1861,  thr«-e 
years.  Transferred  to  Thiiu  Mass.  Battery  Nov.  24,  1863.  Re-enlisted 
in  Third  Mass.  Battery  Feb.  12,  1864.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass. 
Battery  Sept.  1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  186b. 

Burkis  James  M.,  Private,  mason,  31,  married,  Charlestown.  Enlisted 
Sept.  29,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  May  27,  1862,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Burleson  Charles,  Private,  laborer,  31,  married,  Roxbury.  Enlisted  in  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  10,  1862,  mustered  in  Sept.  10,  1862,  three  years. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  25,  1863.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery 
Sept.  1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Burns  Joseph,  Private,  farmer,  IS,  Montague.  Enlisted  Dec.  28,  1863, 
mustered  in  Dec.  28,  1863,  three  years.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass. 
Battery  Sept.  1,  1864.  Wounded  April  2,  1865,  Petersburg,  mustered 
out  June  12,  1865. 

Burt  Benjamin  T.  or  S.,  Private,  mason,  39,  married,  Fall  River.  Enlisted 
Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  12,  1863, 
mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Butler  Edwin  J.,  Private,  blacksmith,  21,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct.  1, 
1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863,  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865. 

Cahill  George  II.,  Private,  currier,  18,  single,  Woburu.  Enlisted  January 
5,  1864,  mustered  in  January  5,  1864,  three  years.  Recruit.  Trans 
ferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Canty  John  M.,  Private,  laborer,  39,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct. 
1,  1801,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861.  Died  from  wounds  received  July  3, 

1863,  Gettysburg. 

Carling    Charles    P.,    Private,    stonecutter,    31,    married,    Woburn.      Enlisted 

Jan.  6,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.   6,   1864,  three  years.     Transferred  from 

Third    Mass.    Battery    Feb.    26,    I6u4.      Killed    June    8,    1864,    Bottom's 

Bridge,    Chickahomiuy    River,    Va. 
Carney   Daniel,    Private,    hostler,   42,    New   Bedford.   Enlisted  Jan.    18,    1864, 

three  years.  Rejected  Jan.  29,  1864. 
Carney  Thomas,  Private,  laborer,  30,  married,  New  Bedford.'    Enlisted  Sept. 

25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861.     Re-enlisted  Jan.  29,  1864,  mustered 

out  June   12,    1865. 
Carroll  Joseph,  Private,  laborer,  24,  single,  Boston.     Enlisted  March  10,  1865, 

mustered  in  March  10,   1865,   three   years,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Carsley  William  W.,*  Private,  carpenter,  21,  single,  New  Beaford.     Enlisted 

Sept.   25,    1861,   mustered  in   Sept.   25,    1861,   three   years,   mustered  out 

Oct.  3,   1864,   expiration  of  term  of  service. 
Gary  Richard,  Private,  carpenter,  21,  single,  Boston.     Enlisted  Nov.  4,  1863, 

mustered    in    Nov.    4,    1863,    three    years.      Recruit.      Transferred    from 

Thir,d   Mass.    Battery,    inustereTl  out   June  12,    1865.     Prior   service    Co. 

I,    17th    Mass.    Infantry. 
Case   Nathan,    Private,   shoemaker,   23,   single,    Sandwich.   Enlisted  Feb.    11, 

1864,  mustered   in   Feb.   11,    1864,    three   years,    mustered  out  June   12, 
1865. 

Caswell  William  W.,  Private,  farmer,  18,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expira 
tion  of  term  of  Service. 


COMPLETE  EOSTEB 

Cekiell  Ezekiel,  Private,  farmer,  20,  Fairhaven.  Mustered  in  August  5,  1862, 
three  years.  Re-enlisted  Feb.  3,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Chadwick  George  H.,*  Private,  painter,  27,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3, 
1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Champlin    Edward,    Private,    seaman,    21,    single,    New    Bedford.      Enliste-' 
Oct.   1,   1861,    musteretd   in  Oct.   1,  1861,   three  years.      Ke-enlisted   Det. 
12,   1863,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Clark  Lewis  P.,  Private,  clerk,  22,  South  Danvers.  Enlisted  Feb.  24,  1864, 
mustered  in  Feb.  24,  1864,  three  years.  Died  March  22,  1864,  Gal- 
loupe's  Island,  Boston  Harbor. 

Clark  Samuel,  Private,  laborer,  20,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct.  1, 
1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for  Disability 
Nov.  16,  1862. 

Colbath  Charles  H.,  Private,  teamster,  39,   married,   Lynn.     Enlistod  Oct.  1, 

1861,  mustered  in  Oct.   1,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for  Disability 
June  5,  1862. 

Cole  Leroy  C.,   Private,   teamster,  22,  Boston.     Enlisted  Dec.  16,  1862,  three 

years.     No  further  record  in  Adjt.   Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 
Colemau  Martin  J.,   Private,   painter,   18,   single,    Boston.     Enlisted  Sept.   17 

1862,  mustered   in   Sept.   17,    1862,   three   years.      Died   of   wounds   Julj 
15,    1863,    Gettysburg. 

Colton   Daniel  J.,   Private,   clerk,  20,   South  Boston.     Enlisted  Feb.   13,   1865, 

mustered  in  Feb.  13,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865.     Prior 

service  in  Co.  A,  5ta  Regt.  Infantry,  100  days. 
Ccnant   Sherman   W.,   Private,    machinist,   22,   single,   Groton.     Enlisted  Jan. 

4,   1864,    mustered  in   Jan.   4,    1864.     Recruit.     Transferred  from   Third 

Mass.    Battery,   mustered   out   June   12,   1865. 
Cook   John   G.,    Jr.,    Private,    teacher,    27.    Boston.     Enlisted   Sept.    28,    1861, 

mustered    in  "Sept.    28,    1861,    three    years.      Discharged    for    Disability 

Dec.  30,  1862. 
Cox    Henry    A.,    Private,    lastmaker,    27,    single,    Maiden.      Enlisted    Dec.    3, 

1861,    mustereid    in    Dec.    3,    1861.      Discharged   for   Disability    May    30, 

1862. 
Crapo   Henry    D.,    Private,    shoemaker,    23,    single,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Sept.    25,    1861,    mustered    in    Sept.   25,    1861,    three   years.      Re-enlisted 

Dec.    11,    1863.      Killed   June    8,    1864,    Bottom's    Bridge,    Chickahoruiuy 

River,    Ya. 
Crockett   George   F.,   Private,    farmer,   25,    single,    Mansfield.      Enlisted   Aug. 

19,   1864,   mustered   in  Aug.   19,     1864,    three    years.       Recruit.      Trans 
ferred    from   Third    Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out   June    12,    1865. 
Crosby   George,   Private,   seaman,   21,   San  Frrtncisco,   Cal.,   credited  to  Wes- 

ton.     Enlisted  Nov.  27,   1863,   mustered  in   Nov.   27,   1863,    three   years, 

mustered   out    June   12,    1865. 
Currier  Hazen,  Private,   shoemaker,  28,   Dunstable.     Enlisted  March  6,   1865, 

mustered  in  March  6,  1865,  mustered  out  June  3,  1865. 
Dennison    Michael,    Private,    cooper,    38,    Boston.      Enlisted    Feb.    11,    1864, 

three  years.      Rejected  Feb.   12,   1864. 
Dickerman  Joseph   C.,*   Private,   teamster,   27,   married,   New  Bedford.     En- 

listetd  Dec.   3,    1861,    mustered  in   Dec.   3,   1861,    mustered   out    Dec.    14, 

1864,    expiration   of  term  of   service. 
Dimock   Charles,   Private,   carpenter,   26,   Winthrop.     .unlisted    Sept.   8,   1862, 

mustered  in  Sept.  8,  1862,  three   years.     Never  joined  for  service.     No 

further  record   in  Adjt.   Gen'l's   Office,   Mass. 
Doane    John    S.,    Private,    seaman,    22,    single,    Boston.      Enlisted    Nov.    27, 

1863,  mustered   in   Nov.   27,   1863,   three   years,    mustered   out  June   12, 
1865. 

Doherty  Bernard,  Private,  butcher,  19,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Dec.  18, 
1861,  mustered  in  Dec.  18,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  July  '2,  1863, 

fr-pttvshnrp'     rrmstprprl   mit   DPP     14     1Rfv4.    pvnirn  tion   of  tprm   of   sorvicp. 


OF   THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Doherty  Edward,  Private,  laborer,  40,  married,  East  Boston.  Enlisted  Feb. 
27,  1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  27,  1865,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12. 
1865. 

Donegan  Thomas,  Private,  cigarmaker,  21,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Aug.  20, 
1864,  mustered  in  Aug.  20,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12, 
1865. 

Dorety  Joseph  H.,  Private,  clerk,  19,  single,  Newburyport.  Enlisted  Feb. 
17,  1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  17,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12, 
1865. 

Downey  Thomas,  Private,  teamster,  42,  married,  Charlestown.  Enlisted 
Jan.  16,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  16,  1864,  three  years.  Recruit.  Trans 
ferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Drake  William  M.,  Private,  carpenter,  26,  married,  Stoughtou.  Enlisted 
Jan.  25,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  25,  1864,  three  years.  Transferred 
from  Thind  Mass.  Battery.  Discharged  May  25,  1865. 

Drew  John  T.,  Private,  cutter,  19,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct.  3, 
1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Transferred  to  the  Invalid 
Corps  Sept.  12,  1863.  Discharged  from  19th  Co.,  2d  Battalion  V.  R.  C., 
May  25,  1865. 

Dudley,  Edward  M.,  Private,  mason,  21,  married,  Woburn.  Enlisted  Jan. 
6,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  6,  1864,  three  years.  Recruit.  Transferred 
from  Third  Mass.  Battery.  Died  Oct.  7,  1864,  Washington  D.  C., 
Prior  service  in  Co.  D,  llth  Mass.  Infantry. 

Duff  Robert  P.,  Private,  teamster,  33,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Third  Mass. 
Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,  mustere,d  in  Sept.  9,  1861,  three  years.  Re-en 
listed  Dec.  29,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass. 
Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Duffy  Frank,*  Private,  farmer,  34,  married,  South  Danvers.  Enlisted  Sept. 
2,  1864,  mustered  in  Sept.  2,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12, 
1865. 

Dunham  William  H.,  Private,  teamster,  18,  single,  Fairhaven.  Enlisted 
Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  July 
2,  1863,  Gettysburg.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  11,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12, 
1865. 

Dyer  John  E.,  Private,  clerk,  18,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept.  27,  1861, 
mustered  in  Sept.  27,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Edwards  William,   Private,   farmer,  24,   single,   Boxboro'.     Enlisted  in  Third 

Mass.   Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,   three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.     Re 

enlisted    Dec.    28,    1863,    Veteran    Volunteer.      Transferred    from    Third 

Mass.   Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Ellis  Owen,  Private,  undertaker,  43,  East  Somerville.     Enlisted  Jan.  16,  1864, 

three  years.     Rejected  Jan.   18,   1864. 

Emerson    Paesiello,    Private,    shoemaker,    31,    married,    Ashland.       Enlisted 
Dec.  22,  1863,   mustered  in  Dec.   22,  1863,   three  years.     Wounded  Aug. 
21,   1864,   Weldon   Railroad,   mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Estee    William    E.,    Private,    teamster,    21,    single,    Charlestown.      Enlisted 
Sept.  1U,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  19,  1861,  three  years.     Wounded  July 
2,  1863,  Gettysburg.    Discharged  for  Disability  Dec.  23,  1863. 
Evans  William  O.t  Private,  saloon-keeper,  30,   married,   South  Reading.     En 
listed  Feb.  15,  1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  15,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865. 

Faunce  Alvin,  Private,  blacksmith,,  42,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  Jan.  2, 
1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  2,  1864,  three  years.  Died  of  disease  Aug.  27, 
1864,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Feltham  Samuel,  Private,  operative,  18,  single,  Amesbury.  Enlisted  Nov. 
30,  1864,  mustered  in  Nov.  30,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12, 
1865. 


COMPLETE  ROSTEE 

Ferguson   John,    Private,    blacksmith,    21,    single,    Lawrence,    N.    S.,    credited 

to  Westford.     Enlisted  July  28,   1864,  mustered   in  July  28,  1864,  three 

years,    mustered    out   June    12,    1865. 
Ferris  James,   Private,  coalman,  27,  married,  Lynn.     Enlisted  Feb.  20,  1865, 

mustered  in  Feb.  20,  1865,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Fisher    Rinaldo    R.,    Private,    carpenter,    18,    single,    New    Bedford.  Enlisted 

in  Boston  Feb.  25,  1865,   mustered  in  Feb.  25,  1865,   one  year,   credited 

to  Burlington,   mustered   out  June  12,   1865. 
Fitzsimmons    Henry,    Private,    tailor,    32,    married,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Sept.    28,    1861,    mustered    in    Sept.    28,    1861,    three    years.      Woundel 

July  2,  1863,  Gettysburg,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration  of  term 

of  service. 
Flanagan   Thomas,    Private,    baker,    21,    single,    Charlestown.      Enlisted   Jan. 

12,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.   12,  1864.     Recruit.     Transferred  from  Third 

Mass.  Battery.     Died  of  disease  May  10,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.   C. 
Flynn   Michael,*    Private,   tender,   25,   single,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted    Sept. 

23,    1861,    mustered    in    Sept.    23,    1861,    three    years.     Re-enlisted    Dec. 

12,    1863.     Wounded  April   2,   1865,   Petersburg,   mustered  out   June  32, 

1865. 
Ford  Henry  A.,   Private,   mechanic,  24,   single,  London,   credited  to  Ward  3, 

Boston.     Enlisted  July  5,   1864,   mustered  In  July  5,   1864,   three  years, 

mustered  out  June  6,  1865. 
Ford  Jacob  W.,   Private,   marble  worker,   19,   single,  Wenham.     Enlisted  Aug. 

11,  1864,  mustered  in  Aug.  11,  1864.     Recruit.     Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out   June   12,    1865. 

Foster  Abner,   Private,  farmer,   20,    single,   Boston.     Enlisted  April  13,  1864, 

mustered  in  April  13,  1864,  three  years.     Died  of  disease  June  7,  1884, 

Washington,   D.   C. 
Freeborn   George   H.,   Private,    farmer,   24,   single,   Boston.      Enlisted   Oct.   3, 

1861,   mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for  Disability 

March  6,   1863,   Surgeon's  Certificate  of  Disability,   2d  Div.    U.    S.   Gen. 

Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 
Fuller  William,  Private,  25.    Enlisted  at  juiberty,  Va.,  Jan.  1,  1864,  mustered 

in  Jan.  5,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865.     Prior  service 

in  Co.  E,   32d  Regt.   Mass.  Infantry. 
Gale    Mortier,    Private,    druggist,    23,    single,    Medford.      Enlisted    Sept.    16, 

1861.  mustered  in  Sept.  16,  1861,  three  years.     Re-enlisted  Dec.  11,  1863. 

W'ounded  June   8,    1864.      Discharged    Aug.    3,   1864.     Hospital    steward 

Aug.   3,   1864,    U.    S.    Army   Veteran   Volunteer.      No   further   record   in 

Adjt.   Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 
Gallagher    Edward,    Private,    laborer,    39,    married,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Oct.    31,    1864,    mustered    in   Oct.    31,    1864,   three   years,    mustered   out 

June  12,  1865. 
Gardner  Josiah  W.,    Private,   telegrapher,   22,   New   Bedford.     Enlisted  Oct. 

1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.    Discharged  for  Disability 

Oct.    8,    1862.      Subsequent   service   in   23   and   26,    Unattached    Cos.    of 

Infantry. 
Gastoo  John,   Private,   laborer,   22,   single,   Roxbury.     Enlisted  Feb.  14,  1865. 

No   further   record   in  Adjt.    Gen'l's   Office,    Mass. 
Gay  Charles  D.,  Private,  plumber,  18,  single,  West  Roxbury.     Enlisted  March 

31,   1864,  mustered  in  March  31,   1864,   three  years,   mustered  out  JTine 

12,  1865. 

Gifforu  George  W.,  Private,  sailmaker>  33.  Enlisted  at  Hanover,  Va.,  May 
22,  1862.  Discharged  for  Disability  March  31,  1863.  Prior  service 
in  Navy,  enlisted  Jan.  29,  1862.  Deserted  May  21,  1862,  from  the 
U.  S.  S.  "Marblehead"  at  White  House,  Va. 

Gragg  John  T.,  Private,  20,  Boston.  Enlisted  Jan.  4,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan. 
4,  1864.  Recruit.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered 
out  June  12,  1865.  Prior  service  in  Co.  E,  12th  Mass.  Infantry. 


Of    '1HE   FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Graham  Benjamin,  Private,  weaver,  20,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted 
Feb.  1,  1864.  Wounded  May  12,  1864.  Discharged  for  Disability  Sept. 
14,  1864. 

Graves  Henry  B.,  Private,  19,  Montague.  Enlisted  Dec.  28,  1863,  mustered 
in  Dec.  28,  1863,  three  years.  Recruit.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass. 
Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Greeley  William,  Private,  seaman,  26,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct. 
1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  12, 

1863,  mustered   out   June   12,    1865. 

Griffin  Thomas,  Private,  laborer,  39,  Salem,  mustered  in  Dec.  9,  1862,  three 
years.  Re-enlisted  Feb.  6,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Grogan  Martin,  Private,  blacksmith,  37,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  Feb.  21, 
1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  21,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Groves  Gardner,  Private,  stevedore,  29,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Dec.  7,  1861,  mustered  in  Dec.  7,  1861,  three  years.  No  further  record 
in  Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 

Grows  David  H.,  Private,  carpenter,  26,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sent. 
29,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for  Dis 
ability  Sept.  10,  1862. 

Gunning  Thomas,  Private,  laborer,  42,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Jan. 
18,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  18,  1864,  three  years.  Discharged  for  Dis 
ability  June  27,  1864. 

Gunning  William,  Private,  weaver,  26,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct. 
3,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Gurney   W'illiam,   Private,    bootmaker,    43,   enlisted   at   Abington,   January  '2, 

1864.  Rejected  Jan.  8,  1864.    Prior  service  in  Co.  E,  4th  Regt,  M.  V.  M., 
9  months. 

Gustine  Edward  F.,  Private,  grocer,  21,  single,  Medford.  Enlisted  Sept.  19, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  19,  1861,  three  years.  Killed  in  action  June 
27,  1862,  Gaines  Mills,  Va. 

Hackett    William    C.,    Private,    teamster,    33,    New    Bedford.    Enlisted    Nov. 

26,  1861,  mustered  in  Nov.  26,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for  Disa 
bility  Oct.   1,  1862. 

Hale   Alonzo   J.,    Private,    laborer,    26,    married,    Whately.      Enlisted   Jan.   4. 

1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  4,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Hall  Joseph,   Private,  machinist,  23,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted   Sept. 

27,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  27,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for 
bility  Feb.  10,  1862. 

Hanley    Henry,    Private,    hostler,    28,    single,    Roxbury.      Enlisted    in    Third 

Mass.  Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,   mustered  in  same  date.     Re-enlisted  Dec. 

9,    1863,    three    years.      Veteran    Volunteer.      Transferred    from    Third 

Mass.   Battery,    mustered   out   June   12,    1865. 
Hardy  Samuel  A.,  Private,  framemaker,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted 

Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.    Discharged  for  Disa 
bility  Dec.   24,  1862.     Again  enlisted  Jan.  5,   1864,   mustered  in  Jan.   5, 

1864,   three  years,   mustered  out  June  12,    1865. 
Harlow  George  A.,  Private,  merchant,  29,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted 

Dec.    28,    1863,    mustered   in   Dec.    28,    1863,    three   years,   mustered   out 

June  12,  1865. 
Harris  John,  Private,   seaman,  24,  Boston.     Enlisted  Sept.  9,  1862,  mustered 

in    Sept.    9,    1862,    three    years.     Never  joined   for   service.     No   further 

recor,d   in    Adjt.    Gen'l's    Office,    Mass. 
Hart    John    C.,    Private,     painter,     32,     married,    New     Bedford.    Enlisted 

Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for 

Disability   Nov.   28,    1862. 
Hart   Patrick,    Private,   soldier,    30,    single,    Boston.     Enlisted  Dec.    7,   1863, 

mustered  in  Dec.  7,    1863,    three    years.      Recruit.      Transferred    from 


COMPLETE  BO  STEP, 

Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  18(35.  Prior  service  Bat 
tery  M.  4  U.  S.  Artillery. 

Hathaway  John  F.,  Private,  blacksmith,  22,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  18(51,  three  years.  Died  of  wounds 
July  14,  1863,  Gettysburg. 

Hathaway  Joseph  R.,  Private,  blacksmith,  30,  married,  New  Bedford.  En 
listed  Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged 
for  Disability  July  14,  1862. 

Hathaway  William,  Jr.,  Private,  carder,  23,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Nov.  7,  1861,  mustered  in  Nov.  7,  1861.  Dropped  Oct.  9,  1863. 

Hayden  Albion  K.  P.,*  Private,  seaman,  18,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  25,  1£61,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted 
Dec.  11,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Hayden  "Will him  A.,  Private,   painter,  24,   single,   Boston.     Enlisted   Dec.   24, 

1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  24,   1863,   three  years.     Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Hayes    Joseph,    Private,    laborer,    21,    single,    Cambridge.    Enlisted    Jan.    21, 

1864,  mustered    in   Jan.    21,    1864,    three    years.      Recruit.      Transferred 
from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Healey    George   F.,    Private,    shoemaker,    30,    married,    Rochester.      Enlisted 

Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for 

Disability  Nov.  28,  1862,  at  Convalescent  Camp,   Va. 
Heyes    Richard,    Private,    merchant,    28,    married,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Oct.   3,   1861,   mustered  in   Oct.   3,   1861,   three  years.     Prisoner  of  war 

June  27  to  Aug.   6,   1862.     Deserted  March  8,   1863,   Falmouth,   Va. 
Hiller  John  G.,   Private,   cordwainer,   18,   single,    Marblehead.     Enlisted  Feb. 

18,    1864,    mustered    in   Feb.    18,   1864,   three   years.      Wounded  June  18, 

1864,  Assault  on  Petersburg,  mustered  out  Jime  12,  1865. 
Hodgkins   John   H.,    Private,    weaver,    22,    married,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for 

Disability   July  30,   1862. 
Hovey    Augustus,    Private,    engineer,    21,    single,    Moria,    N.    Y.,   credited   to 

Shelburne,    Mass.      Enlisted   Jan.   15,    1864,    mustered   in   Jan.    15,   1864, 

three  years,   mustered   out  June  12,   1865. 
Howe  Theodore,  Private,  farmer,  19,  Shelburne.    Enlisted  Jan.  15,  1864,  three 

years.     Rejected  Jan.    19,    1864. 
Huckins  Alonzo   K'.,    Private,   teamster,   28,    married,    Boston.    Enlisted   Dec. 

24,    1863,    mustered    in    Dec.   24,    1863,    three   years.      Transferred   from 

Third   Mass.   Battery,    mustered  out   June   12,   1865. 
Hughes  Thomas,  Private,  weaver,  43,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted  March 

1,  1865,  mustered  in  March  1,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Hunt    George   S.,    Private,    bootmaker,    18,    single,    Randolph.     Enlisted   Jan. 

4,   1864,   mustered   in  Jan.   4,   1864,   three  years.     Recruit.     Transferred 

from  Third  Mass.   Battery,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Jay    Charles   F.,*    Private,    teamster,    32,    married,    New   Bedford.      Enlisted 

Nov.    7,    1861,    mustered   in   Nov.    7,    1861,    three  years.    Discharged   for 

Disability  July  10,   1862.     Again  enlisted  Jan.  16,   1864.     Rejected  Jan. 

23,    1864. 
Johnson    Alfred    J.,    Private,    clerk,    22,    Boston.      Enlisted   in    Third    Mass. 

Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  Sept.  5,  1861.    Re-enlisted 

Feb.    16,    1864.      Veteran    Volunteer.      Transferred    from    Third    Mass. 

Battery.     Discharged  June  12,   1865. 
Jones  Nathaniel,  Private,  blacksmith,  23.     Enlisted  in  Boston  Sept.  22,  1862, 

mustered  in    Sept.   22,   1862,   three   years.     No   further   record    in   Adjt. 

Gen'l's    Office,    Mass. 
Jones  Thomas,  Private,   miner,  24,  single,  Eastham.     Enlisted  Dec.  14,   1864, 

mustered  in  Dec.  14,  1864,  three  years,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


OF   THE   FIFTH'  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Jordan    Samuel    R.,*    Private,    farmer,    27,    married,    Mattapoisett.      Enlisted 

Sept.   23,   1861,   mustered  in   Sept.   23,    1861,   three  years,  mustered  out 

Oct.  3,   1864,   expiration  of  term   of  service. 
Kauuse    Benjamin    S.,    Private,    harnessmaker,    43,    married,    New    Bedford. 

Enlisted  Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.     Re-enlisted 

Dec.   12,    1863.      Killed   in  action   June   18,   1864,    Petersburg. 
King  Henry,  Private,  shoemaker,  24,  Winthrop.     Enlisted  Sept.  8,  1862,  mus 
tered  in  Sept.  8,  1862,  three  years.     No  further  record  in  Adj't.  Gen'l's 

Office,  Mass. 
King   Robert,   Private,   weaver,   28,    single,    New   Bedford.      Enlisted   Oct.    3, 

1861,    mustered   in   Oct.    3,    1861,   three   years.      Wounded    July   1,    1862, 

Malvern  Hill,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 
Knowles   William,   Private,   bootmaker,   39,    married,   Boston.     Enlisted   Nov. 

13,  1863,  mustered  in  Nov.  13,  1863,  three  years.     Recruit.     Transferred 

from  Third  Mass.    Battery.     Borne  on   muster  out  rolls  dated  May  16, 

1865,    as    absent   in   Hospital. 
Knox  Joseph  L.,   Private,   teamster,    19,    single,    Boston.     Enlisted   Sept.   29, 

1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.     Wounded  June  18,  1864, 

Petersburg,  mustered  out  Oct.  12,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 
Lapham    Frederick   A.,    Jr.,    Private,    butcher,    23,    single,    Quincy.      Enlisted 

Sept.    25,    1861,    mustered    in    Sept.    25,    1861,    three   years.      Discharged 

for   Disability    Oct.    6,    1862. 
Lapham  William  H.  H.,  Private,  clerk,  21,  single,  Quincy.     Enlisted  Dec.  25. 

1861,  mustered  in  Feb.  28,  1862,  three  years.     Killed  in  action  June  3. 

1864,    Bethesda    Church,    Va. 
Leach    George    H.,*    Private,    cabinet    maker,    19,    single,    Boston.      Enlisted 

Sept.   24,   1861,    mustered   in   Sept.   24,   1861,   three   years,    mustered  out 

Oct.    3,    1864,    expiration   of   term   of   service. 
Leach  Jacob  H.,  Private,  laborer,  31,   single,   Boston.     Enlisted  Feb.  1,  1864, 

mustered    in    Feb.    1,    1864,    throe    years.      Recruit.      Transferred    from 

Third   Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out  June   12,   1865. 
Loomis    Alonzo    O.,    Private,    hostler,    19,    Hartford,    Ct.,    credited    to    South 

Danvers.     Enlisted  July  13,  1864,  mustered  in  July  13,  1864,  three  years, 

mustered    out   June    12,    1865. 
Luther  Leonard,  Private,  farmer,  22,  Fairhaven.     Mustered  in  Aug.  11,  1862. 

three  years.     Re-enlisted  Feb.  3,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Lyons  John,   Private,   laoorer,  34,   Boston.     Enlisted  June  11,  1863,   mustered 

in    June    11,    1863.      Never    joined    for   service.      No    further    record   in 

Adj't   Gen'l's   Office,    Mass. 

Lyons   Stephen,   Private,    spinner,  23,   Lowell.     Enlisted   April  23,   1864,   mus 
tered   in    April   23,    1864,    three   years.      Never   joined    for   service.      No 

further  record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office,   Mass. 
Mack  John  F.,    Private,    teamster,   25,    single,    Roxbury.      Enlisted   Sept.   28, 

1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.     Re-enlisted  Dec.  11,  1863, 

mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Macomber    Charles    H.,    Private,    painter,    21,    single,    Fall    River.      Enlisted 

Sept.  28,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.     Deserted  Aug. 

21,   1862,    Acquia   Creek. 
Macomber  George  W.,  Private,  seaman,  22,   married,  Charlestown.     Enlisted 

Sept.  15,  1862,  mustered  in  Sept.  15,  1862,  three  years.     Re-enlisted  Dec. 

29,  1863,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865.     Prior  service  in  Navy. 
Mahan  Frederick  W.,  Private,  farmer,  44,  married,  West  Boylston.     Enlisted 

Dec.  24,  1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  24,  1863,  one  year.     Recruit.    Transferred 

from  Third  Mass.   Battery.     Discharged  for  Disability  Jan.  13,  1865. 
Mahan  George  F.,   Private,   bootmaker,  21,   single,   West  Boylston.     Enlisted 

Dec.  7,  1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  7,  1863,  one  year.     Recruit.     Transferred 

from    Third    Mass.    Battery.      Discharged   June   21,    1865. 
Maloney  David  N.,  Private,   carder,  32,  Waltham.     Enlisted  for  Third  Mass. 

Battery,  Nov.  30,  1864,  mustered  in  Nov.  30,  1864,  three  years.     Recruit. 

Transferred  from  Third  Mass  Battery.     Deserted   March  19,  1865. 


COMPLETE  BOSTER 

Manchester  George  F.,  Private,  farmer,  18,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  Feb.  21,  1863. 

Martis  William  A.,  Private,  laborer,  22,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Third 
Mass.  Battery  May  29,  1862,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  30,  1863. 
Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferreid  from  Third  Mass.  Battery.  Wounded 
May  25,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Masterson  John,  Private,  clerk,  20,  single,  Providence,  R.  I.,  credited  to 
Beverly.  Enlisted  July  20,  1864,  mustered  in  July  20,  1864,  three  years. 
Deserted  Nov.  ou,  1864,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Matthews  Robert  F.,  Private,  shoemaker.  19,  single,  West  Boylston.  En 
listed  Dec.  8,  186d,  mustered  in  Dec.  8,  1863,  three  years.  Recruit. 
Transferreid  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

McCarthy    Eugene,    Private,    farmer,    38,    single,    Boston.      Enlisted   Oct.    30, 

1863,  mustereid    in    Oct.    30,    1863,    three    years.      Recruit.      Transferred 
from   Third    Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out  June   12,    1805. 

McCartney  John,  Private,  paperhanger,  40,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted 
Dec.  1,  1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  1,  1863,  three  years.  Recruit.  Trans 
ferred  from  Thir,d  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

McClellan  John,  Private,  laborer,  20,  single,  Cambridge.  Enlisted  March  6, 
1865,  mustered  in  March  6,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

McCue  Michael,  Private,  laborer,  18,  single,  Hunter,  N.  Y.,  credited  to  Athol. 
Enlisted  Aug.  13,  1864,  mustered  in  Aug.  13,  1864,  three  years,  mus 
tered  out  June  12,  1865. 

McCully  George,  Private,  farmer,  28,  married,  Freetown.  Enlisted  Oct.  1, 
1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for  Disability 
Oct.  9,  1862. 

McVey  David,  Private,  weaver,  23,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept.  28, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  June  8,  1864, 
Chickahominy  Itiver.  'Discharged  for  wounds  Oct.  18,  1864. 

Miller  Robert,  Private,  teamster,  32,  married,   New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Sept. 

24,  1861,  three  years.     Never  joined  for  service.     No  further  record  in 
Adjt.   Gen'l's  Office,   Mass. 

Mitchell  Edward,*  Private,  teamster,  19,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  Sept.  26,  1862. 

Moncrief  Robert  M.,*  Private,  weaver,  21,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Jan.  12, 

1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  12,  1864,  three  years,  rnus.ered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Mondorf,  John,  Private,  weaver,  30,  Salisbury.     Enlisted  Sept.  21,  1862,  three 

years.     Discharged  Dec.   14,   1864. 
Moore  Alexander,  Private,  stone  cutter,  24,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted 

Sept.  24,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  24,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for 

Disability    Dec.    31,    1862. 
Morrison  Joseph  J.,   Private,   teamster,    23,    single,    South   Boston.      Enlisted 

Sept.  28,  1861,   mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.     Deserted  Dec. 

25,  1861,    Readville,    Mass. 

Murphy  James,  Private,  operative,  18,  single,  Lowell.     Enlisted  Aug.  3,  1864, 

mustered    in    Aug.    3,    1864,    three   years.      Recruit.      Transferred    from 

Third   Mass.   Battery,   mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Murphy  John,   Private,  laborer,  38,  married,  Salem.     Enlisted  Aug.  22,  1864, 

mustered  in  Aug.  22,   1864,   three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Murphy  John,  Private,  seaman,  44,  Salem.     Enlisted  Dec.  9,  1862,  two  years. 

Discharged  for  Disability  April  12,  1864. 
Murphy  Thomas,  Private,   stone  worker,  27,  single,  Salem.     Enlisted  Aug.  5, 

1864,  mustered  in  Aug.  5,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Murphy   Thomas    J.,    Private,    blacksmith,    18,    single,    Cambridge.      Enlisted 

January  26,  1864,   mustered  in  January  26,  1864,   three  years.     Recruit. 

Transferred  from  Third   Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


OF   THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Murphy    Walter,    Private,    seaman,    19,    single,    Wcnliam.    Enlisted   Aug.    11, 

1864,  mustered   in   Aug.    11,    1864,    three   years.      Recruit      Transferred 
from   Third    Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out  June   12,    1865. 

Murray    John    (F.),    Private,      painter,     19,     sjngle,      Cambridge.       Enlisted 

Sept.    28,   1861,    mustered   in  bept.   28,   1861,   three   years,   mustered   out 

Oct.    3,    1864,    expiration   of   term    of   service. 
Neild   James,*    Private,    card   grinder,    35,    married,    New   Bedford.     Enlisted 

Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.     Re-enlisted  Dec. 

25,  1863,   mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Newhall   William   H.,    Private,    shoemaker,   42,    married,    Bradford.      Enlisted 

Dec.   19,   1864,   mustered  in  Dec.  19,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June 

12,    1865. 
Norcross  Daniel,   Private,  turner,  24,   single,  Winchendon.    Enlisted  Dec.   13, 

1863,   mustered  in   Dec.  13,   1863,   three  years.     Wounded  June  2,    1864. 

Died  in  Third  Mass.  Battery,  before  his  transfer  to  Fifth  Mass.  Battci-y 

was    effected. 
O'Brien  John,  Private,  laborer,  43,  Salem.     Enlisted  Dec.  10,  1862,  three  year;?. 

Discharged  for  Disability   Dec.    28,   1863. 

O'Brien  William.  Private,  gig  sawyer,  19,  single,  Boston,  Gloucester,  en 
listed  Sept.  2,  1864,  mustered  in  Sept.  2,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out 

June  12,  1865. 
O'Hara    Patrick,    Private,    laborer,   43,    Salem,    enlisted   Dec.    10,    1862,    three 

years.     Discharged   for   Disability   Sept.   15,   1863. 
Oldis  Francis,  Private,  weaver,  30,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Sept.  23, 

1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.     Wounded  Aug.  30,  1862, 
Second    Manassas.      Re-enlisted    Dec.    25,    1863.    Deserted    January    29, 
1864,.   Rappahannock    Station. 

Olin  John  H.,*  Private,  car  driver,  21,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  10,  1862,  mus 
tered  in  Sept.  10,  1862,  for  unexpired  term  of  Battery.  Wounded  July 
3,  1863,  Gettysburg,  mustered  out  Dec.  14,  1864,  expiration  of  term  cf 
enlistment. 

Parker  John   F.,   Private,    clerk,   23,    single,    Charlestown.     Enlisted   Sept.   3, 

1862.  mustered  in  Sept.  3,  1862,  three  years.     Never  joined  for  service. 
No  further  record  in  Acljt.   Gen'l's  Office,   Mass. 

Parsons  Henry  C.,  Private,  printer,  29.  married,  Maiden.  Enlisted  Sept.  12, 
1S61,  mustered  in  Sept.  12,  1861,  three  years.  Died  of  disease  June  14, 
1862,  Gnines  Mills.  Va. 

Pattison  Louis  E.,  Private,  bookkeeper,  19,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  i.9, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864, 
expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Peacock  Jacob,  Private,  weaver,  34,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
25,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  July  1,  1862, 
Malvern  Hill.  Discharged  for  Disability  Jan.  19,  1863. 

Pedrick  Benjamin  T.,  Private,  cordwainer,  18,  single,  Marblehead.  Enlisted 
Feb.  18,  1864,  mustered  in  Feb.  18,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865.  Prior  service  in  Co.  E,  45th  Mass.  Regt.  Inf.,  9  months. 

Peirce  David  B.,  Private,  painter,  21,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct. 
3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Feb.  1,  1864 
Borne  on  muster  out  rolls  dated  July  5,  1865,  as  absent  in  Hospital 
since  May  1,  1864.  No  further  record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 

Petty  Luther,  Private,  watchman,  34,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for  Dis 
ability  Dec.  22,  1862. 

Phillips  Leo,  Private,   currier,  20,  single,   South  Dedham.     Enlisted  Feb.  23, 

1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  23,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  ont  June  12,   1865. 
Phippen  Edward  A.,  Jr.,  Private,  carpenter,  24,  married,  Charlestown.     En 
listed  Sept.  26,  1861,  mustere%  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.     Re-enlisted 
Dec.  25,  1863,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Pilling  John,*  Private,  weaver,  38,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept.  23, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.  Transferred  to  Invalid 


COMPLETE  E08TEE 

Corps,  Oct.  29,  1863.  Honorably  discharged  to  date  Oct.  25,  1865,  under 
Act  of  Congress. 

Finder  William,  Private,  teamster,  40,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted 
Dec.  14,  1863,  mustered  'out  June  12,  1865. 

Plagne  William  W.,  Private,  painter,  25,  single,  Charlestown.  Enlisted 
Feb.  13,  1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  13,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June 
12,  1865.  Prior  service  in  Co.  E,  45th  Mass.  Regt.  Inf.,  9  months. 

Potter  George,  Jr.,  Private,  teamster,  26,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  Aug.  8,  1862,  three  years,  mustered  In  same  date.  Re- 
enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Wounded  June  3,  1864, 
Bethesda  Church.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery.  Discharged 
for  Disability,  Sept.  9,  1864. 

Prescott  Francis  A.,  Private,  law  student,  21,  Boston.  Enlisted  Dec.  5,  1861, 
mustered  in  Dec.  5,  1861.  Deserted  Aug.  29,  1862.  Arrested  Oct.  3, 

1863.  Discharged  for  Disability  Feb.  11,  1864. 

Preston  John,  Private,  laborer,  22,  Boston.  Enlisted  Feb.  14,  1865,  mustered 
in  Feb.  14,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Purbeck  William  L.,  Private,  18,  Salem.  Enlisted  Dec.  13,  1862,  mustered 
in  Dec.  13,  1862,  three  years.  Killed  July  2,  1863,  Gettysburg. 

Ransom  Wallace  R.,  Private,  teamster,  25>  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  In 
Third  Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  .years,  mustered  in  same  date. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  28,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Th'.rd 
Mass.  Battery.  Discharged  for  promotion  Oct.  27,  1864,  to  be  Second 
Lieutenant  29th  ilnattached  Co.  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

Ransom  William,  Private,  seaman,  29,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  In  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  17,  1862,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.  Re- 
enlisted  Dec.  30,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  *  Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Ray  William  H.,  Private,  painter,  23,  single,  Fall  River.  Enlisted  Sept.  28, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  28,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  June  27,  1862, 
Gaines  Mills.  Discharged  for  Disability  Sept.  27,  1862. 

Read  Andrew,  Private,  teamster,  23,  single,  Charlestown.  Enlisted  in  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years.  Mustered  In  same  date.  Re- 
enlisted  Dec.  13,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Remington  Lysander  F.,  Private,  carpenter,  30,  single,  New  Bedford.  En 
listed  in  Thfrd  Ma^s,  Battery,  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in 
same  date.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  26,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred 
from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Reynolds  William,  Private,  farmer,  21,  Marblehead.  Enlisted  Feb.  18,  1864, 
mustered  in  Feb.  18,  1864,  three  years.  Wounded  June  2,  1864,  Bethesda 
Church,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Rice  Edward  E.,  Private,  cabinet  maker,  35,  married,  Boston,  enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged 
to  accept  a  commission,  Special  Order  No.  219,  War  Dept.,  June  3,  1863. 

Riley   Morris,    Private,   seaman,   41,    married,    Gloucester.      Enlisted    Aug.    5, 

1864,  mustered    in    Aug.    5,    1864,    three    years.      Recruit.      Transferred 
from  Third  Mass.   Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Roberts  William,*  Private,  seaman,  21,  single,  St.  John,  N.  B.,  credited 
to  Salem.  Enlisted  Oct.  21,  1864,  mustered  in  Oct.  21,  1864,  three  years. 
Wounded  April  2,  1865,  Petersburg,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Robinson  John  R.,  Private,  seaman,  19,  single,  Spencer.  Enlisted  June  17, 
1864,  mustered  in  June  17,  1864,  three  years.  Recruit.  Transferred 
from  Third  Mass.  Battery  as  James  R.,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Rowe  Amos,  Private,  farmer,  38,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Third  Mass.  Battery, 
Sept.  9,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.  Re-enlisted  Dec.  6, 
1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery, 
mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


OF   THE  FIFTH  3IASS.  BATTEEY,  LIGHT  AETILLEEY. 

Sampson  Benjamin,*  Private,  seaman,  37,  Fairhaven.  Enlisted  Aug.  6,  1862, 
mustered  in  Aug.  6,  18G2,  three  years.  Re-enlisted  Feb.  3,  1864,  uiue- 
tered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Sanford  John  G.,   Private,   painter,  23,   single,   Westport.     Enlisted  Sept.   24, 

1861,  mustered  in   Sept.   24,   1861,   three  years.     Wounded  July  2,  1863, 
Gettysburg.     Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  March  15,  1864.     No  further 
record  in  Aidjt.   Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 

Savery    Benjamin,    Private,    cordwainer,    25,    married,    Marblehead.      Enlisted 

Feb.    18,    1864,    mustered   in    Feb.   18,    1864,   three   years,    mustered   out 

June    12,    1865. 
Saxon  James  H.,  Private,  spinner,  37,  married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Nov. 

21,   1861,   mustered   in  Nov.   21,   1861,   three  years.     Re-enlisted  Jan.   29, 

1864,    mustered   out   June   12,    1865. 
Sehonhutte  William,  Private,  weaver,  38,  married,  Salisbury.     Enlisted  Sept. 

21,  1862,  mustered  in  Sept.  21,  1862,  for  term  of  Battery,  mustered  out 

Dec.    14.    1864,    expiration    of   term    of   enlistment. 
Shackley   Daniel   K.,   Private,   teamster,   19,    Dorchester.      Enlisted   Aug.    13, 

1862,  mustered   in   Aug.   13,   1862,   three  years.     Wounded  July  3,   1863, 
Gettysburg.     Discharged  for  Disability  Jan.   8,  1864, 

Shannon  Jeremiah,  Private,  seaman,  23,  Medford.  Enlisted  Jan.  18,  1864, 
mustered  in  Jan.  18,  1864,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Shaw  George,*  Priv.ate,  teamster,  28,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Sept. 
23,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  23,  1861,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864,  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service. 

Shaw  Horatio  E.,*  Private,  clerk,  18,  single,  Quincy.  Enlisted  Sept.  16, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  16,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3,  1864, 
expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Shaw   Luther  F.,  Private,  nailor,  31,   married,   Wareham.     Enlisted  Oct.  12, 

1861,  mustereid   in   Oct.    12,    1861,    three   years,    mustered   out    Oct.    12, 
1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Sheergold  William  J.,  Private,  machinist,  27,  Charlestown.     Enlisted  Aug.  11, 

1862,  mustered  in  Aug.  11,  1862,  three  years.     Re-enlisted  Feb.  1,  1864. 
Killed  June  8,  1864,   Bottom  Bridge,   Chickahominy   River. 

Sheerin  James,  Private,  stitcher,  18,  North  Bridgewater.  Enlisted  Sept.  7, 
1864,  mustered  in  Sept.  7,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Sheridan  Charles,  Private,  seaman,  19,  single,  Bridgewater.  Enlisted  Aug. 
13,  1864,  mustered  in  Aug.  13,  1864,  three  years.  No  further  record  in 
Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 

Shewonsees  Louis,  Private,  seaman,  25,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  9,  1862,  mus 
tered  in  Sept.  9,  1862,  three  years.  No  further  record  in  Adjt.  GenTs 
Office,  Mass. 

Simouds  Warren,  Private,  wagoner,  22,  single,  Roxbury.  Enlisted  Sept.  25, 
1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  25,  1861.  Dropped  from  the  Rolls  in  accord 
ance  with  General  Orders  Oct.  9,  1863. 

Skillin  Howard  A.,  Private,  laborer,  18,  single,  Charlestown.  Enlisted  Dec. 
15,  1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  15,  1863,  three  years.  Recruit.  Transferred 
from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Skinner  Charles  E.,  Private,  shoemaker,  30,  married,  Melrose.  Enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  Dec.  1,  1863.  Subsequent  service  in  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Sloane  Henry,  Private,  laborer,  22,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept.  29,  1862,  mustered 
in  Sept.  29,  1862,  three  year,s.  No  further  record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office, 
Mass. 

Smith  Benjamin  F.,  Private,  painter,  44,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  30,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  30,  1861,  three  years.  Transferred 
to  Invalid  Corps  Dec.  15,  1863.  No  further  record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's 
Office,  Mass. 

Smith  Edward  F.,  Private,  weaver,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  June 


COMPLETE  KOSTEB 

8,    1864,    Chickanominy   River.      Mustered   out   Oct.    19,   1864,    expiration 

of  term  of  service. 
Soule    Henry    W.,    Private,    carpenter,    20,    single,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Sept.  23,  1861,   mustered  in   Sept.  23,  1861,  three  years.     Killed" July  2, 

'1863,    Gettysburg. 
Spencer  Albert  L.,  Private,   butcher,  23,  Bangor,  Me.,  also  credited  to  Ban- 

gor,  Me.     Enlisted  in  Third  Mass.   Battery,   Nov.  18,  1861,  three  years. 

Re-enlisted  Jan.   4,   1864.     Veteran  Volunteer.     Transferretd  from  Third 

Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out   June    12,    1865. 
Stetson  Charles  E.,  Private,  bartender,  22,  single,  Boston.     Enlisted  in  Third 

Mass.    Battery,    Sept.    7,    1861,    three    years,    mustered    in    same    date. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  25,  1863.     Veteran  Volunteer.     Transferred  from  Third 

Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out   June    12,    1865. 
Stetson    Henry,    Private,    shoemaker,    39,    Abington.      Enlisted    Jan.    4,    1864, 

mustered    in    Jan.    4,    1864,    three    years.      Recruit.      Transferred    from 

Third   Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out   June   12,    1865. 
Stiermberg    Bernard,    Private,    woolsorter,    44,    single,    Dudley,    credited    to 

Fitchburg.     Enlisted  Feb.  13,  1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  13,  1865,  one  year, 

mustered    out   June    12,    1865. 
Story    Benjamin    F.,    Private,    painter,    27,    married,    Charlestown.      Enlistel 

Sept.   19,   1861,    mustered  in  Sept.    19,   1861,   three  years,   mustered  out 

Sept.    18,   1864,    expiration   of    term    of   service. 
Sturnley   Alfred,    Private,    laborer,    33,    single,    Walpole.      Enlisted    Aug.    10, 

1862,  mustered  in  Aug.' 16,  1862,  three  years.     No  further  record  in  Adjt. 

Gen'l's    Office,    Mass. 
Sullivan  James,  Private,   shoemaker,  21,   single,   Bridgewater.     Enlisted  Dec. 

22,  1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  22,  1863,  three  years.     Recruit.     Transferred 

from   Third  Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out   June  12,    1865. 
Sweetser   Stephen,   Private,   supervisor,   27,   single,   South  Reading.     Enlisted 

Feb.  15,  1865,   mustered  in  Feb.  15,  1865,  one  year,   mustered  out  June 

12,    1865. 
Tattersall   Richard,   Private,   sadler,   35,   single,   Walpole.     Emllsted  Aug.   10, 

1862,  mustered  in  Aug.  16,  1862,  three  years.     No  further  record  in  Adjt. 

Gen'l's  Office,    Mass. 
Thomas  George  H.,    Private,   17,    Philadelphia,   Pa.     Enlisted   Feb.   12,   1863, 

mustered  in  Feb.  17,  1863.     Deserted  Sept.  1,  1863,  Beverly  Ford. 
Thomas  Jefferson,  Private,   laborer,  34,   married,   Boston.     Enlisted  in  Third 

Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  23,  1862,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.     Re- 
enlisted    Feb.    13,    1864.      Veteran   Volunteer.      Transferred   from    Third 

Mass.   Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
Townsenid  Stephen,  Private,  stevedore,  37,   married,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted 

Oct.  8,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  8,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  12, 

1864,    expiration   of   term    of   service. 
Trexler  James,  Private,   seaman,  34,  married,   New  York,   credited  to  South 

Danvers.     Enlisted  June  30,  1864,  musteTed  in  June  30,  1864,  three  years. 

No» further  record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's  Office,  Mass. 
Tripp  James  A.,   Private,   painter,  23,   single,   New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Sept. 

24,  1861,   mustered  in  Sept.  24,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for  Dis 
ability  June  15,  1862. 
Tufts  Henry,  Private,   carriage  maker,  35,  Boston.     Enlisted  in  Third  Mass. 

Battery,  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.     Re-enlisted 

Dec.  12,  1863.     Veteran  Volunteer.     Transferred  from  Third  Mass.   Bat 
tery,    mustered   out   June  12,    1865. 
Turner    Thomas,    Private,    carpenter,    36,    Charlestown.      Enlisted    in    Third 

Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,   mustered  in  same  date.     Re- 
enlisted    Dec.    12,    1863.      Veteran   Volunteer.      Transferred   from   Third 

Mass.    Battery,    mustered   out  June   12,   1865. 
Tynan  Lot,   Private,  laborer,  24,  single,  New  Bedford.     Enlisted  Oct.  3,  1861, 

mustered  in   Oct.   3,   1861,   three  years.     Discharged  for  Disability  Jan. 

18,   1863. 


OF   THE  FIFTH  MASS.  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Vogle  Philip,  Private,  clerk,  39,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  Dec.  31,  1864, 
mustered  in  Dec.  31,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Waddington  John,  Private,  spinner,  38,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Sept.  26,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  26,  1861,  three  years.  Re-enlisted 
Feb.  1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Warren  James  L.,  Private,  boatbuilder,  27,  married,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Discharged  for 
Disability  Nov.  3,  1862. 

Washburn  Francis  P.,  Private,  farmer,  19,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted 
Oct.  3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out  Oct.  3, 
1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Washburn  Lemuel  A.,  Private,  farmer,  23,  married,  East  Freetown.  En 
listed  Oct.  1,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  1,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  dut 
Oct.  3,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Washburn  Seth,  Private,  35,  Liberty,  Va.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  32d  Mass.  Inf., 
Dec.  2,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.  Re-enlisted  Jan.  1, 
1864.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Co.  E,  32d  Infantry  March 
1,  1864,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Waterson  James,  Private,  shoemaker,  18,  Northboro'.  Enlisted  Jan.  28,  1864, 
mustered  in  Jan.  28,  1864,  three  years.  Recruit.  Transferred  from 
TEird  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Waterson  William,  Private,  shoemaker,  32,  married,  Northboro'.  Enlisted 
Jan.  28,  1864,  mustered  in  Jan.  28,  1864,  three  years.  Recruit.  Trans 
ferred  from  Third  Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Waugh  William  A.,  Private,  blacksmith,  19,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  Sept. 
29,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  29,  1861,  three  years.  Wounded  July  3, 

1863,  Gettysburg.     Discharged   for  Disability   Oct.   19,   1863. 

Way  George  H.,  Private,  coachman,  36,  married,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Third 
Mass.  Battery  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.  Re- 
enlisteid  Dec.  24,  1863.  .  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Third 
Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Welch  John  H.,  Private,  jeweller,  24,  single,  Boston.  Enlisted  in  Thin!  Mass. 
Battery  Sept.  9,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date.  Re-enlisted 
Dec.  12,  1863.  Veteran  Volunteer.  Transferred  from  Third  Mass.  Bat 
tery.  Wounded  May  25,  1864,  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865. 

Wentworth  Owen,  Private,  trunkmaker,  18,  single,  Boston.    Enlisted  Sept.  2, 

1864,  mustered  in  Sept.  2,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,   1865. 
West    Benjamin,    Private,    teamster,    42,    married,    New    Bedford.      Enlisted 

Sept.  28,   1861,   mustered  in   Sept.   28,   1861,   three  years,   mustered  out 

Oct.   3,   1864,   expiration  of  term  of  service. 
West  Edward  W.,  Private,   teamster,   19,   single,  Fairhaven.     Enlisted   Sept. 

27, .  1861,   mustered  in'  Sept.  27,  1861,  three  years.     Discharged  for  Dis 
ability    Sept.    23,    1862. 

West  William,  Private,  upholsterer,  21,  Boston.  Enlisted  June  3,  1863,  mus 
tered  in  June  3,  1863,  three  years.  No  further  record  Adjt.  Gen'l's 

Office,    Mass. 
Wheaton   Charles   E.,*   Private,   mason,  28,    single,   New   Bedford.     Enlisted 

Sept.   25,    1861,   mustered   in    Sept.    25,   1861,   three   years.      Discharged 

March    31,    1863,    for   Disability.    \ 
Wheelock  George  W.,   Private,  painter,  36,   single,    Cambridge.     Enlisted   in 

Third  Mass.  Battery,  Sept.  5,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  in  same  date. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  12,  1863.     Veteran  Volunteer.     Transferred  from  Third 

Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Whelan   John   W.,    Private,    sexton,    29,    Taunton.      Enlisted   Jan.    12,    1864, 

mustered    in   Jan.    12,    1864,    three  years.      Recruit.      Transferred    from 

Third  Mass.   Battery,   mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


COMPLETE  B OUTER 

Whitcher  Joseph  R.,*  Private,  stone  cutter,  22,  single,  Quincy.  Enlisted 
Sept.  27,  1861,  mustered  in  Sept.  27,  1861,  three  years,  mustered  out 
Sept.  27,  1864,  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

White  Russell,*  Private,  car  driver,  22,  married,  Weymouth.  Enlisted  Oct. 
11,  1862,  mustered  in  Oct.  11,  1862,  three  years.  Discharged  for  dis 
ability,  Jan.  28,  1863. 

Wilcox  William  S.,  Private,  hostler,  26,  single,  New  Bedford.  Enlisted  Oct. 
3,  1861,  mustered  in  Oct.  3,  1861,  three  years.  Died  of  disease  at  Fal- 
mouth,  Va.,  Nov.  28,  1862. 

Wilkinson  Joseph,  Private,  soldier,  30,  married,  Chicopee.  Enlisted  Feb.  28, 
1865,  mustered  in  Feb.  28,  1865,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Williams  Samuel  M.,  Private,  seaman,  38,  single,  Chelsea.     Enlisted  Dec.  28, 

1863,  mustered  in  Dec.  28,  1863,  three  years,  mustered  out  June  12,  18(55. 
Wilson  Richard,  Private,  seaman,  18,  single,  Easton.     Enlisted  Nov.  3,  1864, 

mustered  in  Nov.  3,  1864,  three  years.     Recruit.    Transferred  from  Third 

Mass.  Battery,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 
Winslow  Charles  M.,  Private,  soldier,  21,  Amesbury.     Enlisted  July  6,  1864, 

mustered  in  July  6,  1864,  three  years.    No  father  record  in  Adjt.  Gen'l's 

Office,   Mass. 

Winters  Albert,   Private,   farmer,   18,   single,    Providence,    R.   I.,    credited   to 
'    Cambridge.     Enlisted  March  2,  1864,  mustered  in  March  2,  1864,  three 

years.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.     Discharged  from  Co.  A, 

12th  Regt.   V.    R.   C.  July  11,  1865,  by  Order  of  the  War  Department. 
Wood  Alfred,  Private,  baker,  19,  Cambridge.     Enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864,  mustered 

in  Jan.  5,  1864,  tnree  years.     Recruit.     Transferred  from  Third  Mass. 

Battery,    mustered   out  June  12,    1865. 
York   George  W.,   Private,  carder,  18,  single,  Amesbury.     Enlisted  Nov.   30, 

1864,  mustered  in  Nov.  30,  1864,  one  year,  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


dommonroealtl}  of  JTlassactjuetts. 
Qbjutartt=(5enerars  0fftce. 


BOSTON,  August  5th,  1904. 

The  list  of  officers  and  enlisted  men  who  served  in 
'the  Fifth  Battery,  Light  Artillery,  Massachusetts  Volun 
teers,  in  the  Civil  War,  presented  to  this  office,  has  been 
carefully  examined  and  verified,  and  is  correct  accord 
ing  to  the  records  of  this  office. 

WILLIAM   C.  CAPELLE, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 


ROSTER  AND  INDEX. 


[Names  marked  "3d  Mass."  were  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Mass.  Battery  from  the  Third 


Mass.  Battery  at  various  times.] 
A 

Agen,  John,  Corporal,  79,  320,  326,  437,  645, 
967. 

Albro,  James  H.,  76,  81. 

Alden,  Frederick  D.,  80,  437,  768,  771,  772, 
793,  857,  858,  966. 

Allen,  Christopher  C.,  Corporal,  4,  75,  76, 
80,  143,  148,  149,  234,  977. 

Allen,  Elisha,  3d  Massachusetts,  Corporal. 

Allen,  George  D.,  Captain,  5,  70,  72,  73,  74, 
82-86,  94, 116, 122,  133,  '5,  '9,  143,156,  '7,  '9, 
161,  '2,  '8, 170,  '2,  '4, 180, 196,'7,  203,  216, 234, 
245,  '6,  '9,  250,  '1,  '5, 263, 278,  282,  '3, 293,  '7, 
365,  '6,  '7,  372,  392,  412,  470,  471,  560,  962, 
'3,  '9,  974,  977. 

Allen,  James  D.,  Quartermaster  Clerk,  76, 
80,  772,  976. 

Almy,  Andrew  W.,  Corporal,  79,  437,  768, 
772,  793,  797. 

Alton,  John  H.,  76,  81,  437. 

Alton,  Joseph,  B.,  76,  81,  698. 

Appleton,  Nathan,  Lieutenant,  Brevet-Cap 
tain,  21,  52,  54,  55,  679,  693,  696,  698,  699, 
700,  702,  703,  705-708,  710-712,  714-716,  721, 
723,  724,  726-729,  732,  733,  736-738,  743,  745, 
747-749,  751-753,  755,  757-760,  762,  764,  766- 
772,  774,  775,  784-786,  788-790,  792-795,  797- 
803,  806-808,  816,  818-820,  823,  825,  826,  830, 
833,  834,  838,  839,  844,  846,  847-850,  864,  876 
882,  885,  909,  963-965,  968,  969. 

Atkins,  Nathaniel  H.,  Corporal. 

Atkins,  Thomas  P.,  878,  965. 

Atwood,  Alexander  N.  or  A.,  877,  878,  968. 

Austin,  Isaac  C. 

Aymer,  Frank,  3d  Massachusetts. 

B 

Baker,  Harry  M. 

Baldwin,  James  W.,  81. 

Balfe,  Thomas. 

Ball,  Volney,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Barnard,  Charles  D.,  76,  80,  320,  325,347,  348, 

393,  397,  967,  968. 
Barry,  William,  87,  553,  643. 
Baur,  Ignaz. 


Baxter,  Francis  A. 

Baxter,  William  H.,  Sergeant,  82,  87,  201,  216, 
217,  347,  378,  479,  480,  511,  642,  822, 923,  977. 

Blake,  Peleg  W.,  Lieutenant,  76,  81,  82,  103, 
234,  244,  325,326,  339,  342,344,  376,  390,401, 
404,  408,  436,  439,  442,  493,  501,  518,  522, 
531,  540,  650, 553, 556,  559,  563,  567,  568,  611, 
616,  639,  693,  696,  697,  703,  708,  737,  760,  766- 
769-771,  784,  793,  794,  797,  847,  857,  862,  877, 
879,  882,  885,  963,  966. 

Blanchard,  Amos,  87,  202,  347,  759,  796. 

Bliss,  Cornelius  E.,  442,  444,  784. 

Boutwell,  William  G.,  3d  Massachusetts,  898, 
966. 

Bowman,  Benedict,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Boynton,  John  W.,  818,  966. 

Braley,  Joseph  G.,  7&,  80. 

Braley,  Philo  L.,  76,  80,  788,  965. 

Brand,  Robert,  442,  444,  497,  500,  502,  505,  507, 
967. 

Brirzee,  William  A.,  Jr.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Brock,  John  H.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Brown,  George,  3d  Massachusetts,  898. 

Brown,  Edward  A.,  87. 

Brown,  Warren  W.,  87,  796. 

Brownell,  Lorenzo  D.,  81,  320,  340,  341,  968. 

Bryson,  Peter,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Buckley,  John. 

Bugbee,  William  L.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Burke,  Thomas,  78. 

Butkis,  James  M.,  87. 

Burleson,  Charles,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Burns,  Joseph,  3d  Massachusetts,  946,  947. 

Burt,  Benjamin  T.,  79,  559,  727,  849. 

Butler,  Edwin  J.,  79,  766,  773. 

Butts,  Squire  W.,  76,  81. 

C 

Cahill,  George  H.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Campbell,  Rodney  S.,  Corporal,  676,  977. 
Canty,  John  M.,  80,  656-660,  966. 
Carling,  Charles  P.,  3d  Masssachuetts,  867, 

966. 

Carney,  Thomas,  79. 
Carroll,  Joseph. 


980 


ROSTER  AND  INDEX. 


Carsley,  William  W.,  79,  124,  796,  863,  974, 
975. 

Carson,  Francis,  79. 

Gary,  Richanl,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Case,  Nathan. 

Caswell,  William  W.,  76,  81,  234,  359,  773. 

Cekiell,  Ezekiel. 

Chadwick,  George  H.,  75,  80,  975,  970. 

Chamberlain,  W.H.,  772. 

Champlin,  Edward,  80,  437. 

Chase,  Thomas  E.,  Corporal,  83,  87,  90,  91, 
100,  104,  107,  122,  125,  129,  135,  136,  138, 
145,  179,  200,  209-211,  217,  222,  226,  234,  238, 
242,  243,  251,  255,  259,  275,  285,  302,  307, 
309,  310,  344,  359,  378,  384,  391,  406,  412-416, 
418,  425,  428,  430,  432-434,  439,  449,  451, 
453,  456,  467,  471-473,  475,  476,  481,  483,485, 
490,  491,  493-496,  513,  516-520,  526,  528,  531, 
534,  538,  549-552,  554,  555,  557,  559,  561, 
563-565,  567,  572-577,  579,  580,  583,  584,  587, 
590,  591,593-599,  601,  611,  644,  656,  676,  680, 
684,  686,  967,  974-978. 

Clark,  Charles  A.,  Corporal,  79. 

Clark,  Joseph  W.,  Sergeant,  79,  171,  234,  706, 
907. 

Clarke,  Lewis  P.,  965. 

Clark,  Samuel,  80. 

Colbath,  Charles  H. 

Cole,  John  H.,  81. 

Coleman,  Martin  J.,  593,  645,  656-661,  966. 

Golton,  Daniel  J. 

Conant,  Sherman  W.,  ?d  Massachusetts. 

Cook,  JohnG.,  Jr.,  88. 

Cooper,  H.  D  ,  437. 

Cox,  Albert  T.,  Corporal. 

Cox,  Henry  A  ,  »7. 

Cox,  James,  80 

Crapo,  Henry  D.,  79,  437,  759,  867,  966. 

Crockett.  George  F.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Crosby,  George. 

Currier,  Hazen. 

Cushman,  Thomas  A.,  76,  81. 


Dickerman,  Joseph  C.,  87. 

Dillingham,  Robert  A.,  Lieutenant,  75,  76,  78, 
82, 91,  94, 112, 11«,  136, 139, 153, 172, 174, 188, 
189,  210,  211, 213,  217,  220,  245,  263, 264,  273, 
290,  296,  297,  310, 312,  336,  347,  372,  376, 388, 
393,  962,  963. 

Doane,  John  S.,  642,  897,  974,  975. 

Doherty,  Bernard,  87,  593,  645. 

Doherty  Edward. 

Donegan,  Thomas. 

Donovan,  Stephen,  81. 

Dorety,  Joseph  H. 

Doyle,  Patrick,  80. 

Downey,  Thomas,  3d  Massachusetts,  976. 


Drake,  William  M.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Drew,  John  T.,  7P,  81,  709. 

Dudley,  Edward  M.,  3d  Massachusetts,  796, 
96P. 

Duff,  Robert  P.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Duffy,  Frank. 

Dugan,  Michael,  79. 

Dunham,  William  H.,  79,  234,  437,  759,  796, 
863,  967,  975,  978. 

Dyer,  John  E.,  79,  526,  531,  5  ?3,  536,  538,  539, 
548,  550-553,  555,  557-560,  5C4,  572-578,  580, 
581,  5*3,  587,  591-593,  596-600,  611,  660,  694, 
696,  715,  720,  727,  730,  732,  735,  744,  750,  751, 
765,  766,  768-774,  784,  785,  789,  791-793,  796, 
798,  800,  801,  807,  817,  819,  822,  826,  833,  834, 
838,  856-858,  864,  865,  867,  876-878,  883,  885, 
886,  888,  890-892,  917,  918,  923,  975. 


Eagan,  John,  630,  t;37,  749. 
Edwards,  William,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Emerson,  Paesiello,  867,  968,  978. 
Eppendorff,  Max,  Captain,  77,  78,  82,  83,  90, 

93,  94,  108,  115,  117,  120-122,  962. 
Estee,  William  E.,  87,  110,  645,  656,  657,  967. 
Evans,  William  O. 


Fairhuret  or  Fairhurst,  10th  New  York  Bat 
tery,  664. 

Faunce,  Alvin.  898,  965. 

Feltham,  Samuel. 

Ferguson,  John. 

Ferris,  Anson  E.,  Corporal,  78,  82. 

Ferris,  James. 

Fisher,  Rinaldo  R. 

Fitzsimmons,  Henry,  81,  200,  645,  714,  878,  967. 

Flanagan,  Thomas,  3d  Massachusetts,  898, 96f . 

Flynn,  Michael,  7G,  78,  437,  947,  954,  968. 

Follett,  Charles  A.,  Corporal  3d  Massachu 
setts. 

Ford,  Henry  A. 

Ford,  Jacob  W.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Foster,  Abner,  965. 

Fotheringham,  Edward,  10th  New  York 
Battery,  657,  661,  664,  966.  ' 

Freeborn,  George  H.,  87,  438. 

Fuller,  William. 


Gale,  Mortier,  4,  87,  550,  593,  759,  867. 

Gallagher,  Edward. 

Gardner,  JosiahW.,  76,  80. 

Gastoo,  John. 

Gay,  Charles  D. 

Gibbs,  Elisha  J.,  Corporal,  79,  567,  573,  759, 

760,  797,  825,  832,  918,  926,  965. 
Gifford,  George  W. 


ROSTER  AND  INDEX. 


981 


Gifford,  Henry  M.,  Bugler,  4. 

Gilbert,  Jacob  A.,  78,  438. 

Graffleman,  Henry  G.,  10th  New  York  Bat 
tery,  664,  967. 

Gragg,  John  T.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Graham,  Benjamin,  Corporal,  65,  79,  234,438, 
567,  631,  637-643,  660,  661,  818,  821,  822,  967. 

Graves,  Henry  B.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Greeley,  William,  76,  80,  657,  746,  968. 

Griffin,  Thomas. 

Grogan,  Martin. 

Groves,  Gardner,  234,  575. 

Grows,  David  Henry,  5,  65,  87,  97,  99,  101, 
105,  107,  108,  110,  111,  114,  121-125,  129,  132, 
134,  136,  137,  142,  144-146,  148,  150, 152,  154, 
157,  160, 166,  168,  169,  173, 176, 185,  187, 191, 
194,  198,  203,  206,  210,  211,  218,  221,  227,  233, 
237,  242,  245,  251,  253,  256-258,  262,  264,  265, 
268,  270,  274-276,  291-293,  300,  302,  304,  307, 
308,  313,  347,  363,  379,  382,  383,  391, 393, 396, 
397,  399,  401,  404,  406,  407,  411,  415, 416,  425, 
432,  433. 

Gunning,  Thomas. 

Gunning,  William,  80,  438,  774. 

Gustine,  Edward  F.,  88,  320,  325,  334, 347, 352, 
353,  966. 

Gwinn,  Thomas  H.,  Sergeant,  796. 

H 

Hackett,  William  C. 

Hale,  Alonzo  J. 

Hall,  Joseph,  79,  122. 

Hamblet  or  Hamblett,  Samuel  H.,  Lieuten 
ant,  847,  897,  909,  924,  964. 

Hanley,  Henry,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Hardy,  Samuel  A.,  75,  80. 

Harlow,  George  A. 

Hart,  John  C.,  78. 

Hart,  Patrick,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Haskins,  Alpheus,  Corporal,  75,  80,  234,  283, 
715,  760. 

Hathaway,  John  F.,  76,  81,  438,  645,  658,  660, 
651,  966. 

Hathaway,  Joseph  R.,  76,  81. 

Hathaway,  William,  Jr.,  80. 

Hayden,  Albion  K.  P.,  4,  79,  638,  640,  641, 
643,  759,  821,  822,  848,  967. 

Hayden,  William  A.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Hayes,  Joseph,  3d  Massachusetts,  898. 

Heyes,  Richard,  76,  81,  320,  343,  406,  968. 

Healey,  George  F.,  81. 

Hewitt,  Michael,  76,  80,  202,  594,  972,  975. 

Higgins,  Thomas,  76,  79. 

Killer,  John  G.,  868,  877. 

Hodgkins  or  Hodgins,  John  H.,  81. 

Hosley,  Andrew,  4. 

Hovey,  Augustus. 

Huckins,  Alonzo  K.,  3d  Massachusetts. 


Hughes,  Thomas. 

Hunt,  George  S.,  3d  Massachusetts,  898. 

Hunt,  Ira  J.,  3d  Massachusetts,  898. 

Hyde,  John  B.,  Lieutenant,  69-72,  74-78,  82, 
91,  94,  95,  116,  139,  153,  172,  174,  186,  195, 
198,  211,  217,  221,  245,  246,  264,  276,  277, 290, 
300,  301,  310,  315,  319,  320,  322,  324, 331  ,334, 
336,  337,  347,  366,  369,  370, 372,  373,  375,  376, 
384,  388,  389,  392,  393,  962,  963,  974,  975. 


Jay,  Charles  F.,  80,  340. 

Johnson,  Alfred  J.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Johnson,  George  H.,  First  Sergeant,  82,  87, 
119,  148,  712,  771,  800. 

Johnston,  Leonard  F.,  Corporal,  3d  Massa 
chusetts. 

Jones,  Nathaniel. 

Jones,  Thomas,  946. 

Jordan,  Samuel  R.,  78,  438. 


Kanuse,  Benjamin  S.,  76,  81,  877,  878,  886,  966. 

Kay,  James,  Sergeant,  79,  438,  640,  641,  643, 
856,  907. 

Kiel,  E.  E.,  438. 

Kierstead,  Joseph,  118th  Pennsylvania  In 
fantry,  818,  819,  966. 

King,  Henry. 

King,  Robert,  76,  81,  370,  373,  774,  801,  967. 

Knowles,  William,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Knox,  Joseph  L.,  87,  111,  134,  170,  178,  263, 
266,  309,  393,  760,  877,  878,  968,  972,  973. 


Langley,  John,  76,  80. 

Lapham,  Frederick  A.,  Jr.,  88. 

Lapham,  William  H.  H.,  88, 339,  378,  392,513, 
593,  858,  863,  864,  966. 

Lascon,  James  H. 

Leach,  George  H.,  87,  234,  302,  969,  972. 

Leach,  Jacob  H.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Loomis,  Alonzo  O. 

Lull,  Frederick  A.,  Lieutenant,  82,  87,  136, 
148,  390,  401,  407,  439,  442,  447,  477,  490,  491, 
502,  525,  555-557,  559,  567,  573,  574,  596,  597, 
627,  665,  693,  698,  963,  964,  972,  973. 

Luther,  Leonard,  975. 

M 

Mack,  John  F.,  88,  200,  759. 
Macomber,  Charles  H.,  80,  136,  349,  350. 
Macomber,  George  W.,  555. 
Mahan,  Frederick  W.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Mahan,  George  F.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Maloney,  David  N.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Manchester,  George  F.,  79,  325,  494,  560. 
Martis,  William  A.,  3d  Massachusetts,  839. 


982 


ROSTER  AND  INDEX. 


Martis,  Brooks  B.,  Corporal,  3d  Massachu 
setts. 

Masterson,  John,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Matoney,  David  N.,  3d  Massachusetts . 

Matthews,  David  A.,  Corporal,  3d  Massachu 
setts. 

Matthews,  Robert  F.,  Corporal,  3d  Massa 
chusetts. 

McCarthy,  Eugene,  3d  Massachusetts. 

McCartney,  John,  3d  Massachusetts. 

McClellan,  John. 

McCue,  Michael. 

McCully,  George,  75,  80. 

McKern  or  McKeren,  William,  10th  New 
York  Battery,  664,  734,  967. 

McVey,  David,  81,  111,  200,  438,  867,  968. 

Mensing,  John,  118th  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
818,  967. 

Mensing,  Thomas  H.,  118th  Pennsylvania  In 
fantry,  821,  822,  967. 

Miller,  Robert,  79. 

Milliken,  Albert  F.,  Corporal,  80,  320,  325, 
334,  340,  347-350,  966,  975. 

Mitchell,  Edward,  75,  80. 

Moncrief,  Robert  M. 

Mondorf,  John,  637,  796. 

Moore,  Alexander,  79. 

Morgridge,  Charles  H.,  Sergeant,  78,  82,  119 
343,  481,  599,  645,  766. 

Morrison,  John  W.,  Sergeant,  87,  234,  442, 
552,  564,  964. 

Morrison,  Joseph  J.,  88. 

Munroe,  J.,  438. 

Murphy,  James,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Murphy,  John,  enlisted  1862. 

Murphy,  John,  enlisted  1864. 

Murphy,  Thomas. 

Murphy,  Thomas  J.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Murphy,  Walter,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Murray,  John  F.,  88,  438,  676,  677,  965,  969, 
972,  975,  976,  978. 

N 

Neild,  James,  79. 

Newhall,  William  B.,  Sergeant,  87,  200,  797. 

Newhall,  William  H. 

Newton,  George  L.,  Corporal,  87,  436,  438, 
655,  797,  974-978. 

Nichols,  William  H.,  Corporal,  3d  Massachu 
setts. 

Nye,  Ephraim  B.,  Corporal,  80,  82,  234,  302, 
343,  359,  442,  520,  529,  530,  656,  698,  701, 
703,  706,  768,  785,  801,  942,  964,  975. 


O'Brien,  John. 
O'Brien,  William. 
O'Connell,  Daniel,  734. 


O'Hara,  Patrick,  555. 

Oldis,  Francis,  78,  423,  438,  967, 

Olin,  John  H.,  656,  769,  796,  967. 


Page,  Mason  W.,  Lieutenant,  75,  80,  82,  148, 
149,  234,  262,  325,  343,  347,  553,  555,  557, 
596,  642,  758,  795,  796,  917,  923,  924,  942, 
943,  945-948,  954,  957,  964,  968,  972,  974. 

Parsons,  Henry  C.,  Corporal,  88,  300,  965. 

Pattison,  Louis  E.,  Clerk,  83,  88,  344,  346, 
347,  423,  424,  438,  611,  642,  654,  696,  735,  923. 

Pattison,  William  B.,  Sergeant,  82,  87,  14«, 
346,  351,  424,  438,  442,  552,  561,  563,  596, 
637-639,  642,  975. 

Paxton,  James  H.,  80. 

Peacock,  Jacob,  79,  370,  373,  967. 

Peacock,  William  H.,  Quartermaster  Ser 
geant,  22,  51,  73,  75,  81,  82,  87,  89,  148,  196, 
200,  201,  236,  325,  433,  472,  503,  509,  549, 
555,  560,  584,  593,  594,  596,  611,  637,  645, 
655,  684,  696,  698,  709,  723,  756,  765,  773, 
783,  791,  801,  818,  826,  832,  833,  864,  867, 
876,  885-887,  889,  891,  897,  898,  917,  921,  923, 
978. 

Pedrick,  Benjamin  T. 

Peirce,  David  B.,  76,  81. 

Petty,  Luther,  78. 

Phillips,  Charles  A.,  Captain,  Brevet  Major, 
6,  8,  9,  12,  13,  17,  33,  36,  39,  40,  45,  47,  48, 
60,  76,  82,  83,  91,  93,94,  95,  99, 107,  111,  112, 
116,  118,  125,  130,  131,  135,  137,  139,  140, 
146,148,  150,  151,  153,  159,  161,167,170, 
174,  181,  185,  188,  190,  192,  198,  199,  205, 
208,  209-213,  217,  218,  220-222,  224,  227,  231- 
234,  239,  240,  242,  243,  245,  249, 254,  257, 260, 
261,  263-266,  269,  270,  272,  278,  282-284,  293, 
294,  296,  297,  299,  300-303,  305,  307,  310,  311, 
323,  331-334,  337,  346,  347,  364, 370,  376,  377, 
379,  389-391,  393,  395,  397,  398,  399,  402-404, 
407,  408,  411,  413-417,  419,  425,  428,  431, 
433-443,  445,  447,  450,  451,  452,  454,455,  456, 
467-477,  481,  485,  487,  488,  491,  496,  498,  505, 
508,  517,  518,  520,  523,  526, 529,  531,  533, 536, 
539,  548,  549,  551-561,  5H3,  564,  565,  568, 
572-575,  577,  578,  580-583,  586,  587,  590,  592, 
593,  595-601,  611,  613,  615,  616,  619,  623,  628- 
635,  638-641,  643,  644,  646,  647,  652,  654,  655, 
660-663,  665-669,  671,  672,  674,  676,  679,  688- 
691,  693.  696,  697,  699,  701-704,  706,  708,  712, 
714,  715,  718,  729,  734,  738,739,  743,  746,  748, 
754,  755,  758,  759-762,  767,  768,  769,  771-774, 
778,  785,  792,  793,  794,  797-800, 815,  817,  820, 
821,  835-838,  848,  857,  859,  861,  862,  863,  866, 
868,  875,  878-882,  884,  886,  887,  888,  891, 
893-897,  904,  905,  907,  915-918,  921,  924,  935, 
937-943,  945-947,  953-960,  962,  963,  964,  969- 
974. 


ROSTER  AND  INDEX. 


983 


Phillips,  Leo. 

Phippen,  Edward  A.,  Jr.,  88,  849. 

Pilling,  John,  78,  714. 

Pinder,  William,  79,  732. 

Place,  Thomas,  76,  81. 

Plagne,  William  W. 

Platts,    Edward    M.,   Corporal,   88,   496-500, 

502,  505,  507,  509,  510,  833,  966. 
Poole,  George  W.,  Corporal,  4,  88,  200,  759. 
Potter,  George,  Jr.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Prescott,  Francis  A.,  Clerk,  88. 
Preston,  John. 
Proctor,   George  O.,  Corporal,   87,  347,  581, 

733,  768-770,  773, 174,  785. 
Purbeck,  William  L.,  555,  640,  641,  645,  656, 

966. 


Quillin,  Philip  T.,  79. 


Ransom,  Wallace  R.,  3d  Massachusetts,  Ser 
geant,  965. 

Ransom,  William,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Ray,  William  H.,  80,  320,  325,  349,  967. 

Reed,  Andrew,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Remington,  Lysander  F.,  3d  Massachusetts, 
Sergeant. 

Reynolds,  William,  818,  819,  857,  858,  862, 
968,  972,  975,  976,  978. 

Rice,  Edward  E.,  88,  438,  555,  598,  964. 

Riley,  Morris,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Roberts,  William,  947,  977. 

Robinson,  James,  76,  81. 

Robinson,  John  R.,  3d  Massachusetts,  898. 

Rowe,  Amos,  3d  Massachusetts. 


Sampson,  Benjamin. 

Sanderson,  Samuel,  81. 

Sanford,  John  G.,  79,  430,  631,  645,  676,  784, 
967. 

Savery,  Benjamin,  973. 

Saxner,  William,  80. 

Saxon,  James  H.,  974. 

Schonhutte,  William. 

Scott,  Henry  D.,  Lieutenant,  75,  78,  82,  100, 
135,  139,  140,  148, 156, 167, 170,  172,  174, 186, 
199,  234,  245,  269,  284,  287,  298-301,  303,  310, 
327,  329,  336,  339,  340,  347, 372,  375,  382,  383, 
390,  393,  397,  404,  408,  413,  417,  428-431,  436, 
439,  441,  442,  450,  451,  455,  467,  468,  476,  478, 
479,  496,  500,  501,  503,  516,  522,  528,  529,  550- 
561,  563-565,  567,  568,  570-575,  577-579,  581, 
583,  587,  590-593,  595-600,  611,  617,  624,  625, 
627,  629,  637,  638,  645,  653,  658,  659,  662,  668, 
669,  676,  677,  689,  693,696,  714,  716,  719,  721, 


727,  732,  735,  737,  743,  746,  747,  750,  751,  753- 

756,  760,  767,  770,  785,  786,  788,  790,  792,  794, 
864,  956,  962-965,  967,  969,  972,  974,  976,  977. 

Shackley,  Daniel  K.,  442,  444,  535,  656,  967. 

Shackley,  Jonas,  Corporal,  442,  444,  471,  482, 
490,  491,  516,  536,  563,  611,  616,  637-640,  642, 
643,  659,  660,  690,  696,  710,  718,  727,  731,  737, 
752,  766,  802, 807,  821,  824,  839,  857,  858,  864- 
867,  876,  881,  883,  886,  893,  904,  905,  907,  909, 
918,  926,  965,  974,  977. 

Shannon,  Jeremiah. 

Shaw,  George,  78,  300,  301,  712. 

Shaw,  Horatio  E.,  88,  339,  378. 

Shaw,  Luther  F.,  865. 

Sheergold,  Willliam  J.,  867,  966. 

Sheerin,  James. 

Shepard,  James  T.,  79. 

Sheridan,  Charles. 

Shewonsees,  Louis. 

Simonds,  Harrison  O.,  Lieutenant,  82,  87, 124, 
133,  135,  136,  143,  152, 166,  212,  218,  251,  263, 
266,  304,  325,  326,  341, 348,  393,  401,  596,  599, 
643,  758,  760,  797,  916,  924,  936,  938,  940-942, 
955,  956,  963,  964. 

Simonds,  Warren,  88. 

Skillin,  Howard  A.,  3d  Massachusetts,  796. 

Skinner,  Charles  E.,  88. 

Sloane,  Henry. 

Smith,  Benjamin,  F.,  79,  759. 

Smith,  Edward  F.,  75,  80,  320,  343,  406,  774 
867,  968. 

Smith,  George  W.,  76,  78. 

Smith,  Otis  B.,  Sergeant,  82,  87,  136, 148,  196, 
325,  326,  354,  384,  520,  552,  574,  575,  583,  631, 
657,  693,  759,  883,  964. 

Soule,  Henry  W.,  78,  631,  645,  656,  657,  661, 
963,  965. 

Spear,  Joseph  Edward,  Lieutenant,  87,  148, 
149,  201,  213,  237,  250,  258,  277,  326,  337,  340, 
343,  376-378,  392,  442,  470,  480,  507,  519-521, 
528,  554,  557-559,  570,  571,  573,  575,  596,  597, 
617,  657,  693,  708,  715,  726,  755,  760,  761,  768, 
794,  800,  803,  804,  862,  873,  882,  892,  917,  923, 
963,  964. 

Spencer,  Albert  L.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Stantial,  Thomas  B.,  83,  88,  394,  978. 

Stetson,  Charles  E.,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Stetson,  Henry,  3d  Massachusetts. 

Stiermberg,  Bernard. 

Stiles,  Charles  F.,  Sergeant,  87,  594,  632,  796, 
797,  894,  905,  968. 

Story,   Benjamin  F.,  88,   200,   203,   551,   555, 

757,  974. 

Sullivan,  James,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Sullivan,  Michael,  76,  81. 
Sweeney,  William,  80. 
Sweetser,  Stephen. 


984 


ROSTER  AND  INDEX. 


Tattersall,  Richard 

Terry,  Timothy  W.,  Quartermaster  Sergeant, 

75,  76,  78,  82,  118,  119,  245,  279,  44JJ,  447, 

558,  559,  964. 
Thomas,  George  H. 
Thomas,  Jefferson,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Townsend,  Stephen,  76,  559,  865,  975. 
Tripp,  Charles   M.,  Lieutenant,  8,  117,  200, 

826,  907,  924,  964. 
Tripp,  Christopher  B.,  76,  81,  397. 
Tripp,  James  A. ,79,  117. 
Trumbull,  George  B.,  Corporal,  555,  559,  645, 

658,  771,  967. 
Tucker,  John  C.,  Bugler,  4,  87,  4:58,  530,  616, 

848. 

Tufts,  Henry,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Turner,  Thomas,  3d  Massachusetts,  Sergeant. 
Turner,  William,  75. 
Tynan,  Lot,  76,  81. 


Verity,   John   W.,  10th   New  York    Battery, 

657,  664,  966. 
Vogle,  Philip. 

W 

Waddington,  John,  79,  43*,  559. 
Warren,  James  L.,  76,81. 
Warren,  William   G.,  Corporal,  8-',  SS,  340, 
341,  442,  965. 


Washburn.  Francis  P.,  3,  76,  81,  341,  383,  386, 

643,  923,  976. 

Washburn,  Lemuel  A.,  80,  202,  788,  976,  978. 
Washburn,  Seth,  32d  Massachusetts  Infantry. 
Waterson,  James,  3d  Massachusetts,  898. 
Waterson,  William,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Waugh,  William  A.,  88,  204,  657,  967,  975. 
Way,  George  H.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Weeden,  Charles  C.,  79. 
Welch,  John  H.,  3d  Massachusetts,  839. 
Welsh  or  Walsh,  Patrick,  Sergeant,  79,  200, 

438,  563,  676,  759,  771,  969. 
Wentworth,  Owen. 

West,  Benjamin,  80,  438,^96,  784,  824. 
West,  Edward  W.,  79. 
Wheaton,  Charles  E. 
Wheelock,  George  W.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Whelan,  John  W.,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Whitcher,  Joseph  R..  88,  378,  559,  975. 
White,  Russell. 

Wilcox,  William  S.,  76,  81,438,  491,  965. 
Wilkinson,  Joseph. 
Williams,  Samuel  M. 
Wilson,  Edward  T.,  2d  Sergeant,  79,  215,  333, 

340.  892,  974-976,  978. 
Winters,  Albert. 
Winters,  James,  Bugler,  4,  79,  505,  516,  530, 

596,  599,  638,  693,  759,  848,  891. 
Wood,  Alfred,  3d  Massachusetts. 
Wood,  Frederick  W.,  81. 
Wood,  James  Augustus,  75,  80,  394,  974-976. 


OTHER  PERSONS  MENTIONED. 


Abbott,  Henry  L.,  565. 

Abercrombie,  J.  J.,  373. 

Adams,  George  W.,  592,  593. 

Adams,  John  Quincy,  23. 

Alexander,  B.  S.,  225,  291. 

Alexandra,  Queen,  765. 

Alley,  John  B.,  24.  792,  939. 

Almy,  Allen,  858. 

Ames,  Adelbert,  372. 

Ames,  Nelson,  600,  615,  624,  654,  679. 

Ames,  Oakes,  55,  939. 

Amory,  Charles,  5,  94,  123. 

Anderson,  J.  R.,  Confederate,  275. 

Anderson,  R.  H.,  Confederate,  813,  827,  830. 

Andrew,  John  A.,  2,  6,  7,  11,  13,  14,  15, 17,24, 
25,  27,  31,  32,  33,  34,  37, 52,  55,  56,  59,  62,  66, 
70,  77,  78,  83,  89,  90,  93,  116,  117,  123,  381, 
396,  412,  440,  446,  493,  728,  739,  740,  786, 845, 
849,  926,  938,  939,  960. 

Appleton,  William,  24. 

Appleton,  William  S.,  54. 

Arnold,  William  A.,  679. 

Arthur,  William,  778. 

Averell,  William  W.,  18, 

Ayres,  Romeyn  B.,  781,  814,  829,  840,  884, 
900,  903,  912,  913. 


Bailey,  Goldsmith  F.,  24. 

Baldwin,  John  D.,  55,  939. 

Bancroft,  Eugene,  679. 

Banks,    Nathaniel   P.,  146,  147,  161, 187,  195, 

255,  288,  312. 
Barker,  Augustus,  725. 
Barksdale,  William,  Confederate,  592. 
Barnard,  George  M.,  Jr.,  561,  700,  703,  733. 
Barnard,  Inman,  702. 
Barnes,   Almont,  55,  578,  587,  588,  700,  743, 

744,  769,  774. 
Barnes,  James,  525,  927. 
Barry,    William  F.,  60,  64,  99,  110,  117,  121, 

133,  162,  362,  452,  453,  493. 
Barstow,  George  F.,  55,715,  755,  760,  769,  774. 
Bartlett,   Joseph   J.,    781,  789,  866,  874,  879, 

893. 

Batchelder,  John  B.,  677,  770,  771,  969. 
Batchelor,  George,  971,  973. 
Bates,  Edward,  35. 


Baxter,  Henry,  781,  912,  923. 

Beauregard,  Gustav  T.,  377,  418. 

Bell,  James  B.,  971. 

Benham,  W.  H.,  569. 

Bennett,  James  Gordon,  703. 

Benson,  Henry,  366,  374,  409. 

Berdan,  Hiram,  261,  365. 

Berlin,  Carl,  940. 

Bigelow,  Henry  J.,  846. 

Bigelow,  Hon.  John,  33. 

Bigelow,  John,  Captain,  606,  623-625,  629, 
631,  646,  647,  656,  662,  666-669,  671,  715, 
785,  826,  873,  887,  938,  939,  971. 

Birney,  D.  B.,  592,  649,  704,  870,  911. 

Blair,  Montgomery,  35. 

Bliss,  Alexander,  468. 

Bonaparte,  Napoleon,  403,  548,  809,  826. 

Bourne,  George  A.,  69. 

Boutwell,  George  S.,  55,  939. 

Bowditch,  Henry  P.,  748. 

Bradley,  Charles  S.,  30,  32. 

Bragg,  Braxton,  Confederate,  783. 

Bragg,  Edward  S.,  936. 

Branch,  L.  O'B.,  Confederate,  271,  273. 

Breck,  George,  778,  815,  820,  939. 

Bridges,  R.  C.,  978. 

Bright,  John,  24. 

Brightman,  William  Ruthven. 

Broderick,  Thomas,  148. 

Brown,  Frederick,  679. 

Brown,  S.  H.,  978. 

Bruen,  C.  T.,  599,  675. 

Bryant,  William  C.,  poet,  33. 

Buchanan,  James,  29,  30,  56,  64,  109,  427. 

Buckley,  David  H.,  677. 

Buckley,  William  W.,  316,  317,  441. 

Buell,  Augustus,  859,  878. 

Buford,  John,  603,  717. 

Buffington,  James,  24. 

Bullock,  Alexander  H.,  6. 

Bullock,  W.  W.,  71,  72. 

Burlingame,  Anson,  47. 

Burnside,  Ambrose  E.,  116,  117,  120,  167,  187, 
416,  417,  429,  443,  460-465,  475,  482,  483, 
486,  491,  494,  499,  512,  517,  521,  525-527, 
534,  538,  541,  544,  548,  551,  708,  713,  778, 
779,  782,  800,  801,  807,  808,  813,  824,  853, 
857,  861,  874,  893,  894. 

Burton,  Arthur  H.,  977. 


985 


986 


OTHER    PERSONS   MENTIONED. 


Butler,  Benjamin  F.,  46,  176,  526,   573,   778, 

819,  827,  870,  914,  928. 
Butterfield,  Daniel,  20, 129,  261,  276,  312,  313, 

315-317,  319,  321-323,  326,  330,  331,  343,  395, 

422,  423,  461,  465,  466,   470,  475,  478,  486, 

487,  492,  619,  652,  668. 


Calder  or  Calden,  A.  W.,  279. 

Caldwell,  J.  C.,  649. 

Cameron,  Simon,  35,  66,  78. 

Cargill,  Thomas  M.,  404,  408,  433,  564,  727, 

734,  737,  835,  839. 
Carlisle,  J.  Howard,  294. 
Case,  Thomas  C.,  840,  844. 
Casey,  Silas,  161,  291. 

Chamberlain,  Joshua  L.,  440,  755,  835,  871. 
Chase,  D.  C.,  435. 
Chase,  Salmon  P.,  35. 
Claflin,  William,  24. 
Clarke,  Francis  N.,  14,  16,  958. 
Clarke,  Judson,  675. 
Clarke,  Morris,  686. 
Clifford,  John  H.,  30-34,  70. 
Cobb,  Clarence  F.,  95. 
Colburn,  A.  V.,  161. 
Congdon,  James  B.,  75. 
Cook,  Asa  M.,  56. 

Cooke,  Philip  St.  George,  304,  312,  317. 
Coolidge,  William  D.,  84. 
Cooper,  James  H.,  679,  778,  815. 
Cornwallis,  Charles,  229,  243. 
Couch,    Darius  N.,  15,  16,  17,  161,  364,  365, 

366. 

Cowan,  Andrew,  679. 
Cowen,  William  E.,  91, 
Crawford,  Samuel  W.,  781,  782,  870,  900,  903, 

912,  913,  930,  932,935,  936. 
Crowninshield,  Benjamin  W.,  758. 
Cudworth,  Warren  H.,   223. 
Cunningham,  James  A.,  812. 
Curtin,  Andrew  Y.,  672,  720. 
Curtis,  Pelham,  699. 
Custer,  George  A.,  650,  783. 
Cushing,  Alonzo,  679. 
Cutler,  Lysander,  866,  870.  871,  900,  905. 


Dale,  William  J.,  280,  847. 
Dalton,  Henry,  453. 
Davis,  Henry  W.,  835. 
Davis,  Jefferson,  28,  526,  883. 
Davis,  Phineas  S.,  919. 
Davis,  Robert,  13,  959. 
Dawes,  Henry  L.,  24,  939. 
Delafield.  Richard,  229. 
Delano,  Charles,  24. 
De  Motte,  Charles,  859. 


Devens,  Charles,  Jr.,  928,  971. 

Devereaux,  Arthur  F.,  37,  43,  400,  598. 

Dickinson,  Joseph,  490. 

Diedrichs,  Otto,  469-471. 

Dilger,  Hubert,  679. 

Dix,  John  A.,  914. 

Dixon,  James,  622. 

Dolbear,  Clinton  E.,  846. 

D'Orleans,  Robert,  Due  de  Chartres,  315. 

Doubleday,  Abner,  649,  679. 

Dove,  John,  39,  40. 

Dow,  Edwin  B.,  615,  625,  647,  654,  662,  ( 

670,  679,  887. 

Dresser,  G.  W.,  898,  924,  935. 
Dunbar,  George  H.,  69. 
Dunn,  Valentine  M.,  273,  404,  408,  550. 
Dushane,  Nathan  T.,  897,  903,  906. 


Eakin,  "  Chan.",  679. 

Early,  Jubal,  Confederate,  731,  830,  856,  920, 

926. 

Eaton,  Charles  O.,  18. 
Edgell,  F.  M.,  679. 
Edmands,  J.  Cushing,  762. 
Edwards,  John,  503. 
Eliot,  Thomas  D.,  24,  121,  939. 
Ellis,  Henry  K.,  883. 
Ellsworth,  Elmer  E.,  174. 
Emperor  of  Japan,  109. 
Emperor  Napoleon  III,  573. 
Erickson,  Christopher,  625,  629,  632. 
Everett,  Edward,  673,  744. 
Ewell,  Richard  S.,  Confederate,  309,  417,648, 

731,  805,  827,  876,  951. 


Fay,  Frank  B.,  231. 

Field,  Jonathan  E.,  6,  55,  938. 

Fisher,  H.  H.,  83. 

Fitzhugh,  Robert  H.,  60,  657,  679,  815,  839, 

840,  852,  923,  939,  942. 
Floyd,  John  B.,  64. 
Follett,  William  H.,  571,  572,  746,  748,  749, 

760,  761. 

Foote.  Henry  W.,  972. 
Fox,  William  F.,  664,  674. 
Frank.  John  D.,  375. 
Franklin,  William  B.,  121,  161,  256,  257,  259, 

261.  265,  267,  270,  362,  425.  461,  498,  548. 
Frederick,  Lord  Baltimore,  622. 
French.  William  H.,  64. 
French,  Thomas,  741. 
Fuger,  Frederick,  679. 


Gaines,  William  Fleming,  284,  285,  294,  295, 
300-302,  307,  308,  335,  342. 


OTHER  PERSONS  MENTIONED. 


987 


Galvin,  John,  387. 

Geary,  John  W.,  581. 

Gentry,  W.  T.,  766,  916. 

Gettys,  James,  604. 

Gibbon,  John,  63,  648. 

Gibbs,  Frank  C.,  55,  587,  744,  754,  769. 

Gifford,  Stephen  N.,  24,  27. 

Gilmore,  Patrick  S.,  16. 

Girdwood.  John,  74. 

Goldsborough,  Louis  M.,  120. 

Gooch,  Daniel  W.,  24, 121. 

Goodrich,  John  Z.,  24. 

Goodwin,  John  A.,  24. 

Gordon,  George  H.,  15. 

Gordon,  John  B.,  Confederate,  951,  952. 

Gorton,  Samuel  A.,  563. 

Grant,  Ulysses  S.,  54,  745,  776,  777,  781,  785, 
788-791,  793,  794,  798,  799,  805,  808,  814,  816, 
819,  820,  825,  827-829,  831-833,  851,  853,  854, 
867,  871,  872,  876,  890,  904,  911-914,  923,  928, 
931,  934,  950,  952,  953. 

Gray,  Horace,  32. 

Greenwood,  T.  J.,  84,  86. 

Gregg,  John  I.,  651,  740,  741,  745,  747,  758, 
800,  936. 

Griffin,  Charles,  33,  55,  132, 135-137,  139,  140, 
143,  145, 146,  161,  162,  173,  195-198,  203,  212, 
213,  222,  240, 250,  255,  273,  290, 300,  304,  315, 
317,  322,  339,  364-366,  373,  460,  465,  469,  471, 
476,  481,  517,  544-546,  548,  562,  564,  572,  633, 
700,  769,  780.  781,  799,  800,  806-808,  840,  854, 
855,  857,  860-864,  866,  872,  878-881,  903-906, 
911-913,  924,  925,  931,  932,  934,  941,  952. 

Hall,  Daniel,  455. 

Hall,  J.  K.,  86. 

Halleck,  Henry  W.,  282,  381,  383,  391,  394, 
401,  402,  451,  455,  681,  695,  788. 

Hamlin,  Hannibal,  24. 

Hancock,. Winfield  S.,  607,  652,  654,  663,  777, 
812,  820,  829,  852,  853,  869,  913,  914,  929. 

Harrison,  William  Henry,  133. 

Hart,  Patrick,  606,  623,  624,  627,  636,  646,  651, 
654,  662,  667,  679,  815,  935. 

Hayden,  Joel,  6,  55,  938. 

Hayes,  Joseph,  15,  700,  770,  772,  904,  905. 

Hays,  Alexander,  648. 

Hays,  H.  T.,  Confederate,  731. 

Hays,  William,  934. 

Hazard,  John  G.,  679. 

Hazlett,  Charles  E.,  55,  420,  422,  440,  500, 
540,  544,  578,  587,  588,  679,  769. 

Heasley,  Thomas,  945. 

Heintzelman,  Samuel  P.,  161,  270,  288,  289, 

362,  419,  421,  422,  439,  447. 
Heth,  Henry,  782. 

Higginson,  T.  W.,  960. 

Hill,  A.  P.,  Confederate,  590,  591,  650,  780, 
782,  815,  827,  834,  836. 


Hill,  Edward,  466. 

Hill,  Wallace,  679,  756,  757. 

Hinks,  Edward  W.,  15. 

Hodges,  John,  44. 

Hofmann,  J.  William,  918. 

Hoke,  R.  F.,  Confederate,  731,  830,  905. 

Holman,  A.,  959. 

Holmes,  Oliver  Wendell,  Jr.,  840. 

Holt,  Joseph,  34. 

Hooker,  Anson  P.,  846. 

Hooker,  Joseph,  20,   161,  220,  260,  381,  417, 

419,   461,   464,  484,  486,  487,  490,  495,  526, 

544-548,  551-553,  560,  564,  565,  568-571,  583, 

585,  586,  590,  592,  595,  603,  606,  608,  619,  620, 

927. 

Hooper,  Samuel,  55,  939. 
Horsford,  Eben  N.,  845. 
Howard,  Oliver  O.,  607,  648,  650. 
Howland,  Cornelius,  Jr.,  77. 
Hoyt,  William  J.,  318,  322. 
Huger,  Benjamin,  Confederate,  289. 
Humphreys,  Andrew  A.,  465,  478. 
Humphreys,  E.G.,  Confederate,  647. 
Hunt,  Henry   J.,   61,   64,  361,  368,  374,  380, 

387,  494,  606,  632,  646.  649,  651,  654,  663,  777, 

906,  915,  916. 
Hunter,  Joseph,  699,   707,  713,  729,.  730,  843, 

845. 

Huntington,  James  F.,  596,  597,  600,  615,  617. 
Hyde,  Thomas  W.,  314,  380,  469,  651. 

I 

Ingalls,  John,  978. 
Ingalls,  Thomas,  978. 
Ingraham,  Timothy,  69,  70. 
Irish,  Nathaniel,  671. 


Jackson,  Andrew,  28,  102. 

Jackson,  Thomas  J.,  ''Stonewall,"  Confed 
erate,  309,  310,  321,  342,  355,  419,  421,  422, 
435,  460,  462,  464,  492,  546,  590,  804,  920. 

James,  Robert,  636,  669. 

Jameson,  Charlie,  217. 

Jay,  William,  706. 

Jenckes,  Thomas  A.,  30. 

Johnson.  Andrew,  850,  896. 

Johnson,  Bushrod,  Confederate,  820. 

Johnston,  Joseph  E.,  Confederate,  287,  288, 
291. 

Jones,  Edward  J.,  898,  929,  965. 


Kearney,  Philip,  20,  311,  419,  427. 
Kershaw,  J.  B.,  Confederate,  830. 
Keyes.  Erasmus  D.,  161,  270,  288,  289,  362. 
Kilpatrick,  Judson,  726,  783,  790,  791. 
King  Edward  VII,  765. 


988 


OTHER   PERSONS  MENTIONED. 


King,  Horatio  C.,  4(56. 

King,  Rufus,  421. 

King,  William  S.,  15. 

Kingsbury,  Henry  W.,  135-139,  141,  146-148, 

172,  365,  366,  372,  373,  395. 
Knox,  Edward  M.,  677. 
Kurtz,  John,  73,  77,  90. 


Ladd.  Warren,  91,  92. 

Lafayette,  Gilbert  Motier  de,  223,  229. 

Lakeman,  Moses  B..  279,  280. 

Lansil,  Walter  F.,  547. 

Lawrence,  T.  Bigelow,  123. 

Leahy  or  Lahee,  John,  563,  587. 

Lee,  Charles  T.,  39. 

Lee,  Henry,  Jr.,  24. 

Lee,  Robert  E.,  Confederate,  263,  264, 
431,  460,  462,  476,  492,  525,  621,  633, 
691,  695,  722,  724,  740,  779,  780,  801, 
815,  828,  852,  855,  871,  883,  903,  914, 
928,  943,  950-954. 

Lee,  William,  41. 

Letcher,  John,  518. 

Lewis,  Edward,  207. 

Lewis,  Nathan,  91.  92. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  24,  25,  29,  32,  35,  39, 
102,  122,  138,  158,  261,  271,  280,  281, 
296,  358,  381,  402,  431,  454,  484,  486, 
567,  568,  569,  570,  571,  572,  575,  577, 
672,  673,  683,  695,  757,  777,  788,  939, 
961. 

Locke,  Fred  T.,  9,  21,  22,  156,  797,  816. 

Longfellow,  Charles  A.,  712,  747,  748. 

Longfellow,  H.,  475. 

Longfellow,  Henry  Wadsworth,  712. 

Longstreet,  James,  314,  331,  419,  422, 
460-462,  590,  591,  609,  637,  646,  650, 
652,  655,  660,  663,  678-780,  952. 

Lord,  Charles,  207. 

Lothrop,  Samuel  K.,  17. 

Lounsberry,  Clement  A.,  562. 

Lowe,  T.,  192. 

Lyman,  Theodore,  703,  711,  727,  728,  760, 


429, 
688, 
805, 
920, 


70, 

288, 
487, 
620, 
955, 


424, 
651, 


771. 


M 


Mahone,  William,  Confederate,  812,  952. 

Mann,  John,  150,  157. 

Martin,  Augustus  P.,  15,  21,  52,  54,  62,  63, 
146,  148,  161,  162,  214,  251,  262,  272,  273, 
283,  290,  324,  371,  382,  388,  389,  390,  393, 
394,  398,  404,  408,  410,  429,  431,  432,  436, 
439,  440,  452-454,  469,  475-477,  485,  486,  488, 
490,  495,  512,  518,  521,  526,  527,  540,  541, 
544,  553,  654,  557-559,  561,  562,  578,  586- 
588,  593,  613,  687,  694,  696,  697,  700,  702, 
712,  732,  737,  739,  743,  745-747,  753-755,  758, 
760,  768-771,  774,  778,  784,  790,  792-794,  797, 


798,  800,  803,  812,  816,  817,  867,  906,  920, 
972. 

Martindale,  John  H.,  185,  221,  223,  261,  271, 
302,  315-317,  330-332,  364,  372,  380,  395. 

Mason,  Charles,  622. 

McCall,  George  A.,  161,  304,  309,  312,  313, 
315,  342,  409. 

McCartney,  William  H.,  56,  63. 

McClellan,  George  B.,  5,  8,  19,  67,  68,  88,  92, 
93,  103,  107,  117,  118,  120.  122, 130,  137,  138, 
147,  158,  161,  162, 163, 164, 189, 190, 192, 193, 
209,  211,  213,  216-218,  223,  224,  229,  230,  232, 
235,  236,  242,  252,  257,  260,  261,  264,  266,  271, 
276,  282,  283,  288, 296,  299,  303,  304,  310,  312- 
315,  320,  336,  337,  345,  362,  363,  366,  367,  378, 
381,  383,  386,  387,  389,  394,  401,  402,  414,  428, 
430-432,  444,  447,  449-452,  454,  455,  460,  461, 
476,  482,  483,  485,  486,  491,  517,  552,  776. 

McCrea,  Tully,  679. 

McDowell,  Irvin,  161,  255,  264,  269,  271,  288, 
297,  312,  418,  419,  422,  426. 

McGilvery,  Freeman,  213,  591,  595,  597,  598, 
600,  606,  609,  613-615,  617,  624,  627,  632,  636, 
646,  647,  650,  652-654,  662,  663,  665-667,  671, 
672,710,  712,  738. 

McKim,  W.  W.,  93. 

McQuade,  James,  261,  271,  272. 

Meade,  George  G.,  11,  52,  62,  309,  519,  544, 
564,  569,  574,  603,  606-608,  619,  620,  622,  650, 
657,  673,  681,  703,  715,  720,  722,  724,  728,  732, 
736,  740,  742,  743,  745, 755,  757,  762,  774,  776- 
778,  780,  781,  785, 797,  804,  805,  814,  819,  829, 
835,  851,  853,  856,  857,  867, 870,  871,  876,  912, 
913,  916,  929,  941,  950,  951,  956. 

Meagher,  Thomas  Francis,  315. 

Meigs,  Montgomery  C.,  93. 

Melcher,  Holman  S.,  737. 

Mellert,  J.  H.,  364. 

Merriam,  Waldo,  704. 

Merritt,  Wesley,  811. 

Miles,  Nelson  A.,  222,  812. 

Milliken,  Frank  A.,  975. 

Milroy,  R.  H.,  451. 

Milton,  Richard  S.,  647,  669, 826,  935,  957, 971. 

Mink,  Charles  E.,  778,  924,  935,  939. 

Mitchell,  Morton  D.,  898. 

Monroe,  J.  Albert,  424. 

Montgomery,  William  R.,  432. 

Mordecai,  Alfred,  229. 

Morell,  George  W.,  221,  264, 271, 272,  283, 293, 
309,  315,  316,  319,  361,  363,364,  366,373,  390, 
394,  397,  398,  401,  420,  421, 423, 426,  436,  441, 
446,  453,  458,  460,  467,  471,  476,  477. 

Morgan,  Edwin  D.,  33,  34. 

Morissey,  John,  24. 

Morris,  Fordham,  9,  10,  831,  848,  861,881,  893, 
915. 

Mortimer,  Caleb  C.  E.,  56,  328,  335. 


OTHER   PERSONS  MENTIONED. 


989 


Morton,  Oliver  P.,  673. 
Mudge,  Charles  R.,  582. 
Myer,  Albert  J.,  228. 

N 

Nason,  Elias,  559. 
Nason,  P.  F.  690,  754,  758,  767,  774. 
Nelson,  Thomas,  164 
Newton,  John,  315. 
Nichols,  W.  A.,  784. 
Nims,  Ormand  F.,  63,  208. 
Norton,  Charles  B.,  468,  469. 
Nye,  William  A.,  978. 
Nye,  William  F.,  975,  976,  978. 


Oliver,  Henry  K.,  6,  24,  55,  737,  739,  938. 
Ord,  E.  O.  C.,  911,  933. 
Osborne,  Thomas  W.,  650. 
Osgood,  Lewis  V.,  571,  572. 


Park,  William,  Jr.,  955. 

Parsons,  A.  N.,  679. 

Patrick,  M.  R.,  928. 

Patton,  A.  S.,  24. 

Peck,  John  J.,  315. 

Peele,  Willard,  970. 

Peirce,  Richard  A.,  7,  18. 

Pendleton,  W.  N.,  398. 

Penn,  Richard,  622. 

Penn,  Thomas,  622. 

Perrin,  Walter,  679. 

Perry,  John  Gardiner,  738. 

Pettit,  Rufus  D.,  669. 

Philippe,  Louis,  Comte  de  Paris,  315. 

Phillips,  Edward  W.,  37,  972. 

Phillips,  George,  625. 

Phillips,  Stephen  C.,  969. 

Phillips,  Stephen  H.,  30-35,  45,  47,  703,  739. 

Phillips,  Wendell,  3. 

Pickett,  George,  Confederate,  644,  678. 

Pierce,  Franklin,  28. 

Pleasanton,  Alfred,  479,  606,  619,  722. 

Pleasants,  Henry,  874. 

Pope,   John,  312,  413,  414,  417,  419-421,  426 
428,  429,  431,  435,  450,  565. 

Porter,  Fitz  John,  20,  121,  129,  132,  133,  135 
136,  138,   140,   143,  149,  159,  161,  186,  187, 
197,   201,  208,  210,  212,  213,  224,  237,   250 
256,   264,  265,  269,  271,  275,   279,  283,   296, 
297,  300,  303,   309,   312,  313,  315,  334,  341 
361,  362,   364,  366,  380,  383,  387,  389,  394, 
396-398,    414,  416,   417,    419-422,   424,    428 
436,  443,  452,  453,  460,  469,  484-486. 
Porter,  Josiah,  56. 
Potter,  Robert  B.,  861. 
Powell,  William  H.,  161,  252,  651,  698. 


Pratt,  F.  A.,  754. 

Prescott,  George  L.,  817,  882,  883. 

Prevost,  Charles  M.,  440. 

Prim,  Juan,  Count  de  Reuss,  296,  297. 

Prince  de  Joinville,  315.  318. 


Randol,  Alanson  M.,  578,  586,  588. 
Randolph,  George  E.,  207,  607,  646. 
Rank,  William,  654. 
Raymond,  Charles,  844. 
Reed,  John  D.,  429. 
Reno,  Jesse  L.,  421. 

Reynolds. ,  421,  422,  603,  606,  622. 

Reynolds,  W.,  978. 

Rice.  Alexander  H..  24,  52,  939. 

Rice,  James  C..  277. 

Richardson.  Lester  I.,  807,  857,  859,  878-881, 

887. 

Richardson,  William  H.,  85. 
Richardson,  Israel  B.,  161,  315. 
Ricketts,  James  B.,  421,  431. 
Ricketts,  R.  B.,  €06. 
Ritchie,  David  F.,  938,  940,  944,  945,  947,948, 

956. 

Ritchie,  Harrison,  24,  34,  398. 
Rittenhouse,  Benjamin  F.,  55,  692,  733,  738, 

769.  778,  812,  815. 
Roberts,  Charles  W.,  318. 

Robinson,  George  D.,  677. 

Robinson,  John  C.,  781,  811,  812. 

Rodgers,  John,  362,  367. 

Rodman,  Edmund,  359. 

Rogers,  Charles  O.,  26. 

Rogers.  Robert  E.,  679,  924. 

Rogers,  W.  B  ,  415. 

Rogers,  William  H.,  944. 

Rorty,  James  M.,  679. 

Rosecranz,  William  S.,  543,  708,  714. 

Ruggles,  George  D.,  11. 

Russell,  David  A.,  731. 

Russell,  Edward  J.,  677. 


Sargent,  Horace  Binney,  24,  93. 

Sawin.  Robert  L.,  56. 

Sedgwick,  John,  161,  548,  608,  742,  772,  777, 

813,  817. 

Seeley,  Frank  W.,  636,  669. 
Seward.  William  H.,  35.  575. 
Schenkle  or  Schenkl,  John  P.,   231,  235,  236, 

303,  304,  311. 
Schouler,    William,  14,  15,  27,  62,  72,  73,  89, 

90,  93,  115, 120,  121,  926,  958. 
Schurz.  Carl   569. 

Scott,  Winfield,  32,  34,  38,  46,  88,  125. 
Sheldon,  Albert  S.,  679,  806. 


990 


OTHER   PERSONS  MENTIONED. 


Sheridan,  Philip,  803,  813,  816,  911,  930,  933, 

943,  951,  953. 
Sherman,  Pliny  B.,  74. 
Sherman,  W.  T.,  940. 
Sherwin,  Thomas,  Jr.,  167,  554. 
Shrove,  W.  H.,  686. 
Sickles,  Daniel  E.,  607,  609,  646,  667. 
Sigel,  Franz,  312,  421,  422-424,  451,  481. 
Sleeper,  J.  Henry,  971. 

Slocum,  Henry  W.,  315, 478,571,  606,  648, 649. 
Smead,  John  R.,  302. 
Smith,  Caleb,  35. 
Smith,  Cornelius,  263. 
Smith,  F.  Hopkinson,  704. 
Smith,  Gustavus  W.,  Confederate,  289. 
Smith,  William  F.,  299,  306,  323,  345,827,  830, 

852,  853-855, 869. 
Smith,  William  O.,  975. 
Soule,  Rufus  A.,  974. 
Spencer,  Gideon,  437. 
Sprague,  William,  35. 
Stanton,  Edwin  M.,  5,  30-34,  52,  54,56,62,  63, 

193,  240,  257,  2M,  280,  281,381,427,575,617, 

683,  770,  788,  850,  888,  895,  896. 
Sterling,  John,  679. 
Stevenson,  J.  D.,  813. 
Stewart,  James,  778,  813, 814, 857,  862, 878, 879, 

916,  924,  935. 
Stone,  A.  L.,  24. 
Stoneman,  George,  273,  276,304,  404,  545,568, 

569,  590. 

Stowe,  William,  24. 
Stryker,  Stephen  W.,  249. 
Stuart,  J.  E.  B.,  Confederate,  455,  464,  559, 

tOO,  726,  791. 

Sumner,  Charles,  24,  52,  55,  939. 
Sumner,  Edwin  V.,  161,  220,244,  256,265,270, 

289,  294,  304,  362,  461,  462,  464,  485,  866. 
Sweitzer,  Jacob  B.,  861,  862,  881. 
Swinton,  William,  678. 
Sykes,  George,  52,  256,  309,  313,  315,  316,  361, 

413,  420,  422,  478,  479,  607,697,  699,  717,  745, 

747,  755,  761,  784,  791,  793. 


Taber,  Isaac  C.,  68,  69,  74, 75,  77,  91,  407,  411. 

Taft,  Elijah  D.,  471,  472,  617,  629,  679. 

Taylor,  Bayard,  673. 

Tennyson,  Alfred,  764,  765. 

Thomas,  Benjamin  F.,  24. 

Thomas,  Evan.  679. 

Thomas   Stephen,  190. 

Thompson,  Charles,  888. 

Thompson,  James,  624,  627,  636,  651,  654,  662, 

669,t,79. 

Thompson,  William  B.,  368. 
Tidball,  John  C.,  933,  942,  944,  946,  947. 
Tilton,  William  S.,  798. 


Tompkins,  Daniel  S.,  245,  389. 
Tompkins,  John  A.,  591,  593,  595,  596. 
Toucey,  Isaac,  31. 
Train,  Charles  R.,  24. 
Tuttle,  James,  142,  348. 
Tyler,  Philip  H.,  404,  408. 
Tyler,  Robert  O.,  361,  590-592,  606,  607,  667, 
752,  754,  755. 


Vaughan,  James,  Jr.,  104. 
Van  Reed,  William  E.,  941. 

W 

Wadsworth,  James  S.,  648,  781,  782,  806. 
Wainwright,  Charles  S.,  9,  54,  99,  650,  751, 

778,  793,  794,  797,  798,   831,  833,  838,  842, 

848,  849,  872,  893,  897,  955. 
Wallace,  Lew,  914. 
Ward,  George  Hull,  609. 
Ward,  J.  Langdon,  44. 
Wardrop,  David  W.,  69,  190. 
Warner,  Oliver,  6,  24,  55,  938. 
Warren,  Gouverneur  K.,  9,  10,  422,  552,  740, 

742,  777,  792-794,   815,   820,   852,   856,  857, 

861,  879,  899,  903,   906,  917,  919,  929,  931, 

932,  934,  937. 

Washburn,  William  B.,  55,  939. 
Washington,  George,  68,   102,  109,  138,  243, 

263,  466,  487,  556,  574,  832,  940. 
Waterman,   Richard,  366,  368,  375,  423,  424, 

436,   437,  440,  441,   478,  500,  521,  526,  540, 

553,  578,  588,  599. 
Waud,  A.  R.,  772. 
Webb,  Alexander  S.,  Ill,  318,  470,  472,  574, 

649,  650. 

Webster,  Fletcher,  425. 
Weed,  Stephen   H.,  465,  495,  500,   508,   547, 

552,  553,  588. 
Weeden,  William  B.,  161,  162,  206,  213,  251, 

300,  304,316, 319,  324, 327,  364,  365,  367,  369, 

390,  393,  409. 

Weld,  Stephen  M.,  132,  569. 
Welles,  Gideon,  35,  106. 
Wells,  W.  H.,  10th  New  York  Battery,  643. 
Wentworth,  Lewis  E.,  153. 
Weston,  George  Fiske,  574,  703. 
Wetherell,  John  W.,  24. 
Wheeler,  William,  679. 
Whipple,  Amiel  W.,  441,  445-449,  451-456,  571, 

588. 

Whitaker,  Alexander  H.,  625,  633. 
Whiting,  W.  H.  C.,  Confederate,  309. 
Wightman,  Joseph  M.,  74. 
Wilcox,  Cadmus  M.,  Confederate,  782. 
Wilkeson,  Bayard,  679. 
Williams,  Robert,  93. 
Wilson,  Henry,  24,  31,  52,  55,  61,  71-73,  6£8. 


OTHER   PERSONS  MENTIONED. 


991 


Winslow,  George  B.,  778. 
Woodfin,  Philip  T.,  727. 
Woodruff,  C.  A.,  3. 
Woodruff,  George,  679. 


Wool,  John  E.,  253,  682. 
Wright,  H.  G.,  731,  813,  840,  851-853. 
Wright,  Joseph  W.  B..  115. 
Wyndam,  Percy,  818. 


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STAMPED  BELOW 


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LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-50m-8,'63(D9954s4)458 


Mass,  artillery.     5th 
battery,  1861-1865. 
History  of  the  Fifth 


Call  Number: 

E513.8 
5th 


314730 


